Women and politics

Women and politics

From Media Indonesia

Every year we celebrate Kartini Day on April 21 in memory of
Kartini, a woman born in the late 19th century who fought for
women's emancipation in this country.

Feminists have also fought very hard to encourage Indonesian
women to be more than just housewives. As a result, in February
2003, 30 percent of the members of the House of Representatives
were women.

Unfortunately, although women make up 30 percent of the House,
problems related to women remain because these problems involve
many sectors in the state system. Obviously, a political role for
women is no guarantee that all of the problems of women will be
solved.

Islam, in this context, allows women to join political
activities on the condition that they remain committed to their
main function as mothers and housewives.

FARIDA YULIANTI
Bogor, West Java