Dirty politics, clean women?

Julia Suryakusuma ,  JAKARTA   |  Wed, 04/22/2009 12:34 PM  |  Opinion

For a long time, I wasn't sure who should get my vote in the recent elections of April 9. But there was one person I would definitely have voted for if he had been running: my editor-in-chief, Endy Bayuni. No, I am not saying this to suck up to him because I want a pay rise (overdue though it is!), but because he wrote something that made me see him, and the elections, in a different light.

It was the opinion piece Endy wrote on April 8, titled "Why I will give my vote to women candidates", in which he said he'd vote for women because women candidates are less corrupt than their male counterparts. Here's what he wrote:

"Women politicians are most likely to understand better and be more sensitive than their male counterparts about social issues such as education, health, family problems and poverty.

"When dealing with tension and conflicts or even wars, women politicians are less likely to be gung-ho and macho than male politicians . Sending women to the legislatures may see a more humanistic and developmental approach to the nation's problems." Sounds right to me!

He also said that women leaders are not authoritarian, and that sounds right too . apart from women like Margaret Thatcher (1979-1990), that is. And Indira Gandhi (1966-1977, 1980-1984). Oh, and don't forget Golda Meir (1969-1974), Sirimavo Bandaranaike (1960-1965, 1970-1977, 1994-2000) and Sheik Hasina Wajed (1996-2001 and since Jan. 6, 2009), or even Benazir Bhutto (1988-1990, 1993-1996). And plenty of others too.

Well, anyway, at least women leaders are often more attractive. Well, OK, most of the previous list have to be excluded, but just think of Yuliya Tymoshenko, PM of Ukraine, or Radmina Sekerinska, acting PM of Macedonia, and, again, Benazir Bhutto.

Women leaders are often more open about their sexuality too. In fact, Ilona Staller aka Cicciolina, the Hungarian-born Italian politician, was blatantly, flagrantly, open. Literally: she became famous for flashing her breasts in public while campaigning. Well, as a former hardcore XXX performer, we'd expect no less, would we?

I don't think Endy was thinking about breast flashing though (or was he?) when he wrote about female legislators. But the big point is that honesty about sexuality can indicate a general degree of honesty and courage, as in the case of Penny Wong, the Australian Minister for Climate Change, one of the first openly lesbian cabinet ministers in the world. In fact, while there are now many LGBT politicians in the world, it was a woman - Johanna Sidurdardsottir, prime minister of Iceland - who became the first ever openly gay head of a national government. Wow! Can't imagine that happening anytime soon in Indonesia - we're having a hard enough time just getting the ol' affirmative action goin'!

In fact, our few female politicians here in Indonesia still face huge challenges just to get elected, so let me tell you about five of them who have. Four wear jilbabs, so they're not exactly Ilona Stallers, but they all fit Endy's description of "sensitive, understanding and humanistic" leaders. All are from regional areas and are ordinary women - teachers, activists, housewives - committed to serving the public.

Andi Asia A. Pananrangi is one of eight women out of a total of 45 national legislators from the regency of Bone, South Sulawesi. She's had a wealth of experience in gender budgeting, political education for women voters, economic empowerment of women market traders, and assisting victims of domestic violence. Sadly, her efforts are not appreciated, in fact they're often said to be discriminatory towards men. Hello?

Andi Mariattang is a member of the regional parliament of South Sulawesi. She's considered one of the leading politicians in her region, and the International Republican Institute (IRI) even says she's one of the seven most influential women politicians in the whole country. Andi feels that the Indonesian government and the political elite don't really side with the people yet.

Illiza Sa'aduddin Djamal is very young (born 1973) but she is already the deputy mayor of Banda Aceh (2006-2012). In office just three years, she's already backed a number of progressive changes, including an umbrella regulation for gender mainstreaming that implements affirmative action at the local level. The result? Two female district heads, a female district head assistant, and female head of a local government office.

Esti Wijayanti is a legislator from Yogyakarta (1999-2004). For her, the hardest thing is when you know that a policy is not right but has become binding. Many of these policies merely improve the welfare of legislators themselves, at the expense of the people, she says.

Rina Iriani Sri Ratnaningsih is the Regent of Karanganyar in Central Java and was previously an elementary school teacher - probably ideal training for politics, as she often has to face childish politicians, including the ones who tried to delay her swearing in, despite the fact that she had won the election. She went straight to the minister of internal affairs and the President to straighten things out. Because of her outstanding performance, she's now supported by a number of major parties.

Against the odds, each of these women is a successful public servant and leader. But how can they be sure that their achievements won't be bulldozed in the future by money politics, vested power interests and the persistent patriarchal mentality that dominates the bureaucracy? And what about the influx of celebrities or women who become legislators because of their families or connections, hijacking the cause of gender equality in government?

Of course, not all women politicians and leaders are like Asia, Andi, Esti, Ely or Rina. They may be more like Maggie, Indira, or Sirimavo. The reality is, of course, women have different characters, personalities, tendencies, and come from many different backgrounds. Like men, they are part of the people - in fact, 50 percent of them, in case you'd forgotten. And a survey done in early March says more than 80 percent of voters would support a female candidate (take note, all presidential candidates!). Surely these are enough reasons to have women in office? To make our democracy a truly representative one.

But I've yet to meet a male version of the honorable Ilona Staller! Would sure love it if there was! Smart and dashing . and flashing! Ooooh!

The writer is the author of Sex, Power and Nation.

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