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