Voices of Strong Women amid Pandemic

The resilience of a number of women throughout the country in facing the pandemic could boost the nation’s strength in overcoming the ongoing crisis.

DOKUMENTASI/HUMAS PPPA

Minister of Women\'s Empowerment and Child Protection I Gusti Ayu Bintang Darmawati

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the importance of public resilience. Not only have Indonesian women served as the foundation of family resilience during this difficult time, they have also played a crucial role in spearheading pandemic management and scientific breakthroughs.

Farmer and local food activist Maria Loretha from East Flores, expert on infectious diseases and public health Adi Utarini from Gadjah Mada University and Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology deputy director Herawati Sudoyo are all women who have shown their dedication to public welfare.

Also read: Mother\'s Day and the New Order

On Monday (21/12/2020), Maria Loretha said the pandemic had demonstrated the importance of food resilience based on local resources. Loretha, who initiated the cultivation of sorghum in Flores and neighboring areas, has enhanced her campaign during the pandemic to encourage farmers to reorient their focus on local food in order to address the issue of stunting and malnutrition in the region. “Women have a central role in overcoming the pandemic, as well as malnutrition on the family level,” said Loretha.

Herawati Sudoyo said almost all the researchers at the Eijkman Institute were women, all of whom have been involved in managing COVID-19, such as through reagent testing and vaccine development.

Also read: Supporting Health Through Science

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

Human geneticist at the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology Herawati Sudoyo

Gender equality

Mother’s Day offers a moment to further champion gender equality and the abolishion of child marriage, human trafficking and other forms of abuse of women. This year’s Mother’s Day must reinforce the Women’s Movement commitment, which was introduced during the first Women’s Congress on Dec. 22, 1928.

“History has shown that freedom is interwoven with women’s struggle. The essence of celebrating Mother’s Day is to support women through various ways,” said Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister I Gusti Ayu Bintang Darmawati on Monday (21/12) in Jakarta.

Also read: Women’s Model for Environmental Conservation

The strategic role of women is evident as well in the increase of Indonesia’s scores in the Gender Development Index (GDI) and Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM). In 2019, Indonesia’s GDI score stood at 91.07, while in 2018 it was 90.99. Meanwhile, Indonesia’s GEM score in 2019 was 75.24, while in 2018 it was 72.10.

The capability and resilience of mothers in regions plagued with the COVID-19 pandemic have bolstered the nation in its efforts to overcome the crisis. Other than being the cornerstones of families, mothers have also played multilayered roles in taking care of household needs, educating children and supporting the household economy.

TANGKAPAN LAYAR VIDEO REKAMAN SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said the women’s struggle in the country began long before the conception of the Republic of Indonesia, namely since 1928 when the first Women’s Congress was held. “It’s proof that women are familiar with the nation and the state,” said Sri.

Misiyah, executive director of women’s rights advocacy group institute KAPAL Perempuan asserted that Mother’s Day served as an impetus for concrete action to eradicate abuses against women. “It takes determination to unravel layers of gender inequality and to break the chain of the problem,” said Misiyah.

It’s proof that women are familiar with the nation and the state.

Gender equality had to be bolstered by fostering critical awareness among women. “Improving their capacity would encourage women to realize that gender inequality is unacceptable,” said Misiyah.

Also read: Latifah Nurahmi Robot for Humanity

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Alissa Wahid

National coordinator of Gusdurian, Allisa Wahid, said the larger role that women played vis-à-vis men in certain aspects must be acknowledged by all parties.

Regardless, the established system, coupled with the practices of image building, have prevented women from taking an active role in the public sphere.

While the number of women participating in non-domestic roles has increased, the pressure for women to be able to manage the house and take care of their husband and children remained. “It should be fairly shared. The house is owned by both the husband and the wife, and they are also together responsible for the family. Domestic affairs must be divided fairly,” said Alissa.

The house is owned by both the husband and the wife, and they are also together responsible for the family.

During the pandemic, in particular, when people’s lives largely take place within their homes, dividing domestic roles is crucial so that women are not solely burdened by them. A balance is required to encourage women to take proactive action in overcoming the multidimensional crisis caused by the pandemic. For instance, when a family’s income is jeopardized after the husband loses his job, the wife could take action.

Anis Hidayah, the founder of Migrant Care, said women had a pivotal role in fighting the pandemic. Many public solidarity campaigns are led by female activists, such as ones in Papua and East Nusa Tenggara, who open soup kitchens, collect donations and support families impacted by the pandemic.

Human rights activist Maria Catarina Sumarsih added that women had to equip themselves with knowledge as capital to play their role as citizens participating in the building of the nation. (SON/IAN/AIK/SYA)