You don't have to be a woman to be feminist

You don't have to be a woman to be feminist

JAKARTA (JP): "Don't be afraid of feminism -- join us!" was
the call of a women's group which launched a new book yesterday.

"You don't need a sex change operation to be a feminist," Myra
Diarsi of the Jakarta-based Kalyanamitra foundation said at the
launching ceremony of a book about the feminist movement at the
Bentara Budaya building in Central Jakarta.

Through a discussion on the misperception of "the only -ism
which threatens the `sacredness' of the household," Kalyanamitra
activists pointed out that people who share the conviction that
there are injustices in the relationship between the sexes need
not be afraid of being branded as "feminists".

In the midst of all the cynicism, suspicion, sneers and apathy
towards people considered "Western feminists", Diarsi pointed out
that even people already actively advocating women's rights are
reluctant to be considered feminists.

"We are puzzled as to who and what makes a feminist ... Is it
a Kartini (a national heroine) ... or a Marsinah (a murdered
worker) and their sisters, whom we talk about only when
unimaginable fates befall them?"

In conjunction with Indonesia's Women's Day, which falls on
Dec. 22, the foundation is promoting the translation of Some
Questions on Feminism and its Relevance in South Asia by Nighat
Said Khan and Kamla Bhasin, which is published by PT Gramedia
Pustaka Utama. The Indonesian translation is titled Persoalan
Pokok Mengenai Feminisme dan Relevansinya.

The book, written in 1986, is derived from the writers'
decades of experience. Quoting Nighat Said Khan, who is from
Pakistan, and Kamala Bhasin, who is from India, Diarsi cited a
general definition of feminism.

Feminist awareness is "an awareness of exploitation of women
in society, at work and in the family, and conscious action by
men, or women, to change this condition."

Diarsi, a psychologist, said this is why one does not need to
be a woman to be a feminist, and that one does not need to know
the jargon to perceive the problem. She added that a housewife
can have such awareness, without necessarily having the
vocabulary.

"A peasant woman does not need theories to understand that it
is unjust to receive a different wage for the same work, or that
nobody has the right to beat or rape her."

To an audience, including politician Rachman Tolleng and a
woman member of the Petisi 50 group of government critics, S.K.
Trimurti, Diarsi said that feminism struggles for "a just and
equitable society for both men and women".

Backlash

Diarsi acknowledged the term comes from the West. "But isn't
it true that the concept reveals a transformation process which
began here in the 19th century?"

She pointed out the fact that some define feminism's local
history as beginning some 20 years ago when the jargon was first
introduced in Indonesia. Diarsi added that it has taken that long
to see public discussions and books published explicitly on
feminism.

"The subject is very vulnerable," Diarsi said, in response to
an audience member who noted that there is currently a backlash
against the growing awareness of gender imbalance.

The challenge of feminism towards every level of a patriarchal
society brings every women with the awareness face to face with
her family and friends in a "bitter encounter", Diarsi said.

"Women are more courageous about facing this bitterness
because they endure more pain if the status quo is preserved ...
In struggling they stand to lose nothing except the chain that
binds them."

She added that patriarchy is just one of the many factors that
work against the betterment of women, as it "marries into various
interests, policies and abuse of power".

Sociologist Mely G. Tan said she felt optimistic about the
improvement of the situation of women here, given the
government's commitment and "much better understanding between
young couples".

"However we still must deal with the realities of life, among
which women do not yet feel secure," she said. (anr)