Women's power

Women's power

It's lonely at the top, they say, and it must be true also for
President Megawati Soekarnoputri, from whom the nation expects so
much. Any other leader would find the going equally rough in this
time of transition, but public expectations of Megawati are very
high. When she was pushed to the number one job in July, she was
expected to give "a woman's touch" -- envisaged as values such as
compassion, persuasion and cooperation instead of violence and
power -- despite history revealing that many female leaders could
be equally as cruel and despotic as their male counterparts.

More importantly, the reason why women's groups are pushing
for more female representation in government today is because
they are grossly underrepresented. The push for more women in the
nation's decision-making processes, is what today, December 22,
or Women's Day, should be all about.

The New Order regime must be blamed for virtually destroying
the social and political achievements brought about by the First
Indonesian Women's Congress on Dec. 22, 1928. The historical
significance of that event, which called for women's
emancipation, has sadly been reduced, even to this day, to a mere
Hari Ibu, or the equivalent of Mother's Day.

This is not to say that on this important day, we should stop
sending flowers to our mothers. But it is worth remembering too
that while women's roles are exulted on this day, most women
still have little say with regard to matters which affect their
life.

Few people in this country would readily admit to rampant
sexual discrimination practices, yet various studies found many
gender-insensitive policies and practices which in the end affect
the wellbeing of millions of women. For example, a woman has
little chance of securing bank loans today because most
collateral assets are under her husband's name. Another, of many
examples, is the absence of women in public meetings to discuss
community projects.

Putting aside the misnomer about Hari Ibu, this is an
appropriate time to renew our commitment to enhance women's roles
in society. All women must learn to delegate their household
tasks, and must also be encouraged and enabled to speak up and to
assert their rights.

More women should be involved in decision making processes in
this country for the simple reason that they are in a far better
position than men in understanding the delicate, unseen realities
and the impacts of well-intentioned policies affecting women, who
make up half the country's population.

Women in high positions must stop being complacent or hide
behind false rhetoric about the equality enjoyed by Indonesian
women. Such an attitude is a great disservice to the gender and
is preventing more women from moving up in society.

The Office of the State Minister for Women's Empowerment has
started campaigning to improve women's participation in policy-
making processes. Progress, however, has been painfully slow.

The suggestion that there should be a minimum quota for women
to fill top government posts must go hand in hand with the
promotion of greater access to education for women. Without
quotas, it's easy to overlook women because many of them are not
promoting themselves for positions, overwhelmed as they are in
juggling responsibilities outside and inside the home.

We take heart that more and more women are now running for
public offices, and are winning them, as evidenced by the
increasing appointment of women as regency chiefs and mayors.

As welcome as the appointment of Megawati as president is, she
is hardly the figure to lead the feminist cause. She may be an
excellent role model for aspiring young girls, but most see in
her a leader with neither awareness of women's issues, or one
that gives a woman's touch. She has yet to address the concerns
of millions of women in refugee camps and those who have lost
their menfolk in mindless conflicts in this country these last
three years.

Nevertheless, Megawati's "non-violence" approach to problems
is important in the search for policies to overcome the suffering
in many of the nation's conflict areas. Women's groups must make
the best of Megawati's position in promoting their message of
peace, to enable more inspiration among potential female leaders.