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Empowerment is what women make of it
Admirable as it may sound, this seemingly praiseworthy idea of positioning women as “ibu bangsa” has been widely criticized especially by feminist scholars.
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Various prominent women in government and nongovernment sectors pose in this screen grab from the online-based G20 Women's Empowerment kick-off meeting held on Dec. 22, 2021. (Courtesy of Communications and Information Ministry/-)
D
ecember is the month of celebration for Indonesian women. On Dec. 22, we commemorate Hari Ibu, a day that signifies a remembrance of the rise of Indonesian women. Hari Ibu is, in my opinion, definitely more appropriately associated with Women’s Day due to its historic significance rather than Mother’s Day as we know it.
This common misconception is apparently caused by the term “ibu” that literally translates as “mother”. The name Hari Ibu itself came up during the third Congress of Indonesian Women in Bandung, 1938, referring to the date of the first congress 10 years earlier on Dec. 22, 1928. It was further declared that the main role of Indonesian women was to be “ibu bangsa” with noble responsibilities as mothers as well as women in general to dutifully dedicate their lives to the enhancement of the whole nation’s welfare.
Admirable as it may sound, this seemingly praiseworthy idea of positioning women as “ibu bangsa” has been widely criticized especially by feminist scholars. Julia Suryakusuma, for example, has voiced her concern about the concept of “state ibuism” that according to her is in fact a form of social control exercised by (New Order) government. Women are domesticated and used merely as an object to attain the government’s agenda nationwide.
One of the Indonesian women’s organizations that is often connected to “state ibuism” is Dharma Wanita Persatuan (DWP), which celebrated its 23rd anniversary on Dec. 7.
Dharma Wanita, literally translated as “women’s virtue”, is an organization for the wives of Indonesian civil servants. Since its original establishment in 1974 during the New Order era, there have been significant changes within the organization, notably in 1999, when the word “Persatuan” was added to the previous name to adjust with the spirit of Reform.
Based on its articles, every civil servant’s wife is automatically registered as a member of DWP, therefore the geographical scope of its membership encompasses not only those serving domestically but also the wives of Indonesian diplomats posted in foreign missions.
Being an organization associated with the government, DWP has also been a target of harsh criticism over the years. A study published by Sukanti Suryochondro, for example, was titled “Dharma Wanita: An asset or a curse?” Numerous articles criticize, among other issues, the basis of its leadership, which is determined by the official position of one’s husband rather than individual capacity, therefore undervaluing women’s potential. DWP is not always seen positively in the public eye, and often considered as part of the system that hinders the effort to empower women.
