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ndonesian Women’s Congress (Kowani) chairwoman Giwo Rubianto Wiyogo has lambasted the derogatory use of the word emak-emak, a colloquial reference for women whose role is confined to household work .

Giwo, who spoke during the 35th General Assembly of the International Council of Women in Yogyakarta, suggested that the public use “mothers of the nation” instead.

“People should not use the term ‘the power of emak-emak’ to describe us,” Giwo said to a crowd of cheering women on Friday.

“The power of emak-emak” is a phrase that has been used in reference to recent women’s rallies in which participants demanded that the government lower the price of staple food and fuel, among other commodities. Grouped under Emak-Emak Militan (Militant Moms of Indonesia), dozens of participants staged a rally in front of the General Elections Commission (KPU) earlier this month to protest President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s candidacy in the upcoming presidential election and demand that he step down from the race.

The President, who also attended the event, doubled down on Giwo’s stance.

“Women are the mother[s] of the nation because they are the ones who educate our younger generations to become the nation’s future successors; who shaped our nation’s mentality; and maintain our nation’s morals,” Jokowi said in his remarks.

For a long time now, Jokowi continued, Indonesia has had many prominent heroines, such as feminist Raden Ajeng Kartini of Central Java, education activist Dewi Sartika of West Java and Aceh Sultanate navy admiral Malahayati.

“We have even more inspirational contemporary female figures, like entrepreneur Moeryati Sudibyo, [education activist] Butet Manurung, who taught children of the Anak Dalam tribe, environmentalist Mama Aleta Baum, former minister Meutia Hatta and pluralism activist Shinta Nuriyah Abdurrahman Wahid,” he said.

Emak-emak was initially a neutral term, but over time, people started to use it to highlight negative stereotypes associated with women, such as that a woman cannot wait in line or that a woman ignores traffic rules. The negative connotations associated with the word evolved when people began finishing sentences off with “Dasar emak-emak!” (“Typical women!”).

At the event, Wahid Foundation executive director Yenny Wahid emphasized that women played an important role in addressing current issues in the country, including gender inequality, human trafficking, domestic violence and radicalism.

“Women need to see themselves as [part of] the solution to those problems. They have to actively educate other people so that they can help in overcoming those issues,” Yenny said upon hosting her discussion session.

Some of the issues that needed attention from the government included the high prevalences of maternal and infant mortality, domestic violence, child marriage and women’s lack of participation in decision-making processes in politics, she said.

Yenny encouraged Kowani to keep voicing its concerns over these issues, while also encouraging male members of the public to take part in the campaign.

About 150 delegates from 18 different countries gathered in Yogyakarta to attend the 35th ICW General Assembly. This year’s assembly is focusing on transforming society through women’s empowerment. At this event, participants are also commemorating the 130th anniversary of the ICW as well as the 90th anniversary of Kowani.