Indonesian Women :

Between Rights and Roles,

Between Myths and Reality

Arlinah I.R
Asian Women Institute
Pittsburgh
April 12 2002

Is Indonesia a Moslem Country?

Indonesian Constitution ( UUD 1945)

Indonesian Five Principle ( Pancasila)

Freedom for people to practice their own religion

respect for one another

Indonesia

Population : 270 million ( > 50 % women)

islands : 17,000
ethnic groups : 300
Some ethnic groups

Javanese : Kejawen, Hinduism, Islam

Sumatra : Batak : Christianity; Minangkabau : Islam
Bali
: Balinese, Hinduism
Eastern Indonesia : mostly Christian
Chinese : Buddhism, Christian

Cultural System
Mostly Patriarchal
Some are Matrilineal

Javanese women

Patriarchal System
Suwarga nunut, nirwana katut
konco-wingking
a good woman: loyal, listens and submit to
husbands.
high position at home, no place outside the
home
brighter world nowadays in education,
employment, activities ( in the cities)
still let husbands make decision

Balinese women

Patriarchal System
Spiritual, family-oriented, hardworking and
artistry
working is self actualization and devotion to God
double roles is a virtue ( inside and outside
homes)
not enough rights ( polygamy, decision making
for developing the community, politics )

Batak women

Patriachal System
No rights for marriage, family decision
making
respected in the family
No education until 1930
the inheritance rights is lower than mens

Minangkabau Women

Matrilineal System
Property, titles, family names handed down
through women sides
womens family proposes for the marriage
the husband moves to the home of the wife
the husband takes care of his sisters family

The myths ( formal)

Indonesian Constitution ( UUD 1945 pasal 27,

30)
Indonesian Five Principle ( Pancasila)
Indonesian Legislation referring to United Nation
Convention (UU No 7 /1984)

Equality for men and women

The reality

more roles for women except in politics ( 2 ministers)

education plays an important roles in the increase of
roles
not enough opportunities for education especially in
the rural areas
limited rights in employment especially for low-paid
workers and women living in the rural areas
discrimination in private sectors ( salary, recruiting,
promotion, family benefit)
victims of unjust treatments and violence

Indonesian Women in politics

Government Institution
Women
Executive
18
Legislature
45
Supreme Court
7
State Accounting Board
0
Supreme Advisory Council
2
General Elections Commission 2
total
74

Governor

30

0 %

Regent

331

1,5 %

Men Percentage
177
9,2 %
455
9 %
40
14,8 %
7
0 %
43
4,4 %
9
18,1 %
731
9 %

Some Indonesian women eminent figures

Freedom Fighters : Cut Nyak Dien, Cut Meuthia (Aceh)

Politics
: Marwah Daud Ibrahim (Sulawesi)
Education
: R.A. Kartini , Dewi Sartika, Mien R.
Uno , Anita Lie ( Java) , Astrid
Wiratna (Bandung)
Literature
: Ayu Utami (Bogor), Helvy Tiana
Rosa (Aceh-Chinese), Marga T.
(Jakarta), NH Dini ( Java)
Arts
: Christin Hakim (Sumatera), Titik
Puspa (kalimantan )
Economics
: Miranda S. Gultom, Rini Suwandi,
Dr. Sri Mulyani ( Java)
Scientist
: Dewi Fortuna Anwar (Sumatera), Pratiwi ( Java)