Comments: Celebrating Women’s Day with sadness

May 9, p. 8

While International Women’s Day (March 8) is a day when we celebrate the past, present and future progress of women and appreciate what women have done to improve the nation and the new generation; this is always a good time for us to check the progress of our country.  On paper, Indonesia’ economic performance has improved since 2007.  (By Leya Cattleya, Perbaungan, North Sumatra)

Your comments:
We celebrate International Women’s Day every March 8, Kartini Day every April 21, and Mother’s Day every Dec. 22, so why are we falling deeper and deeper into sadness? These days should be reminders about the existing inequality.
The inability to seriously put women on the same level as men, and the failure to protect women against violence and discrimination represents the ignorance of the country and the people toward respecting human and women’s rights.
Santika Rana
Tangerang

Poverty has pushed back Indonesian women from making any positive progress.
The increasing number of female migrant workers indicates there are hopes and opportunities that these women seek abroad. While being at home is what these migrant workers want, back home the challenges are too many to face.
Working in a rice paddy is no longer a profitable job. No other jobs are available and the big cities are already packed with migrants. Does the government understand that the impacts of poverty on women are really serious?
Haryati S.
Hong Kong

I know zip about this specific day. Talking about equality, I believe this day could become a day for all (not only women) to fight for equality.
Ahmad Rohani
Jakarta