Working women criticized

Working women criticized

JAKARTA (JP): A former Supreme Court judge believes the
growing prevalence of married women in the work force may be the
root of problems within their families.

Bismar Siregar told a seminar here yesterday that many women
now work to help their families make ends meet.

"But working women, especially working mothers, have
occasionally been blamed as the source of family disharmony
because of their activities outside the home."

Siregar said: "The government should increase the salary of
civil servants to allow male staff to support their families so
that their wives don't have to go out and work."

The seminar was sponsored by the women's section of the
Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI), which
plans to feature experts in various fields in a monthly
discussion on problems affecting families.

Organizers said the discussion was timely because changes in
society have also exacerbated family problems.

"I am not against women working," Siregar said. "But I also
believe that if the husbands can be the sole breadwinner, then
wives would not have to spend time working, and ultimately
neglect the children."

Couples should be informed on religious teachings and
understand that marriage is part of religious obligations, he
said.

"They should not get married solely out of lust because this
type of union will never work," he added.

He said a deeper comprehension of religion would assist both
parents in making wise choices for the benefit of their families.

"For example, if a wife wants to work because she has the
skills, the husband should let her do it, but the wife should not
sacrifice her family responsibility," he said.

"I know that a woman's right to work is part of human rights.
But I don't think this is totally correct because Islamic
teachings place a greater stress on obligations to respect the
rights of others, which include the rights of the family."

The organization announced it will also establish a public
service hotline service and a crisis center on family issues.

Of the over 200 million people in Indonesia, more than 2.82
million women made up 35.3 percent of the 7.99 million workers
last year. By the end of the government's sixth five-year
development plan in 1999, women are expected to make up 53.1
percent of the work force. (12)