Women 'do men's bidding at the polls'

JAKARTA (JP): About 80 percent of all rural women in the country still have their political preferences shaped by men, with their urban counterparts faring only marginally better, a recent nationwide survey has found.

Sutrada Ginting of the Institute for Policy and Community Development Studies (IPCOS) said on Wednesday the study of 315 regencies found most women were not independent voters.

"Women vote by what their husbands vote for," he said.

The findings confirmed observations earlier raised by activists and scholars.

Women in major cities fared better in making their own poll choices but not by much, according to the executive of the Justice and Unity Party (PKP).

"In urban centers where women have higher economic and education levels, only 52 percent of the women are independent voters."

He added: "Women contribute only 14 percent in decision-making processes."

The study found almost 80 percent of women activists were wives of government officials. "Only a small number among them are considered members of non-governmental organizations."

Indonesian women, who will represent 51.7 percent of the estimated 130 million voters in the June 7 general election, exhibit characteristics of passive and dependent voters, he said.

"It's such a waste. With their votes, women are actually able to bring change to improve the nation."

Concrete steps must be taken to boost women's participation in politics, he said.

Ginting blamed the situation partly on what he believed was a growing preoccupation among intellectuals to focus on "specific female matters".

"There is a gap between what activists think of as women's problems and the reality out there."

Ginting cited high prices of foodstuffs, milk, revocation of the government fertilizer subsidy and an allotment of seats in the legislature as real problems facing women.

"Women are the direct victims of failures in public policies. They are the ones who suffer when the milk price is soars.

"Female farmers in Bali and many parts of this country also suffer from the expensive price of fertilizer... so let's voice such problems through active political participation," he said.

Golkar legislator Marwah Daud Ibrahim said her party was now discussing whether to set quotas for seats for women in the legislature.

"I personally endorse a 20 percent quota for women. But many (in Golkar) are debating it, saying there is no need for a quota."

The party has started a women's empowerment program through training and discussions on gender and political issues, Marwah said.

Ginting said his party agreed there must be women legislative representatives from each of the 27 provinces.

"Quotas will be determined by each area. Provinces with many good, potential candidates can have more women (legislators)."

Both Ginting and Marwah believed quota allocation should be a temporary measure to boost women's participation. "If it works, the system could later be revoked," Marwah added. (edt)