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Policewomen struggle for recognition amid force's poor image
There were only 1,726 policewomen as of August, accounting for 5 percent of the force’s 31,526 members.
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Members of the women's officer corps are on standby at the National Monument (Monas) complex in Central Jakarta on Nov. 4, 2016. (JP/Callistasia Anggun Wijaya )
F
or Brig. Indah, the opportunity to become a police officer was a dream come true and being sworn in five years ago remains one of her proudest moments.
“We are trained to not only be mentally strong but also physically strong. This is not a job in which we ask that women be tolerated but we demand that they not be seen as inferior to men,” Indah told The Jakarta Post recently.
However, as much as women have become an integral part of the police force in Jakarta, the number of them on the force remains low compared to their male counterparts, with a decrease seen in the last few years.
Based on data from the Jakarta Police’s human resources, there were only 1,726 policewomen as of August, accounting for 5 percent of the force’s 31,526 members.
The number of policewomen had declined from 1,871 in 2017 and 1,764 in 2018. Meanwhile, there were only six new policewomen inaugurated in March, down from 20 in 2017 and 21 in 2018.
In addition to Jakarta proper, the Jakarta Police also have jurisdictions in West Java’s Depok and Bekasi municipalities and Bekasi regency, and in Banten’s Tangerang and South Tangerang municipalities and Tangerang regency.
Despite being small in number, Jakarta policewomen coordinating officer Adj. Sr. Comr. Agustin Susilowaty argued that it did not mean policewomen were considered mere auxiliaries to the corps.
