Women, politics rarely mingle in Indonesia

Women, politics rarely mingle in Indonesia

JAKARTA (JP): Culture and tradition are still the greatest
obstacles preventing women entering politics in Indonesia,
according to two seasoned female politicians.

Cabinet minister Mien Sugandhi and Aisyah Amini of the United
Development Party both said that lack of interest and ability are
the two main reasons why there are few women in Indonesian
politics.

Yesterday was International Women's Day, and although
Indonesia has its own National Women's Day on Dec. 22, a number
of events were held in connection with the day.

Mien closed a seminar on women's participation in the business
world, the United Nations Information Center held a lecture by
lawyer and activist Nursjahbani Katjasungkana and the previous
night witnessed the election of Miss Indonesia at a pageant in
Jakarta.

Both Mien and Aisyah agree that there is still ample room for
women to be involved in Indonesian politics but current
statistics of women's participation in practical politics do not
look good. Women account for only 12 percent of the 500 members
of the House of Representatives.

And there are only two women in the current cabinet of
President Soeharto. One of them is Mien, who holds the portfolio
of State Minister of Women's Affairs, and the other is Endang
Kusuma Inten Suweno, the Minister of Social Services.

Women however can take heart that at least one of their sex
has made it to the leadership of the minority Indonesian
Democratic Party (PDI): Megawati Soekarnoputri. Some of her
supporters have also been pushing her to run in the presidential
race in 1998.

Mien, who built her political career through the MKGR, an
organization affiliated to Golkar, said she is hopeful that the
1997 election will see more women elected to the House.

"I expect at least 17 percent of the House to be female,
perhaps even as much as 20 percent," she told reporters
yesterday.

She said she would also like to see more women serving in the
cabinet.

But when asked about the likelihood of a woman president, she
said "I don't think the time has come yet. But, then who knows.
That kind of things is unpredictable."

Mien said the ability of a woman is a most important factor in
determining whether she is apt for a political career.

"The prime reason why there are so few women in politics is
because women have little interest in the field," she said.

Culture and tradition, she said, do not encourage women to
enter politics and resistance against women entering politics not
only comes from men, but also from women themselves. "Politics
is considered a man's world," she said.

Aisyah Amini, one of only 62 women in the House of
Representatives, said there are still misgivings in society about
women politicians.

"Our culture says women should not enter politics because
politicians have to be open, outspoken and straightforward," said
Aisyah, a legislator of the United Development Party and a member
of the prestigious Commission I of the House, for foreign
affairs, defense and information.

She also agrees that society's attitude has made it difficult
for women to become politicians.

Indonesian girls are raised to be quiet, obedient housewives
so women who enter politics are considered as going against
destiny, she said.

Meanwhile, Nursjahbani in her lecture at the UN Information
Center, said sexual discrimination is still rampant in almost
every field, including the law.

She cited as an example the 1974 Law on Marriage which defines
a man's role as head of the family and breadwinner, and a woman
as a housewife.

"Such definitions establish the pattern of relations between
men and women in society," she said.

The laws therefore affect society's attitude, she said.

She noted that the number of women workers in Indonesia has
been growing, and a 1990 survey said they account for about 40%
percent of the country's workforce, compared to only 33% in 1980.

But most of the women workers are concentrated in informal
sectors such as farming, trade and services, she said.

Nursjahbani said the ratification of the UN'S Convention on
the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women has helped to
phase out some of the gender biases that had existed in
legislation and government policies.

But the most important thing to change is society's attitude
and instill acceptance that men and women should have equal
positions in society, she added. (31/01)