Indonesian Women still reluctant to enter Politics
MUKHAMAD Subkhan (Indonesia)
By the election 2009 for Indonesia’s parliament, the percentage of female legislators
reached its highest level in history. However, many parties, and particularly women’s
rights activists, have not yet seen any significant changes to the country in terms ofgender equality and female empowerment.
Indonesia holds elections for legislators at the district, prefecture and national levels.
These elections are conducted every 5 years. Data from the KPU Indonesia (KPU,

Komite Pemilihan Umum: Electoral Commission) shows that the percentage of female
legislators with the 2009 parliament’s election increased to 18% from 11% in the 2004
election. The ratio women voters and men are 53%-47%, 49.8%-50.2% in 2004 and 2009
year, respectively. The 2009 election results help broaden the perspectives regarding
women’s political representation in legislative bodies.
Since the reform passed, the issue of representation of women has changed andbecome a part of the policy agenda. Policies to encourage participation andrepresentation of women in the political process have been formalized in two regulatory
revisions. One of the policies for 2004 election was that a party should pay attention togender equality and justice as well as recognize the representation of women inmanagement. Additional policies for the 2009 election was that a party should recruit atleast 30% of women for its management level. This of course will ultimately improve thefunction of a genuine democracy.
Evaluation of two elections (2004 and 2009) shows the dynamics related to therepresentation of women both at the level of regulation and competition in the politicalspace available.
Of course, increasing the quantity of female legislators will not yield anything better
results, if it is not followed by an improvement in their quality. A legislature has
functions such as making some rules/constitutions; drafting state budgets; and otherauthorities granted by the Constitution. These are powerful tools which can be used tohelp improve gender equality in this country. If the quantity of female legislators
increases, they can make rules that are sensitive to gender. In addition, they canoversee the implementation and create a budget that’s at least advantageous for women.
The reason is in general men and women have different mindsets. In Indonesia, thedisparity between men and women starts from the elementary school level, particularly
in remote areas.

Women are still suffering discrimination there.

As a result, as they grow up, women continue to be seen as second-class citizens. Thishas to be stopped. And the government must change its discriminatory outlook.
Otherwise, the country will not be able to produce high level women.
Although many high level Indonesian women also think about the problems of womenand want to go into the legislature / executive branch, they do not want to join aparticular party. This is because the image of the party in Indonesia is corrupt alongwith other not so positive perceptions.
Actually, young people have no interest in politics because they know that politics are
not clean. Subsequently, they do not want not to join in.

Young people are more

focused on jobs, studies or other activities than politics. In the last elections (2009 and2004), the ratio of people who did not vote (Golput, golongan putih: white group)
increased, especially among young people. To overcome this problem, many government
agencies are launching many campaigns on the importance of women’s involvement inpolitics. The campaigns will target women at many levels from college students,
company employers, teachers to housewives. Hopefully, they will garner knowledge on
politics and eventually develop an interest in it.
Indonesia has as its target a 30% ratio for female legislators as stipulated in the law.
It will be hard for us to reach 30% in the next period, but the percentage from thecurrent level should be increased. Although the number of female politicians has
gradually increased, many gender equality problems remain.