'Woman must have a role in politics'

'Woman must have a role in politics'

Every Dec. 22, the country celebrates Women's Day in recognition
of the critical roles Indonesian women played during the struggle
for independence. What has been the role of Indonesian women
after the country declared independence in 1945? The Jakarta Post
interviewed residents here on the issue.

Dian A. Ramadhani, 25, is on the public relations staff at
Bina Nusantara School in West Jakarta. She lives with her family
in the Daan Mogot area of West Jakarta.

I think the role of women in Indonesia continues to improve.
We see that more and more key positions in business or government
offices are held by women. We even see that jobs traditionally
done by men, such as taxi drivers or bus crew members are now
being done by women.

The government must continue to protect women's rights. For
instance, we still find that the salaries of women are lower than
those of men, even if they hold the same position in companies
or government agencies.

I believe that if both women and men have the same skills and
capability and hold similar jobs, then they should get the same
amount of salary.

However, a woman should not be viewed as so powerful that a
man becomes afraid of her. I think this is not appropriate as a
woman still has to respect a man, or her husband.

Aditya, 28, works for a non-governmental organization in
Central Jakarta. He lives with his wife and children in
Tengerang.

The government should definitely give more of a role to women
in politics or government agencies. I think we have wasted our
key resources so long by limiting women's role to certain
sectors. Our country's backwardness, I believe, is caused by a
lack of women's touch in solving the country's problems.

Women are blessed with sharp intuition, gentleness and deep
insights on lots of things. If, for instance, we let women handle
the conflicts in Maluku or Central Sulawesi, then I believe the
conflicts can be resolved quickly and amicably.

This is because women will handle the conflicts like they are
taking care of their children. They will treat conflicting
parties with love and care. The criticism that women are
indecisive has not been proven, as we have not given them
adequate opportunity. One woman president has not told us
anything.

--The Jakarta Post