SOCIO-POLITICAL, CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS IMPLICATIONS ON WOMEN’S IDENTITY IN INDONESIA CONTEXT

A Sharing of experience and reflection

SOCIO-POLITICAL situation: the General Picture

• General picture perceived: women are free & enjoying freedom in the country Women have equal opportunity for education Women have equal opportunity for job

(guaranteed by the constitution) Women are protected by the law from any forms

domestic violence cont…

SOCIO-POLITICAL2

Political participation is guaranteed by the legal system (Act on political party, Act of Election System—guarantee of minimum 30% of women in the executive committee of political party, minimum 30% of women to be named by political party for legislative election)

cont…..

SOCIO-POLITICAL3

We have the National Commission on VAWWe have the National Commission on Child

ProtectionWe have the Minister of Women’s Empowerment

Programme

SOUNDS VERY NICE…???????????????????

• From those data: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF WOMEN’S IDENTITY IN INDONESIA

• ………………………………………….• What is the REAL PICTURE ?

(1) 152 regional regulations (influenced by religions)

• “In order to honor women as one of the pillar of the country, to protect them from any disrespectful acts by men, …..therefore……we require women in (Aceh, Padang, Tangerang, Garut, Batang, Bulukumba, etc… to observe as follows:

(1) not to go out in public areas after (7 pm, 8 pm, 9 pm unless….(2) to dress in respectful manner…..(3) to cover her whole body because the whole women’s body is

“aurat” ..(4) Not wear trousers especially jeans because…• HOW DO YOU SEE THIS?

THE 152 (+1) Regional Regulations are in fact:

• Limiting women’s movement by setting time for women to be allowed outside the house in the evening;

• Coding women’s body through dress coding,• Crimininalizing women’s body,• Confining & domisticating women• Limiting women’s access to economy.

Some Concrete Examples-True Life-Story:

In Aceh: Veil case in Banda Aceh and Long skirt over jeans and trousers in West Aceh, qanun on same-sex staying together as roommates & housemates, qanun on travelling for women, qanun on Jinayah-adultery (Islam Influence)

> In Bulukumba, Sulawesi: canning and stoning to death for adultery case in Bulukumba, Sulawesi (Islam influence)

– cont…..

True Life-Stories2

Tangerang (just neighboring Jakarta): A woman teacher was arrested while waiting for husband to pick her up, for being mistaken as “showing gesture that can be interpreted as inviting and signing for casual date” in Tangerang.

(2) Act on Anti-Pornography

.> Bill on Anti-Pornography which criminalizes women’s body was passed last year because it was supported by quite number of women’s groups (despite the fact that there is bigger number of wo/men groups also opposed it), and more important was supported by the ministry of women’s empowerment. (so far 1 case already 2 female singers were arrested, accused as performing something that can arise sexual desire of the men and therefore can be considered as porn).

(4) Gender sensitive policies applied

• Research done in 9 districts found they have implemented the “gender sensitive policies” & “pro-poor and gender basis budgeting”

• But…• What does it mean? Whose perspective?

(3) The Law doesn’t gurantee full protection Vis a Vis Religious teachings/leaders and money involved

• Syech Puji’s case: a 52 year-old rich Ullema/muslim leader was marrying 11 year-old girl as his 4th wife, and he won in the court despite the law on against child marriage. –Caused a big confusion to the young girl, named Ulfa.

CULTURAL TRADITIONS:

1. Indonesians are proud of their cultures2. Commonly understood that one of our big tasks as

Indonesians is to preserve our culture(s) 3. Cultures are understood as sacred tradition,

unchanged—(“adat”) 4. Against your culture is “Tidak beradat”, “tidak beradat”

in many tribal/ethnic groups/communities is considered as the lowest human beings, to excluded

CULTURAL..• Culturally speaking Indonesia is a very patriachal-kyriarchal

society, with more than 90% of its ethnic groups are following paternalistic culture, 1 ethnic groups is maternalistic (but still pater-kyriarchal in its practices), and a few number are in between, but also very pater-kyriarchal)

• In almost all adat throughout the country women are discriminated against, domesticated, marginalized socially, politically, and economically

• Examples: (1) bride-price traditions, (2) customary laws on inheritance (women have no legal rights to

inheritance or maximum half pf the men’s)

RELIGION:

• Indonesians are also very religious people• There is no place for “non-religious” people—

you have to state your religious believe (1 of 6 legally recognized religions) on your ID-card

• Religious teachings have big impacts on the people in general and women in particular

• Religious teachings Create self split for many women: how to make peace of two contradictory facts between reality and the teachings; between their dreams of what they wanted to be and the image of good women and good wife imposed by the Church or the Ullema teachings.

• Women’s body is defined by the religious instutions (very male).

• Examples: (1) the qanuns in Islam(2) Virginity test required by one prominent Church

in Indonesia for their female pastor candidates

Religi…

• Religion is being used as instrument for politic (for the men’s benefits, on the cost of women): criminalizing and victimizing women

HOW HAVE THESE IMPACTED ON WOMEN’S IDENTITY?

Women reacted differently

Some decided to take one strongest identity (ethnic, religion) as their identity created inconsistency due to conflicting traditions, teachings, not suitable situations

- Surprisingly many chose to pick up the more strict/conservative tradition example

- Some just do not know how to deal with all those conflicting elements or don’t bother at all

- Some simply try to get along and when it does not meet their practical and pragmatical ideas, they just manipulate it as much as they can and whenever they see a chance for itexample

As a result:

• Many women are lost…. Finding no foundation in their lives, not grounded, no subject-self

• Searching for meaning for life outside herself: outise authority? far-away God?

• Split personality, split self ( Leader in her company but submissive wife in the house? Suppressed bright-brilliant woman to submit to her not so intelligent husband created depression)

Some have decided to use their body as political instrument to make counter action of those stupid policies or regulations (rally, daily life)

Some –mostly without knowing-- have started to make Temporarily-Unlikely Coalitions