Feb 17, 2021
IS IT TRUE THAT GENDER EQUALITY IN INDONESIA IS AT THE CROSSROADS ?
"It is time for us to see gender as a unit. Not as two sides collide. " - Emma Watson
Women always have their own role in every civilization. Since ancient Greece 540 BC where women are honored for giving birth to tough warriors to fight. Arriving after civilization in 1431, we know Joan de Arch from France as a female warrior who managed to repel British soldiers. Then in the 1990s we got to know Mother Theresa from Calcutta with her extraordinary service which succeeded in changing the face of India at that time. Until the 21st era, we know Butet Manurung from Indonesia, who spent his life in the wilderness to become a teacher for children in rural areas, who have not been reached by education. Of course there are many more female characters who change many things in the world that cannot be mentioned all of them.
Each of them has their respective roles. For Indonesia, it cannot be separated from the name R.A. Kartini is considered a Godmother in terms of gender equality. It was from there that the next Kartini-Kartini was born in Indonesia, such as Sri Mulyani as the world's best finance minister, Butet Manurung as I wrote above, Christin Hakim and Mira Lesmana as a film maker and how their services were for the progress of the film industry in Indonesia , for Industry Gaming in Indonesia we have Momochan as Caster, And don't forget how Ainun Habibie taught us about extraordinary love.
But the question now is, how does Indonesia see gender equality itself? In the Global Gender Gap Index 2020 report released by the World Economic Forum (WEF) held in Davos City, Switzerland, January 21-24, 2020, Indonesia is ranked 85th out of 153 countries with a score of 0.70. This figure implies that Indonesia has narrowed the gender equality gap by approximately 70 percent in four main sectors, namely education, health, economy and politics.
Regarding ranking, Indonesia has actually not changed compared to 2018. In fact, this country is still far behind other Asian countries such as the Philippines at 16th, Laos at 43rd, Singapore at 54th, and Thailand at 75th. On the other hand, we should be grateful because compared to other Southeast Asian countries, Indonesia is still considered more capable of narrowing gender inequality. Below Indonesia there are Vietnam with 87th, Brunei Darussalam at 95, Malaysia at 104, Myanmar with 114, and Timor Leste (117th).
Gender Equality Is Not To Win Women Over Men
Hani Yulindrasari, a psychology lecturer at the University of Education of Indonesia, Bandung, who studies gender at the master and doctoral level at the University of Melbourne, Australia, said that gender equality does not mean giving more position to women, but is equal to men. When we talk about gender equality, it is actually talking about justice, there are things that do differentiate between women and men, but there are also things that are actually the same.
One of the things that Hani exemplifies is about physicality. It is clear that the physicalities of women and men are different. One of them cannot be ruled out because every gender has special needs.
"Meanwhile, what we consider the same is the ability of men and women. Say his cognitive abilities, thinking, analysis, mathematics, language, even physical strength. "
Hani reminded that in society, especially Indonesia, justice to equalize the ability of men and women is often exposed and hindered by social structures.
Conditions like these are what make women often "disabled". A simple example of security when women come home late at night.
Social situations that ultimately make women unable to do it alone. Not only need the presence of men, but women too.
That is why gender equality is not about equalizing abilities, but also about justice where every gender, both women and men, needs to be fulfilled according to their needs.
Everyone has their own uniqueness and characteristics, and this needs to be facilitated so that justice can be created.
"No one should have more privileges than others. Everything must be developed together. So gender justice, gender equality, is not to win one group, but to create a condition where men and women can build together this country, ”said Hani.
Perspectives That Should Be Changed Regarding Gender Equality in Indonesia
Meanwhile, from the religious side there is a paradox in terms of gender equality, why? SOME PARTIES with majority religions in Indonesia still place women as a support role for men. Not as equal human beings. Until there is a designation as follows
"If women can be honored, why should they be equalized"
–Kalis Mardiasih (In the POV Youtube Channel owned by Cameo Project)
Sounds good right? but this is a tricky in this statement. Where the existence of women as humans is always placed second or under the domination of men. By hiding behind their holy book verses. Not only that, some of them also thought that women with careers were no more respectable than women who were at home, wearing hijab, and obeying their husbands. Unfortunately, some people still think that women are merely objects of satisfying needs such as preparing meals, cleaning the house, taking care of children, to matters of sex. This is not a bad thing, but it is only right that women choose to have a career outside the home to be respected as well. It must be admitted that conservative views like this still exist in Indonesia even though in general they have started to change towards a better gender equality.
There is one more thing that I think as a writer, sad to see how some people see the rules of Religion as justification for dominating women, what is it?
POLYGAMY.
I will not discuss it from the religious side, because it is not my domain to speak, but when viewed from a psychological point of view it is an extraordinary character assassination for women. Where women are required to totally obey their husbands to the point of letting them go with other women. Try to imagine how a woman can be asked to sincerely let her beloved husband remarry someone else, and "only" in the lure of "heaven is open to a woman who has volunteered her husband for polygamy." There must be an extraordinary inner struggle from that woman. That is something that betrays gender equality, because it sees women only as submissive followers.
Finally, it is possible to realize fair gender equality in Indonesia, because we are already on the right track. It's just that some parties need to be more able to get rid of religious, social, and habitual egos that place women as the 2nd option of men, both in terms of work, environment, family, and even sex matters.
Source: Global Gender Gap Report 2020 | Lakilakibaru.or.id | Tirto | Kemenkeu.go.id | The Indonesian Institute | Merdeka.com | Liputan6.com
