Indonesian women eye seats in parliament

Ahead of Indonesia's April elections, female candidates are knocking on doors, making Facebook "friends" and even singing at circumcision ceremonies to break the male stranglehold on parliament.

Jakarta candidate Fitriah Elvie Sukaesih, a singer of dangdut folk-pop songs at weddings and circumcision celebrations, has a unique campaigning style, waiting until her signature tune to make her political pitch. 

"I don't say things like 'vote for me' but before I sing my favourite song 'Sekuntum Mawar Merah' (A Stalk of Red Rose) I say I'm running for election and ask people to pray for me," she said. "I have received quite a lot of support." she adds. 

Not all the Indonesian women candidates have Sukaesih's talent for song, but they all share a passion for their country and a desire to change parliament's gender imbalance. 

About 360 of the 12,000 people vying for spots in the 560-seat House of Representatives are women, although women only account for 11 of the outgoing MPs. 

Hopes for a more equal distribution of power in the most populous Muslim-majority country were dashed last month when the government blocked a bid by the electoral commission to set aside 30 percent of seats for women. 

Womens activists and legislators have threatened to take to the streets to pressure the government to allocate more seats to women, but most admit they face an uphill battle in what remains a deeply patriarchal society. 

"In Indonesia, women are always sidelined in terms of access to education, health care, the economy and politics. Women always have to assume the supportive role while men take on the decision-making role," said Indonesian Women's Coalition secretary general Masruchah. 

"There are many women who meet the minimum criteria for the elections but the community always assumes women don't have the capacity to lead," she added. 

Centre for Electoral Reform analyst Hadar Nafis Gumay said Islam was another obstacle. 

"Indonesia is a male-dominated society and a lot of things, including politics, is done the Muslim way," he said. 

"A lot of Muslim political parties and religious leaders say women are not appropriate to lead the country and if a country is led by women, the country will be destroyed." 

Megawati Sukarnoputri, who led the country as president between 2001-2004, is a notable exception to the rule. But she also hails from an exceptional political family with a powerful legacy. 

The quietly-spoken leader of the Democratic Party of Struggle is the daughter of the country's first president, Sukarno, seen as the hero of Indonesian independence. 

Few would argue that without her pedigree Megawati would never have entered politics or won a single vote. 

Yet today she remains the closest rival of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as the liberal ex-general seeks re-election in July. 

"She benefited from her father's legacy (in 2001). That was her source of power. To become president this time round, she will have to prove that professionally she can do the job," said political analyst Sri Budi Eko Wardani. 

Women from less fortunate backgrounds have no such reservoir of power to draw upon as they take to the hustings ahead of the April 9 general elections. But they are not short of imagination, ideas and energy. 

Wearing a tracksuit and running shoes, Jakarta candidate and former television newscaster Yasmin Muntaz has been knocking on "thousands of doors" in her South Jakarta neighbourhood of Bintaro for the past three months. 

"The best time to visit homes is at 6:00 am. Everyone is awake and getting ready to go to work or school. I introduce myself and convince them to choose me," she said. 

Muntaz has also set up a profile on Internet networking site Facebook to post her thoughtson politics and chat with her 1,600 "friends". 

Many of the women may be cash-strapped and politically inexperienced, but they know their male competitors are seen as corrupt and lazy after a spate of corruption scandals involving senior male officials and lawmakers. 

"The public knows we aren't like male politicians who are corrupt and womanising, and that we are more meticulous than men. Those are our plus points," female lawmaker Watty Amir said. 

2. 'When it comes to money, women are better'

When it comes to money, women really are more responsible then men, with an international survey finding that they're less likely to get into debt and strive harder to become financially independent.

The global Reuters Synovate survey polled some 4,500 women in 12 countries about money matters. An equal number of men were also asked several questions related to finances.

The survey showed that just over half respondents of both genders said women are more responsible with money than men, with the highest level of agreement found in Mexico, where 72 percent of people believed women were better at handling finances.

And although more than 40 percent of women use part of their monthly income to pay off credit cards, some 70 percent of female respondents also said that having more than one credit card could lead to financial debt, revealing women's higher awareness.

"It's obviously not the card itself that causes anyone to use it. So the statement is really about control and temptation," said Claire Braverman, international market research firm Synovate's senior vice president of Financial Services in the United States.

"The ability to spend more, that you don't have in the first place, can certainly lead to debt. It means people have to control themselves and their spouses," she added.

More women believed in their financial ability than men, with 61 percent saying they were more responsible, while only 40 percent of men agreed.

But nearly half the women surveyed also conceded that they were bigger spenders than their male counterparts, with nearly 60 percent of men agreeing.

The survey was conducted in December in Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, South Africa, Britain, and the US.

Synovate's Bateman said the survey's findings could help financial companies understand women's needs, as they tend to live longer than men, and typically have less money on retiring.

Women who pool their finances with a spouse or a partner are also likely to suffer more if the relationship ends.

"Some women have checks in place to guard against this happening to them, some don't. Some are financially savvy, and some are simply not interested," she said.

Nearly six in 10 women considered themselves to be financially independent, which for 41 percent meant not having to rely on a partner for money and living debt-free for a third of respondents.

The survey, however, found that despite their independence, 43 percent of women believed that a man should be responsible for the mortgage or the house payments. 

3. Perempuan dan Media Perempuan 

Their power against the men talking. That is the female author of popular novels in the era of 1970s. They no longer "the subject of the statement," but to "a subject that speaks." Prof. Soepomo only call Ike, Mira W., Titie Said, La Rose, Marga T., and a line of other names. They try to be dynamic and develop the ideals of women as free and independent. 

NH. Dini, novelist generation earlier, had admitted writing the menyeruak passion for any reason. When the first to write a latent energy, now they find "the aspiration," which is available over the emergence of women's magazines such as Femina, Kartini, Family, and Sarinah. The author of the novel pop start learning in composing rubric cliff in the middle of women's magazines are mushrooming. Not just the lifestyle, magazines that have the print of the woman author. We realize it or not, they tried to seize power at the same time refuse to be. The women split the novelist "kebisuan text" with the speaking and writing. Perhaps they inspired magical medium epistolaire alias correspondence Kartini. 

Lifestyle Agent. Looking at the development of women's magazines since the early 1970s era, implied idealism of women to develop themselves as individuals. Independent, are broad, and not dominated by male power. Magazines also mengkonsepsikan ideal image of women. Not terbelenggu routines neighboring houses, but also on the development of responsive community. Career women or women kantoran is the main target of the magazine. 

Unfortunately, this woman claims exemption branch roads with a so-called "market demand". They print a free and independent woman, but at the same time make it as a weak creature. Instead of being understanding, achievement, women displayed more sex appeal it. Unlike the magazines in the early days of women's movement, the only fighting for equality rights of women and men (Read: Genita your pick). They want to be a leader for himself, does not want to depend on and be men. 

Women's magazine since the early 1970s era save dizziness. They were busy formulating the ideal image of women, according to the criteria of middle-class women. Femina, who first published on 18 September 1972, for example, originally wanted to appear friendly and able to capture the aspirations of women. They also offer a practical course, clean, and not complicated. 

Referring to Libelle and Margriet, a Dutch, Femina women tend to give the image of a free and independent, separated from family or community cuffs. Women appear as a subject, not object. On the other hand they also have the "rubric rubric-domestic" such as beauty, fashion clothing, home, and cuisine. Uphold the ideals remain, without ignoring the benefits of business. "The emergence of Femina give the opportunity for young women to be more capable mengaktualisasikan with," I Widarti Gunawan, in an interview with the daily. They grow into middle-class women's magazines over. "Magazines want to achieve this broad objective the middle while offering the style and taste that was considered only a limited circle prerogatif high," said Toety Heraty Noerhadi, philosophy doctorate. However, as an editor once disinggung agents, issues of women's behavior does not, for example, compared with the problem perselingkuhan the celebrities or gossip. 

This is a little different from the Kartini, the competitors, the real story about middle-class people to melt down nan. Offer a glimpse of reality, but the emotions of readers by the nose. Do not fail your attempt to appear more intelligent, and not simply "mempertangis" readers. 

"We continue to change ourselves, soalnya readers also continue to change. If ten years ago mothers Kartini readers early in the morning standing in front of the house put on the waiting trailer house dress fitter vegetables, now they use the car went out shopping in the supermall, "said Motinggo Busye, deceased, to the mid 1997 Kompas. Despite the reality of your social class, that November 10 1974, it was in the bottom segment of Femina readers until now. In addition to Femina and Kartini, pop magazines female "agent lifestyle." They continue to print the new trends, according to mobility and lifestyle of women of the city. The perpetrators of these media continue to flirt, be thought that the lifestyle of the "middle class". Only a Swara Kartini Indonesia, Dewi, Fashion, Crown, Makeup, Nova, Indonesia Women, Aura, and Cita Cinta, and cosmopolitan. 

Taboid Aura, bertiras 250,000 copies, display tips, tricks to solve specific problems of women, the problem started beauty, clothing, and family harmony. Despite berobsesi increase the degree and dignity of women, Aura is less awareness of the substance of gender (gender conciousness). He beat poke domestic issues, with the grace and modesty. Ideal image of women dikonstruksikan physically. Without becoming aware of women slaves komersialisme. 

Tabloid Wanita Indonesia also tweedledum and money. He provides a rubric for special events tragic community classes, but only "blue-confuse" readers. Actual events that eerie, exciting, smart, unique, or sad, without touching the lead on emotional substance. Readers teperdaya shadow-cast shadows, terbentuknya that impede the self-image of women is strong. Commercial. Tragisnya, magazines or taloid women would not be reluctant to sell sexuality. Cosmopolitan, for example, that women want to have their own identity and is able to achieve the best in all aspects of life. But, the cosmopolitan is selling women's sexual attraction. The reason was, "Men like women who menggandrunginya, and like women who are very aware of the attractiveness of the body and tend to dress like strict or less!" Isn'T think awareness of gender problems, for them, sexuality is a means of conquering the world. Rarely a media women who dare to utter ideology aligned to the fate of women, especially middle to lower

(grassroot). "How can we present the news to the bottom without it is in the circle?" Said Gunawan Widarti circumvent. Nursyahbani Katjasungkana own deplore the attitude of the media that are less gender sensitive. Fortunately he was given the opportunity rubric "I freely use this opportunity to discuss the power relations of men and women," said the director of the LBH is slick, "tail-buntutnya despite frequent protests to receive the hard man!" Okelah he defend the substance of liberal ideology that women's side. But how many people are lucky like Nursyahbani? Grip in the market economy, mass media will only become pop culture vehicle. He was even a commercial, even a slave komersialisme. "It is a mirror of the popular mind," said Camille Paglia, a feminist. What is the tune and the public, that should be. No wonder if the magazine women reluctantly offer gender equality discourse. "Yah, the media difficult to find women who are able to maintain the gender ideology, and fortunately without loss count," said Nursyahbani. 

Fate of women began to shift from keterpurukan. They are free from keterasingan a lonely and harrowing. Manisnya this freedom may be spelled out of the rebellion was the only cultural Kartini bersenjatakan media epistolaire (correspondence). Letters that Kartini terangkum in Door Duisternis Toot Licht has been split kebisuan women in those times. Indignation felt in the mail-suratnya not just loud and hideous, but it appears the vessel executioner cut against the cultural repression of the rights of women. Not only women memupus longing akan manisnya freedom, he split kebungkaman woman, who has been a haven for power. 

After the wife of R. Adipati Djaja Adiningrat, Rembang regent, died in the 1904, appear the newspaper, magazine or newsletter idea of pouring the exemption of women. The activist organization of women of those days that the writing language to arouse awareness of the nation. Unless the problem domesticity, the establishment of women in accordance with the new values such as polygamy, marriage, and decency, get a sharp beam. 

Not easily reveal the existence of the first women's magazine in the country. Myra Sidharta, researchers Chinese literature, thought that the women's magazine is the first Wi Sien Tiong Hwa Po, that the 1906 and diasuh half a woman, Lien Titie Nio. Following up is the women's magazine Poeteri Indies led R. T. A. Tirtokoesoemo, regent Karanganyar, which then became the head of the Association Boedi Oetomo. One dwimingguan magazine of the same name published a year later by Javasche Bookhandel based in Bogor Buitenzoerg alias. 

In fact the spirit kebisuan break through any posts to grow out Java. Soenting Melajoe, the newspaper of women in the oldest, was first published on 6 July 1912. Weekly newspaper (circulation of eight days) is published by Snelpersdrukkerij "People Alam Minangkabau," led Datoe Soetan Maharadja. 

Although the problem of women strip, Datoe Soetan Maharadja use Soenting Melajoe for mengeritik the Dutch government and the peerage. Not only bertutur are unadorned, but diselingi lyric-poetic verse and the tune-pantun Minangkabau society. In addition Soenting Melajoe also published in the magazine Kaoetaman wife Minangkabaoe. The magazine also published a claim Eva as a pictorial for the women (geillustrated blaad voor de vrouw). 

Local women's magazine, the color also appears in Women's Sworo that in Pacitan, East Java. The principles of progress in women's magazines led R. A. Siti Soendari is presented in Java script. Not much different, Hesti Oetama, women's magazine that dwimingguan in Solo in 1918 also used the Java language and writing.

For women, half Dutch, Dutch-speaking diterbitkanlah magazine, which is Maanblaad van de Vereeniging voor Nederlandsch Indie Vrouwenkiesrecht in and Maanblaad van de Vereeniging voor Vrouwenrechts in Nederlandsch Indie. Meanwhile, a descendant of Arab women, a monthly magazine published Worosoesilo wife, in 1918, using the Arabic language and script and not berilustrasi. 

Peak magazine euforia women 20s era marked the emergence Doenia wife, dwimingguan that soerat chabar perempoean confess that this one in the Indies. Printed the first time with the handset and make up techniques of black and white photos, Doenia wife in 1922 to encourage progress which is very useful for women.

Euforia women's magazines began to subside with the emergence over time of Japanese occupation. The women's organizations, except those who espouse Japan, make the publication less prominent women's magazine. A number of women diberangus magazine. 

Women split kevakuman magazine, Ani Idrus, Waspada newspaper owners, establish Doenia Women who financed their own shopping with the money. Magazine that was founded on 15 June 1949 in Medan is quite radical and the conservative mind to leave the world of women who do not go out of business and household kitchen. Since the beginning Doenia Women's censure prohibition for women who want to menggeluti world public. 

Mengumbar luxury. Entering the New Order era, trends in women's magazines have ideology shift. Style and taste of the ideal woman, who authorities initially considered to be secondary to the women, ranging dipopulerkan. They resemble the image of the ideal women's clothing to treat the body skills. Despite occasional calls exemption of women, women's magazine in 1970-an era of less brave explain this gender ideology is transparent. In fact, they lead readers mengumbar consumer appetite alias that is not the luxury of terbendung, as melambungnya capitalist economic system. 

Femina magazine, which published on 18 September 1972, for example, women who mencitrakan free, independent, and not Dilecehkan men in all means. However Femina rubric also shows the beauty of "super-shining", which is considered less educated people to live simple. "We see an image of the women offered the middle to improve the taste of the self-high," said Toeti Herati Noerhadi, activist women.

Payahnya, hedonistis trend is nearly melekati women's magazines circulating until now. Exploitation of luxury and beauty of female body becomes the main attraction every edisinya. Cosmopolitan even believe sexual attraction is conquering the world of weapons. "Some clothing comes without the need to cover the chest in full. Nah, how beranikah you wear? "Magazine editor to write this. 

The perpetrators of the media dare not express their own gender equality. They worry less tune the dish. May be spelled only one line of media women's rights defenders, that is, the Journal of Women. But they have not been able to penetrate the women's media domination profit oriented. "We realize feminism ideology has not been popular here," said Adriana Venny, activists Journal of Women.