FES International Policy Analysis Unit

FES Journal - International Politics and Society

GENDER ISSUES - INDONESIA

The Indonesian constitution does not contain any articles on the equality of men and women. There aren't any specific laws on gender equality either. Still, the government tries to integrate women and state-sponsored women's organizations into the development process of the country. A Ministry for Women has been established for coordination purposes. Moreover, Indonesia has signed all UN treaties on women. Women have become part and parcel of the public and private sectors: as merchants, as entrepreneurs, as employees and as politicians. In the Lower House Indonesian women's representation amounts to 8.0 per cent. The very small percentage of female legislators indicates the under-representation of women in political decision making. However, Indonesia does have a female Vice President in Megawati Sukarno.

Gender inequality is inherent in the state system and in the structure of the culture. A women's potential for development is still restricted by an Islamic-patriarchal society in which men have priority over women. According to public opinion, women have certain duties within society, the most important of which are acting as their husband's right hand, organizing the home, and looking after the children.

The economic crisis of 1997 affected both women and men. However, women were more severely affected, both economically and socially. According to an ILO-Jakarta study, women are more often affected by unemployment than men. Also, women often experience severe job discrimination. The government's job-creating measures put women at a disadvantage. Moreover, women receive a mere 80 per cent of their male counterparts' earnings for the same job.

The process of opening and democratization within Indonesia has resulted in greater participation by the people, an increase in industrialization and individualization, and better education and training. Women are becoming increasingly aware of their potentials and women's organizations are expanding accordingly. Since the end of the 90s, the women's liberation movement has made great progress.

This is evidenced by the increasing number of women who have founded women's organizations or joined them. A women's party has also been established. KOWANI, an umbrella organization comprising 70 women's NGOs, has been actively involved in Post-Beijing implementation. KOWANI's focus is on women and poverty, women's economic empowerment, legal literacy, education, and violence against women. Moreover, Indonesian women's organizations are seeking to implement a 30 per cent quota for women in the National Parliament in order to improve their representation in politics.

However, there is still a lack of gender awareness in society, and a male dominated parliament is unlikely to take gender issues into consideration when developing policy. The UN treaties on women, all of which were signed by Indonesia, need to be evaluated and properly implemented.

Women and Political Participation in Indonesia - suggested readings

Reform is for us too: Politics for Women & Women for Politics, Report of the 11-12 May 1999, Jakarta Workshop jointly facilitated by International IDEA and YJP (Yayasan Jurnal Perempuan)
International IDEA Website

Gender Quotas in Indonesia
in: Global Database of Quotas for Women, A joint project of International IDEA and Stockholm University
International IDEA Website

The Political Representation of Women in Indonesia: How Can It Be Achieved?
Paper prepared by Chusnul Mar'iyah, PhD for the Regional Workshop on the Implementation of Quotas: Asian Experiences, hosted by International Institute for Democracy amd Electoral Assistance (IDEA) on 25 September 2002, Jakarta, Indonesia
International IDEA Website

Indonesian Institutions dealing with Gender Issues

Koalisi Perempuan Indonesia (KPI) The Indonesian Women’s Coalition for Justice and Democracy