Women on top? Equality does not come from spouting slogans

Women on top? Equality does not come from spouting slogans

Glenn Marsalim, Contributor, Jakarta

Among the aggressive TV ad campaigns for the recent legislative
election, one made me cringe the way I do when I am watching a
nasty horror flick.

The woman in the ad, while serving jamu (herbal tonic), said
that she would only cast her vote for a party with many women in
its ranks.

I can understand that many of us want to see more woman
representatives in the legislature, and political parties are
already supposed to apply a minimum quota of women candidates.

But I believe that people should be picking the most reliable,
competent party and candidates, regardless of whether they are
from Mars or Venus.

The ad struck me as ironic in a country where women's rights
have long been an issue, where women have had to deal with the
chauvinistic and patriarchal nature of society. By calling on
women to vote for women only, aren't we turning the clock back to
a gender-centric era, except from the other perspective?

If that is the case, as I believe it is, then where are the
women's rights activists when we need them?

Women right's activists today seem distracted from what they
were fighting for in the first place.

Their main task should be to open the minds of women to make
them realize that they have options in life and that they have
the right to choose, instead of accepting what this male-
dominated society wants them to be.

But the ad, and the lack of any comment on it, reflects they
are sleeping on the job.

My view is the women activists, in their pursuit of their
goals and their conduct, alienate themselves from the general
public -- including other women.

Perhaps that is why their activities fail to register with the
people.

Women activists here could learn a thing or two from the
struggle of gay activists in the West. In their pursuit of their
rights, including to marry, they have been determined but have
made their campaign fun, lively, colorful and open to others.

Here in Jakarta, women activists are gathering to light the
candles before an already pretty enlightened populace, while many
other areas sadly remain "in the dark".

Seemingly mundane issues -- the right of women to breastfeed
in the workplace, housemaids demanding and getting one-day off a
week, pay commensurate with their skills, for example -- are
important in making a better quality of life for women and
working against discrimination.

Instead, for some, it seems the fight against discrimination
becomes an entirely personal cause without looking at the issues
affecting other women.

If what they were fighting for in the first place was against
the problem of discrimination, then it is not a problem exclusive
to women. So, women, as the backbone of civilization, make it a
movement based on humanity.

The above view is personal. Agree to disagree? Sound off at
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