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#Uninstall inequality, the other option
While Indonesia Tanpa Feminisme relies on simplistic clichés that paint feminism as “hating men”, feminist movements can more accurately be defined as seeking the social, economic and political equality of the sexes.
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Feminism illustration (Shutterstock/File)
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group calling itself Indonesia Tanpa Feminisme (Indonesia without feminism) is appealing to Indonesian women to “uninstall feminism”. But the group’s opposition to feminism is based on fundamental misunderstandings about the nature and content of the feminist movement, and campaigns along similar lines from like-minded individuals and groups could further spread such misunderstanding, impeding efforts to empower women and improve society.
While Indonesia Tanpa Feminisme relies on simplistic clichés that paint feminism as “hating men”, feminist movements can more accurately be defined as seeking the social, economic and political equality of the sexes.
At the core of the group’s campaign is an assertion that feminism is incompatible with Islam. This fails to recognize that gender equality is deeply rooted within the Islamic tradition. There are many instances in the history of Prophet Muhammad during which he commanded believers to respect women.
One of the most popular hadiths, as told by Bukhari and Muslim, tells of a man who came to the Prophet and asked him, who is the person most worthy of his respect? The Prophet replied “your mother” three times and then “your father”. There are also many verses in the Quran that do not differentiate between women and men and do, indeed, treat all human beings as inherently equal in the eyes of Allah. The Prophet Muhammad’s wife, Khadija, was a strong, independent and competent businesswoman who played a significant role in supporting Prophet Muhammad’s journey to spread the teachings of Islam.
The Prophet liberated women from slavery and sought to improve women’s rights during his lifetime.
There are countless references within Islam that support gender equality and, therefore, feminism. Understanding the true definition of feminism as seeking the equality of the sexes shows that Islam and feminism are not, in fact, opposing ideologies.
Indonesia Tanpa Feminisme’s slogan “My body is not mine, but Allah’s” deliberately targets the feminist slogan “My body is mine”, which means “My body is not owned by men”. It is a statement of autonomy and agency that rejects the commodification and violation of women’s bodies, such as by sexual harassment and rape.
