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Let
us start with two recent cases of disrespect toward women. First, Garut
Regent Aceng Fikri took a 17-year-old girl as his second wife in an
unregistered marriage (siri) only to divorce her by SMS four days later,
claiming she was not a virgin. He locked her in his home for days after the
wedding day.
Second, judge Muhammad Daming Sunusi, the head of the Banjarmasin High
Court, told House of Representatives’ members who grilled him during a
selection of Supreme Court justices that “both the victim of rape and the
rapist might have enjoyed their intercourse together, so we should think
twice before handing down the death penalty”.
Deanna Ramsay (The Jakarta Post, Feb. 14) said the two cases marked a bad
start to the year for women. I beg to differ.
To assess respect for women in current contestation of public policy
discourse, we need to look back at the history of Indonesia, where women
have often played a significant role.
Kartini’s intellectual awakening and the social change she ushered in by
promoting formal education for women back in the 19th century led many to
continue her deeds. On the war front, Aceh’s Cut Nyak Dien’s ferocious
fight against the Dutch was an inspiration in the pre-independence
movement.
The two names were prominent examples of the many heroines who have shed
blood, sweat and tears for a free Indonesia.
Among the cultural royalty, including religious clerics, military leaders
and educated professionals that made up 68 Indonesian members of the
Preparatory Body for Indonesian Independence (BPUPKI), there were two
female members: Siti Mangunpuspito who headed the women’s division at the
Jakarta Office of Java Hokokai and Maria Ulfah, who was later appointed social
services minister (1946-1947).
A historian and political scientist expressed surprise when he discovered
the issue of women voting rights was unanimously passed without any
prolonged debate back in 1945 despite strong patriarchic tendencies in many
of Indonesia’s ethnic groups.
Founding president Sukarno appointed three more female ministers during his
reign, who were SK Trimurti as manpower minister (1947-1948), Rusiah
Sardjono as social services minister (1962-1966) and Artati M Sudirdjo as
basic education and culture minister (1964-1966).
Such a journey was not as smooth in other countries. Unlike Indonesia, the
US took 157 years after independence to install a female minister, when
Frances Perkins was appointed secretary of labor under the progressive
presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1933. Women in the US then had
to wait for another 44 years until two more women, Juanita M Krepps and
Patricia R Harris, were appointed ministers during the Jimmy Carter
presidency in 1977-1981.
Historically, the 56 delegates of the second Continental Congress that
signed the US Declaration of Independence in 1776 were all white males and
it took the Americans 144 years to grant voting rights to women in 1920.
Even after 1945, seven state legislatures had yet to affirm the equal
right, with Mississippi
being the last in 1984.
While its fair to argue that a progressive movement in the 20th century
affected many countries in the world simultaneously, it is hard to state
that respect for women in Indonesia was not an ingrained part of the
independence movement here and, at least partially, was hardwired to
national institutions and conventions. Nevertheless, we have to admit that
the women’s movement in Indonesia has had its ups and downs along the way.
Islam, the religion of the majority of Indonesians, has sometimes been
misused as justification for disrespectful acts against women. Many
deliberately ignore numerous instances where the Koran and Hadiths clearly
hold women in high regard. One of the latter being that the best Muslim men
are those who treat women and wives the best (Hadith by Tirmidzi: 285).
Sometimes in public policy, the public backlash is more important and lasts
longer than the act itself. In the cases of Aceng and Daming, the reaction
was quick and harsh. Aceng faces imminent impeachment upon request of the
Regional Legislative Council (DPRD), while Daming has to bury his dream of
wearing a Supreme Court robe after receiving a “no” vote in the House.
In both cases, the offenders fell from grace in five nasty and brutish
stages.
First, unflattering comments, jokes and photo-shopped images spread like
wildfire through BlackBerry messenger groups, Twitter and other social
media outlets.
Second, print and electronic media highlighted their misdeeds.
Third, prominent women activists and NGOs concerned for women turned up the
volume of protest.
Fourth, leaders of state institutions with built-in tendencies to protect
women such as the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), the
National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) and the
Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry, all shared their concern
and condemnation.
Fifth, a very public brouhaha convinced state and political party figures
to deal the two men a deadly blow.
The boycotting power of women was also evident in the cases of Puspo
Wardoyo, owner of Wong Solo restaurant chain and Muslim cleric Abdullah
Gymnastiar who both practice polygamy.
Indeed, the rising power of women has a positive impact on politics. Any
ambitious Indonesian should avoid disrespecting women in words and deeds.
However, the trend will be more beneficial for Indonesia if the wrath of
women is also turned toward dealing with corruption, poverty and environmental
degradation that inflict damage on the country and its people in the long
run.
In her lyrics, American singer Aretha Franklin says women deserve just a
little bit of respect. In Indonesia, 2013 is a year of increasing political
respect for women and will pave the way for even better years ahead. ●
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