Ikrar’s Inspirational Story: Making Impacts through Education

Inspirational Story in Teaching in 3T Areas

Feminist Society - The quote “everyone is a teacher and every place is a school” may aptly describe what Ikrar Aruming Wilujeng — a pengajar muda at the Indonesia Mengajar program who dedicates herself to teach children in the 3T (Tertinggal, Terdepan, and Terluar) area, is doing. Ikrar was placed in Kampung Menarbu, Roon District, Telok Wondama Regency, West Papua.

During the assignment period, Ikrar has been seeing directly the educational problems that exist in the assignment area. One of them is the condition in which students often skip school because they go with their parents during working. It brought Ikrar to an extraordinary idea, instead of forcing students to come to school, Ikrar came up with the solution of bringing the school (learning to teach activity) to where the students were. Ikrar believes that the essence of learning is not that we should go to school buildings or wear school uniforms, but rather how people can learn and get access of education. It prompted Ikrar to hold a class far away on the beach of Rowor (where the student's parents worked) with the aim that the students could continue learning.

What Ikrar did is an image of an unsung hero who not only pays attention to education but also participates directly in the efforts to advance Indonesian education. Ikrar’s passion for education has been ingrained in her even since childhood when she sat in a primary school through her father who was an education consultant at that time serving in Papua and her mother who was a volunteer teacher. A life attached to education from a young age is what makes Ikrar want to dedicate herself to teaching.

Before attending the Indonesia Mengajar program, Ikrar was an assistant professor at Universitas Islam Indonesia and Universitas Widya Mataram. At the time of becoming an assistant professor, Ikrar was pretty much dealing with students from the 3T areas. At that point, Ikrar began to realize firsthand that there was such a lame literacy gap between those from 3T areas and those from urban backgrounds who were supported with adequate access to education since they were children. That triggered Ikrar to join the Indonesia Mengajar program in order to be able to see firsthand the condition of children in remote areas and to be able to help reach out for efforts to enlighten the life of the nation as stated in the Preamble of the 1945 Constitution.

In joining the Indonesia Mengajar program, Ikrar had to go through a long and not-easy selection process that took about 4 to 5 months. Initially, Ikrar had to go through the administrative stages that must complete the dossier, after which Ikrar had to go through the stages of creating an essay and answer a series of questions. After going through the process, Ikrar’s journey was not finished, Ikrar still had to make a program plan. Where the remaining registrants were given a case study relating to an issue in the placement area, then they were required to resolve the issue with a program plan they had created. After qualifying in those stages, Ikrar must pass through an online direct assessment stage where the remaining participants discussed via Zoom Meeting to discuss the program plans they had created. When completing these stages, Ikrar still had to go through offline stages such as interviews, psychological tests, and assessments to conduct persuasive communication with stakeholders.

You can also read: Emanuella Malonda's Steep Journey in Fighting for Women's Rights: A Feminist Activist Who Struggles to Fight Against Intimidation

After going through such a long selection process, Ikrar was finally able to qualify as one of the 33 people who were selected as the pengajar muda in the Indonesia Mengajar program. All 33 chosen people were then arranged to be placed in the assignment area. Where the placement of pengajar muda was based on the needs of the village and the criteria of each pengajar muda that had been assessed during the training period. During the assignment period, besides teaching, Ikrar and other pengajar muda also have a mission to be able to find educational actors in the area with whom they can cooperate and network together to support and develop education in the assignment area. There are five parties that are the direct partners of pengajar muda during the assignment period, namely student’s parents, teachers, principals, the community, and the government.

During her assignment in Kampung Menarbu, Ikrar saw many educational problems. In terms of teaching process, phenomena such as the presence of teachers but no schools or phenomena where there are schools but inactive teachers are actually common. The lack of guaranteed teacher welfare often makes teachers inactive in teaching because they have to work in the fields to meet their daily needs that cannot be covered by their income as teachers who receive less attention. This condition used to make Ikrar to teach and handle students at school alone.

Meanwhile, from the student's perspective, there are also various problems and challenges. In addition to the condition of skipping school because of the reason of following parents to work, there is also a very concerning problem of access to school. There are still children whose distance from their homes to school must take a full day. This condition forces them not to be able to go to school.

Therefore, in carrying out her duties and networking, every effort and dedication made by Ikrar as a pengajar muda, no matter how small, is always considered meaningful. Even something as simple as being able to encourage teachers to come to school to teach or as simple as being able to convince parents to allow their children to go to school is considered an extraordinary achievement.

Ikrar's story and experience are proof of how important a program like Indonesia Mengajar is to support efforts to equalize education in Indonesia. Hopefully, Ikrar can be an example for all of us to take part in efforts to improve education in Indonesia. As simple as creating a safe and comfortable space for children to learn and develop themselves is more than enough. We can move to carry out similar teaching programs based on communities or individuals in our environment. We can also contribute directly by joining the Indonesia Mengajar program which is routinely opened every year and can be registered for those who meet the requirements such as having completed a bachelor's degree, not married, and under 30 years old. In addition, we can also contribute indirectly through Iuran Publik Indonesia Mengajar as a communal movement Where the public can donate through the indonesiamengajar.org/iuran page as an official channel where people can donate to support the Indonesia Mengajar program and give birth to other Ikrars.

In that session, we agreed on two things. First, Feminist Society will continue to support social movements that aim to benefit the surrounding, such as efforts to promote educational progress through teaching programs and human empowerment. Second, we agreed to continue to coordinate and collaborate in the future in advocacy and education efforts.

Programs like Indonesia Mengajar are also one of the factors that motivate Feminist Society to hold the Feminist Society Mengajar Program in rural areas in several provinces in Indonesia which has been running for the past few months.

If you have any case related to gender equality or feminist issues and you need either advocacy assistance, counseling, support for campaign media, or some kind of that, feel free to contact us by this section. All of those things are free, you do not need to pay anything, it is our commitment to promote progress in gender equality and women’s rights through education and advocacy.

You can also contact us on:

Instagram            : @feministsociety.id

Email                  : fem.official7@gmail.com

Patriarchical Views and Women's Exploitation Practices through the Prohibition of Sectio Caesarea on Childbirth and Contraceptive Use for Married Couples

Addriana Della Nasution

Sectio Caesarea on Childbirth and Contraceptive Use

Feminist Society - Women have a vulnerable position even when they have been stair-bound. The existence of taboo views on certain things to a view of patriarchy that still thickens in social life makes women unconsciously inclined to be ostracized by their own families and partners. Especially in the context of her role as a mother, women from the very beginning have experienced many difficulties.

Women as mothers will experience the process of pregnancy and childbirth which is certainly not very easy. A woman needs to conceive for 9 months (37-42 weeks) in her womb and when in the process of giving birth she has to fight by risking her life. After going through this process, a mother also needs to breastfeed and care for her baby while her condition is still in the postpartum recovery period.

To date, there are two methods in childbirth that can be performed by pregnant women: normal and Sectio Caesarea (SC). The normal method is the process of vaginal delivery. The Sectio Caesarea (SC) method is a surgical procedure on the abdomen and uterus to remove the fetus and placenta. Sectio Caesarea (SC) has also become an alternative to childbirth because it is considered easier and more convenient for a mother. This is also due to the fact that under certain conditions the normal delivery process can endanger the life of the mother and her baby, such as when the fetal position is transverse/breech, bleeding, premature rupture of amniotic fluid, pre-eclampsia, umbilical cord entanglement, hypertension, and others. It is safer to use the Sectio Caesarea (SC) method.

However, the presence of the Sectio Caesarea (SC) method does not necessarily answer the anxiety of pregnant women. This is due to the stigma in the main society in Indonesia if a woman does not give birth normally then she cannot be said to be a full mother. This view is in fact very dangerous for the permanence of mother and child in the process of childbirth that under certain conditions it is necessary to undergo the procedure of Sectio Caesarea (SC). In fact, there are many cases of fetal death due to not choosing the Sectio Caesarea (SC) method in Indonesia. If the condition is not treated with the Sectio Caesarea (SC) mechanism, it can potentially cause the conceived fetus to die.

You can also read: Catcalling: A Form of Sexual Harassment

The other patriarchal view is also common to the use of contraceptives for married couples which tends to be considered taboo. In fact, the role of contraceptives is very influential in carrying out pregnancy prevention for the mother. This certainly has a positive impact for married couples to carry out pregnancy prevention programs both because they are not prepared mentally, financially, or to provide birth gaps. Giving birth distance is important because a mother's body after childbirth needs at least 12-24 months to recover until she can get pregnant again.

American content creator Hannah Neelman and her husband Daniel Neeleman have eight children whose birth distance between each child is very close, because Daniel does not allow Hannah to use contraceptives because it is considered unnatural and uses chemicals. In addition, Hannah had no nanny so she raised 8 children alone. He cooks food every day without any of the instant ingredients, thus processing it from raw materials. This caused him to become so sick from exhaustion that he was only ever bedridden for one week.

The existence of events such as the case above is certainly of great concern. This proves that cases can still be encountered that harm on the part of women. A woman after marriage is often positioned as a weak party and must obey the decisions of her husband. Whereas the essence of marriage itself is to unite men and women in a bond so as to build a harmonious family in it. In the presence of cases such as the above, it is important to educate the public that Sectio Caesarea (SC) and the use of contraceptives is a natural and safe thing for a woman. Later, no similar cases were encountered. On the contrary, prohibiting the existence of both practices indicates the principle of patriarchy that in this case does not think about the interests and survival of mother and child.

If you are interested in issues related to gender equality and in-depth discussion about feminism, let's join with Feminist Society. Feminist Society aims to promote progress in gender equality and women’s rights activism through education and advocacy. To get related articles, please visit the page feminist-society.blogspot.com.

You can also contact us on:

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Email                     : fem.official7@gmail.com

View More:

Komarijah, Nurul, Setiawandari, and Yuni Khoirul Waroh. “Determinan Kejadian Persalinan Sectio Caesarea (Sc) Di Rsud Bangkalan.” Prosiding Seminar Nasional Hasil Riset Dan Pengabdian, 2023, 2513–22.

Nisak, Ana Zumrotun, Diah Andriani Kusumastuti, and Munawati Munawati. Perbedaan Metode Konvensional Dan Eracs Dengan Tingkat Nyeri Pada Pasien Post Sectio Cesarea. Jurnal Ilmu Keperawatan Dan Kebidanan. Volume 14. Number 1. https://doi.org/10.26751/jikk.v14i1.1689.

https://www.suara.com/lifestyle/2023/06/17/095500/viral-ibu-hamil-sudah-pecah-ketuban-malah-dilarang-mertua-dirujuk-ke-rumah-sakit-endingnya-bikin-warganet-emosi

https://www.liputan6.com/global/read/5658937/8-fakta-hannah-ballerina-farm-sosok-viral-yang-dijuluki-trad-wife?page=4

 

Emanuella Malonda's Steep Journey in Fighting for Women's Rights: A Feminist Activist Who Struggles to Fight Against Intimidation

Feminist Activist's Experience in Fighting against Intimidation

Feminist Society - “A lawbreaker who wants to provide legal aid, want to atone for sins?” “Be careful when choosing a legal aid, if I'm not mistaken this woman has committed violence” — those are the intimidating words that Emanuella Malonda, — a Sulawesi Utara feminist activist, received when she fought for women’s rights while providing legal aid to a child who was a victim of rape.

The existence of these intimidating words stems from Emanuella's personal problems in the past, having been a victim of a toxic relationship with her ex-boyfriend who at that time was almost brought to the legal realm (it was completed peacefully). With this past incident, Emanuella became an easy target to be attacked as if she was portrayed as someone who had legal problems, so it was not appropriate to provide legal assistance. In fact, the problem had been resolved peacefully. The intimidating verbal attacks came from a group of men who were friends of Emanuella's ex-boyfriend and also suspected members of the Law Enforcement officer. The worst thing is that they were all men, which seems to illustrate how women have a very vulnerable status in our society.

The intimidation began with a case that Emanuella and her Law Firm were trying to handle. In January 2024, they were suddenly asked to be legal counsel in a case of sexual violence against children that occurred in an area in North Minahasa Regency. Where it is suspected that a minor was raped by 9 men.

Before Emanuella and her law firm handled the case, the case had actually been reported to the authorities. But unfortunately, the case was stalled in the process with various obstacles, so when Emanuella and her law firm handled the case, in March 2024 they ultimately decided to hold a press conference with the intention of being able to draw public attention to the case so that it could help the law enforcement process.

It is validated that with the press conference and the case being blown up in the media, the case became a boom and could become a public concern. The press conference finally bore fruit, where after the case boomed, the law enforcement process that had previously stalled became clear where the case process finally ran. From 9 alleged perpetrators, 1 has reached the trial stage of witness examination, 4 people (adults) are at the investigation stage, and 4 others (children) are still at the suspect determination stage. This shows the significant role of Emanuella and her team in helping the case progress.

But unfortunately, with the little bright spot, it does not mean that Emanuella and her law firm's steps in providing legal assistance can run smoothly. From the booming case, it turned out to end with Emanuella being verbally intimidated. Emanuella deeply regrets when there are people who want to fight for women's rights but receive discriminatory and intimidating treatment. Moreover, these actions were carried out by alleged law enforcement officers who in essence should provide good examples and should not provide intimidating remarks that are tinged with misogyny that are very detrimental to women.

With this, Emanuella felt that she had been discriminated against and even criminalized by the alleged law enforcement officers. In fact, in this case, Emanuella was doing a noble thing to fight for the rights of other women by providing legal aid. The incident left Emanuella devastated and even traumatized because her past problems were brought up again which actually had nothing to do with the case she was handling. At that time, she almost decided to withdraw and stop overseeing the case because she felt traumatized by the attacks. However, with the support of the people around her, Emanuella re-strengthened her determination and goal to continue to be on the front lines of the struggle in defending women's rights and protecting oppressed women.

Conditions such as the continued prevalence of gender bias, lack of public awareness regarding the importance of gender equality, and the vulnerability of women are things that motivate Emanuella to continue to actively voice and fight for women's rights with the aim that people around her can be helped and educated.

You can also read: Revealing Ika Lailatun Nikmah's Struggle in Pursuing Higher Education: Challenges for Javanese Women in Accessing Education

In an interview session with the Feminist Society team, Emanuella hopes that more people will understand the importance of gender equality, both the government and society in general. Then Emanuella also hopes that in the future more youth will be involved and moved to fight for women's rights. In addition, Emanuella hopes that cases such as sexual violence against women, femicide, and so on can decrease in Indonesia in general and in North Sulawesi in particular.

In that session, we also agreed on two things. First, the Feminist Society will remain firm in supporting all movements that fight for women's rights, therefore the Feminist Society strongly condemns any acts of intimidation against those who fight for women's rights. Second, we agreed to continue to work together and coordinate between Emanuella and her law firm with the Feminist Society in voicing and fighting for the rights of women and those who are oppressed. Where if in the future there are developments in related issues, both parties will continue to coordinate with each other.

Feminist Society also encourages law enforcers who handle all stages of the law enforcement process in the related case to be able to have a more victim and human rights perspective so that the case can be clarified. This is in accordance with the provisions of Article 21 of Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning Criminal Acts of Sexual Violence which mandates that investigators, public prosecutors, and judges who handle cases of sexual violence must have the competence to handle cases from a human rights and victim perspective.

If you have any case related to gender equality or feminist issues and you need either advocacy assistance, counseling, support for campaign media, or some kind of that, feel free to contact us by this section. All of those things are free, you do not need to pay anything, it is our commitment to promote progress in gender equality and women’s rights through education and advocacy.

You can also contact us on:

Instagram            : @feministsociety.id

Email                   : fem.official7@gmail.com

 

Revealing Ika Lailatun Nikmah’s Struggle in Pursuing Higher Education: Challenges for Javanese Women in Accessing Education

Women's Struggle in Pursuing Higher Education

Feminist Society - Questions and statements such as “Why do women go to college” and “Women don’t need to go to college, because men will feel inferior” are common things heard by Ika Lailatun Nikmah (familiarly called Ela) who grew up in a neighborhood that still views women as only having 3 tasks, namely masak, macak, and manak (cooking, dressing up, and giving birth to children). These views are a challenge for her in achieving higher education.

Ela is the first daughter born into a simple Javanese family, where getting an education up to college is the most expensive dream. Since she was a teenager, Ela has often seen how women in her area are considered less equal and do not have the same opportunities to access higher education as men. Ela sees a misconception in society that seems to place the right to education only for men. This is certainly contrary to the mandate of the constitution, where every citizen has the right to receive an education as mandated by Article 31 paragraph  (1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia.

In her area, women are also often considered troublesome if they intend to continue their studies to college because the family must pay for their studies. Even worse, women in her area are often objectified as if they are used as a tool to improve the family's economy by being married to rich people.

This view is what strengthens Ela’s determination to continue her education to college in order to break the stereotype. Although at the beginning of the struggle to go to college, Ela faced many difficulties, such as parental blessing and also tuition fees. At first, her parents did not give her permission to continue college, where they thought that college was only for the upper middle class. So if she chose to go to college, her parents were worried that they would not be able to pay for her college until she finished, which would make the costs that had been spent also be in vain.

Based on these challenges, although in 2018 Ela had passed SPANPTKIN at one of the religious universities in Central Java, due to the very expensive tuition fees, she had to give up the campus and was willing to take a gap year to work in order to be able to finance her studies later.

At that time, Ela worked at a photocopy shop near her house for about 1 year. From that job she was able to save money to prepare for college fees and could meet other needs such as buying equipment needed in the college process later. In the second year, she decided to resign from her job and enroll in one of the religious colleges in Central Java. From that process, Ela was finally accepted at the campus with a KIP Kuliah scholarship that could fully finance her education and living expenses for 8 semesters of college.

Ela proved her efforts that women cannot be underestimated, even in her educational journey, she gave a very good record. She completed her studies in 3.5 years with Cum Laude predicate GPA 3.80 out of 4.00. In the process of her studies, Ela was a student who was active in organizations and participated in various competitions at the local, national, and international levels. She was able to balance her academic and non-academic affairs during her studies.

In fact, she once made an extraordinary achievement when she and her team participated in the Student Creativity Program (PKM) in Entrepreneurship in 2021. Where they made an innovation in transferring carved media onto fabric in the form of a hijab with a typical Jepara carved motif decorated with a quote from R.A Kartini's letter in the book "Habis Gelap Terbitlah Terang". This innovation succeeded in getting them a grant and was successfully registered as Intellectual Property Rights by the Ministry of Law and Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia.

Currently, Ela is doing an internship at one of the institutions on her campus, while continuing to hone her skills in writing. In 2024, Ela successfully published a journal on the perspective of gender equality published in the Journal of Gender and Social Inclusion Studies. Apart from scientific works, she is also active in writing short stories and poems which she often publishes on Wattpad and Blog.

From this incredible journey, it finally led Ela to become the first graduate in her family. Ela managed to prove to her parents that education is important and with knowledge we can change the situation. As the hadith narrated by Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidzi:

"Indeed, the Prophets did not pass on dinars and dirhams, in fact, they only passed on knowledge, whoever has taken it, has taken a large portion".

You can also read: ARN’s Journey Goes Beyond the Comfort Zone: From A Teenage Who Received Verbal and Physical Bullying to Becoming A Career Woman Who Is the Backbone of the Family

Ela always advises women out there who are trying to achieve their dreams to never give up easily in achieving their dreams and continuing their education. "Dreams will never fail, they just look for the right time and wait for us to be ready" — said Ela.

Ela’s extraordinary journey in proving herself, in breaking the stigma of women is a movement for women's emancipation that must continue to be voiced and continue to be an example for all women out there. That education is everyone's right regardless of whether they are male or female. Women must have equal access to education. Hopefully, Ela’s struggle in continuing her studies to college will continue to echo in every corner of the inner eyes of other women.

In our section with Ela, we finally agreed on several crucial things, where Feminist Society will always support her and we also agreed to collaborate in the future in advocating and voicing the right to education for women.

If you have any case related to gender equality or feminist issues and you need either advocacy assistance, counseling, support for campaign media, or some kind of that, feel free to contact us by this section. All of those things are free, you do not need to pay anything, it is our commitment to promote progress in gender equality and women’s rights activism through education and advocacy.

You can also contact us on:

Instagram            : @feministsociety.id

Email                  : fem.official7@gmail.com

Catcalling: A Form of Sexual Harassment

 Nindy J. Bachtiar

Catcalling is a form of sexual harassment.

Feminist Society - Have you ever been in a public place such as on the street, on public transportation, and so on, and received unpleasant treatment with the intention of lowering your dignity such as whistling, teasing, and various other comments from the opposite sex? This is known as catcalling. Nowadays, cases of catcalling are increasingly rampant and increasing in society, even many of us normalize it on the grounds that it is just a joke and not a form of sexual violence, in fact it is a form of sexual violence that is classified as non-physical sexual harassment.

In Article 4 paragraph (1) of Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning Criminal Acts of Sexual Violence, it is explained that one form of sexual violence is non-physical sexual harassment. Then in Article 5 of the a quo Law, it is further explained that anyone who commits a non-physical sexual act aimed at the body, sexual desire, and/or reproductive organs with the intention of degrading a person's dignity and honor shall be punished for non-physical sexual harassment, with a maximum imprisonment of 9 months and/or a maximum fine of ten million rupiah.

Understanding Catcalling

Terminologically, Catcalling is a term used to describe when someone makes unsolicited comments, whistles, or gestures, often of a sexual nature, towards another person, usually on the street. While some might dismiss it as harmless or playful, catcalling is a form of sexual harassment that can have serious impacts on the victim. Catcalling often involves strangers making loud comments or noises directed at someone passing by. These comments are typically sexual and objectifying, focusing on the person’s appearance. For example, a man might whistle at a woman walking down the street or shout remarks about her body.

Why is Catcalling Harmful?

1.       Unwanted Attention

Catcalling is unwanted and unsolicited. It can make the person being targeted feel uncomfortable, unsafe, and violated. Victims tend to feel uncomfortable when they receive catcalling, especially from strangers they do not know.

2.       Power and Control

Catcalling is often about exerting power over the other person. It can make the victim feel powerless and objectified, reducing them to mere objects of sexual desire rather than respecting them as individuals.

3.       Fear and Anxiety

Repeated experiences of catcalling can lead to feelings of fear and anxiety. Victims may start to avoid certain streets, change their clothing, or even feel unsafe in public spaces. Even worse, catcalling can cause mental health problems.

The Impact on Victims

Many victims of catcalling report feeling a range of negative emotions, from annoyance and discomfort to fear and trauma. Over time, the constant barrage of unwanted attention can take a toll on a person’s mental and emotional well-being. It can affect their self-esteem and their ability to feel safe in their own community.

You can also read: Forced Marriage: A Violation of Human Rights

What Can Be Done?

1.       Education and Awareness

Raising awareness about the harmful effects of catcalling is crucial. Educating people about what constitutes sexual harassment and why it is unacceptable can help change attitudes and behaviors. By knowing exactly what it is not supposed to be will drive people’s perception not to normalize catcalling.

2.       Speak Up

If you witness catcalling, consider speaking up. Letting the harasser know that their behavior is not acceptable can make a difference. However, it’s important to do so in a way that does not put anyone at risk.

3.       Support the Victim

If you know someone who has been a victim of catcalling, offer them support. Listen to their experiences and validate their feelings. Encourage them to report the harassment if they feel comfortable doing so.

4.       Active Role of Law Enforcement Officers

The law enforcement officers must be alert in taking action when there are reports. In addition, they must also take the perspective of the victim so that they do not take catcalling lightly. According to the report from ActionAid in 2018, 68% of women worldwide who have been sexually harassed have not reported it to the police since the police tend to regard it as a trivial matter. These statistics show how sexual harassment is seen as normal, part of everyday life, and that women fear they won't be taken seriously if they report it. It is part of a spectrum of violence against women and girls that holds them back and prevents them from achieving their potential. Therefore, there should be an active role by law enforcement officers to take catcalling into consideration as a serious crime.

Conclusion

Catcalling is not just a harmless compliment; it is a form of sexual harassment that can have serious consequences for the victim. By understanding the impact of catcalling and taking steps to address it, we can create a safer and more respectful environment for everyone. It is time to move beyond dismissing these behaviors and recognize them for what they are unacceptable and harmful.

If you are interested in issues related to gender equality and in-depth discussion about feminism, let's join with Feminist Society. Feminist Society aims to promote progress in gender equality and women’s rights activism through education and advocacy. To get related articles, please visit the page feminist-society.blogspot.com.

You can also contact us on:

Instagram            : @feministsociety.id

Email                   : fem.official7@gmail.com

View More:

The Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning Criminal Acts of Sexual Violence.

https://www.alittlebithuman.com/what-is-catcalling/

https://www.actionaid.org.uk/blog/voices/2018/04/11/catcalling-not-a-joke-not-a-compliment-its-harassment

 

Gender Bias in AI: Mitigating Strategies

 Zulkhadir Riandi

Feminist Society - Today, the course of life in the era of the 5.0 industrial revolution has brought increasingly heavy digital and technological developments, in which digital and technological advances continue to evolve. One of the connections is with the existence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that continues to advance and evolve throughout all lines of human life. Where today, almost anything in the digital world can be run easily with the help of AI.

On the one hand, AI has a positive impact because it can make it easier for us where AI can generate whatever we order based on clear and specific prompts. But on the other hand, AI actually has a negative side, where AI tends to be gender-biased. For example, AI or other search engine mechanisms tends to generate or deliver results with a majority of men in jobs such as doctors and women in nurses. Another example can be seen when we carry out searches related to everything related to childcare, which is always associated with the mother, as if it were only the role of the mother, whereas childcare is the responsibility of both parents (mother and father).

You can also Read: The Importance of Paternity Leave in Promoting Gender Equality and Family Well-Being

AI systems are biased because they are human creations. Who makes decisions informing AI systems and who is on the team developing AI systems shapes their development. Unsurprisingly, there is a huge gender gap: Only 22 percent of professionals in AI and data science fields are women—and they are more likely to occupy jobs associated with less status. In terms of gender bias from data, data points are snapshots of the world we live in, and the large gender data gaps we see are partly due to the gender digital divide. For example, some 300 million fewer women than men access the Internet on a mobile phone, and women in low- and middle-income countries are 20 percent less likely than men to own a smartphone. These technologies generate data about their users, so the fact that women have less access to them inherently skews datasets. Even when data is generated, humans collecting data decide what to collect and how.

How to Mitigate Gender Bias in AI?

Mitigating gender bias in AI algorithms is crucial for creating fair and equitable systems. Here are some strategies:

1.       Diverse Data Collection

Gathering diverse and representative data during model training will have direct implications in overcoming gender bias in AI. Therefore, we have to ensure that the dataset includes various gender identities, backgrounds, and experiences.

2.       Bias Detection and Audits

Regularly audit AI models for bias. Identify discriminatory patterns and adjust the algorithms accordingly. Tools like fairness metrics and adversarial testing can help. This mechanism is of paramount importance to persistently prevent gender bias in AI systems.

3.       Feature Engineering

Be mindful of features that might introduce bias. Remove or adjust features related to gender, race, or other sensitive attributes. Thereby, the full awareness of the technicians and all parties involved in the creation of AI systems is really needed.

4.       Balanced Representation

Oversample underrepresented groups to balance the dataset. This helps prevent the majority group from dominating the model’s predictions. The more representative of gender participation in creating AI systems is, the better AI systems will be.

5.       Ethical Guidelines

Develop clear guidelines for AI development that address bias. Involve ethicists, social scientists, and affected communities in the process. By making good guidelines for AI creation, it will drive a better procedure that takes into consideration gender equality.

Remember that bias elimination is an ongoing effort. By combining technical solutions with ethical considerations, we can create AI systems that treat everyone fairly.

If you are interested in issues related to gender equality and in-depth discussion about feminism, let's join with Feminist Society. Feminist Society aims to promote progress in gender equality and women’s rights through education and advocacy. To get related articles, please visit the page feminist-society.blogspot.com.

You can also contact us on:

Instagram            : @feministsociety.id

Email                  : fem.official7@gmail.com

View more:

Ayesha Nadeem et al. Gender Bias in AI: A Review of Contributing Factors and Mitigating Strategies. AIS Electronic Library. (2020). https://aisel.aisnet.org/acis2020/27/

https://ssir.org/articles/entry/when_good_algorithms_go_sexist_why_and_how_to_advance_ai_gender_equity

https://analyticsindiamag.com/understanding-ai-biases-and-ways-to-fix-them/

 

Forced Marriage: A Violation of Human Rights

Muhammad Emil Hakim Aba

Feminist Society - In societies across the globe, forced marriage remains a deeply entrenched issue that violates fundamental human rights. This practice, which disregards individual autonomy and consent, perpetuates cycles of abuse and suffering. This article explores the complexities of forced marriage, its impact, and the global efforts to combat it.

Understanding Forced Marriage

Forced marriage occurs when one or both parties enter into a marital union without their free and informed consent. Unlike arranged marriages, where families or intermediaries facilitate introductions and both parties willingly participate, forced marriages lack genuine choice. Coercion, threats, emotional manipulation, and physical violence are often used to compel individuals into these unions.

Forced marriage operates along a continuum of coercion. At one end, overt violence and explicit threats force compliance. At the other end, subtle psychological pressure, emotional blackmail, and cultural norms exert influence. Regardless of the method, the absence of true consent defines forced marriage.

Global Prevalence

Forced marriages persist in various cultural contexts worldwide. Regions such as South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East report higher prevalence rates. However, this issue transcends borders, affecting individuals from diverse backgrounds. It is essential to recognize that forced marriage is not limited to any specific religion, ethnicity, or socioeconomic group. In the context of Indonesia, forced marriages are still problematic, based on Article 4 paragraph (1) of Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning Criminal Sexual Violence, forced marriage is one of the forms of criminal sexual violence that cannot be justified. However, the practice still continues where that practice is frequently associated with culture and customs. Therefore, all parties must strive to stop the practice of forced marriages. That is a violation of human rights. In addition, the practice could result so many negative consequences such as loss of autonomy, health risks, education disruption, domestic violence, and many more.

Indonesia as a country based on just and civilized humanity has specifically explained in Article 28B paragraph (2) of the 1945 Constitution which regulates the right to have a family and continue offspring that every child has the right to survival, growth, and development and the right to self-protection from violence and discrimination.  This regulation clearly emphasizes that in order to build commitment and family unity, all forms of discrimination and coercion over individual rights to enter into a marriage bond are not permitted.

In Article 6 paragraph (1) of Marriage Law, implicitly states that marriage must be approved by both parties entering into the marriage without any element of coercion from any party because the purpose of marriage is that the husband and wife can build a lasting and happy family, and fulfill human rights. This means that marriages that take place under any threat are not permitted and are a violation of the law for those who carry them out.  Marriage must be based on the desires, willingness and consent of each party.  Therefore, one party (husband or wife) is allowed to apply for an annulment of the marriage as stipulated in Article 27 paragraph (1) of Marriage Law.

From a global perspective, countries worldwide have taken steps to address forced marriage. In Australia for instance, the government criminalized forced marriage, imposing penalties of up to seven years’ imprisonment. In the United Kingdom, the Anti-social Behavior, Crime and Policing Act 2014 made forced marriage illegal, even if it occurs abroad. Furthermore, there are also Civil Protection Orders to prevent forced marriages which are applied in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Indonesia should follow the example of these countries to stop the practice of forced marriage. So far, there are so many weaknesses in the context of implementation in the field, one of the real instances is the limitations of the Regional Technical Implementation Unit for the Protection of Women and Children (Unit Pelaksana Teknis Daerah Perlindungan Perempuan dan Anak). There are so many cities/regencies in Indonesia that have not formed UPTD PPA yet. In fact, it is an obligation to establish UPTD PPA in every local area as mandated in the Sexual Violence Crime Law.

Conclusion

Forced marriage persists, but collective action can make a difference. By raising awareness, supporting survivors, and implementing legal protections, we move toward a world where every individual’s right to choose their life partner is respected. Let us stand together against this grave violation of human rights.

If you are interested in issues related to gender equality and in-depth discussion about feminism, let's join with Feminist Society. Feminist Society aims to promote progress in gender equality and women’s rights through education and advocacy. To get related articles, please visit the page feminist-society.blogspot.com.

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The 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia.

The Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning Criminal Sexual Violence.

The Law Number 16 of 2019 concerning Amendments to the Law Number 1 of 1974 concerning Marriage.

Rachael Clawson et al. Forced Marriage: Implications for Mental Health and Intellectual Disability Services. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment. Volume 19. Issue 2. (March 2013). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1192/apt.bp.111.009316

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1138699/what_is_forced_marriage_0223.pdf

https://www.api-gbv.org/about-gbv/types-of-gbv/forced-marriage/

https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/forced-marriage

https://www.ag.gov.au/crime/people-smuggling-and-human-trafficking/forced-marriage

https://www.tahirih.org/news/addressing-forced-marriage-at-any-age-requires-comprehensive-solutions/

https://www.ourwatch.org.uk/crime-prevention/crime-types/domestic-abuse/forced-marriage

ARN’s Journey Goes Beyond the Comfort Zone: From A Teenage Who Received Verbal and Physical Bullying to Becoming A Career Woman Who Is the Backbone of the Family

“No matter who you are, how bad your past was, you have the right to have a dream” — Said ARN when interviewed directly by the Feminist Society team through an online meeting on Thursday, 20 June 2024. ARN is a real portrayal that women are not supposed to be underestimated since they also have the same chances in every field as men. Those incredible visions came from her personal experience when she underwent directly discriminatory treatment when she was a child. Coming from a small village in Kalimantan, ARN grew up in an environment where status as a poor woman was regarded as less important, and her rights were frequently done away with. Spending her teenage years in elementary and middle school in Kalimantan, ARN got bullied by her friends just because she was poor. Even they were not only verbal bullying but also physical bullying.

That experience really traumatized her until at one point she did not want to remember that childhood. “Most people probably would consider their childhood was fun and really want to go back if they could, but for me, it is different, I will not, even to recall that one I will not”. It was a bad day for ARN, hence she had to escape from that condition to change her life to be better.

That was the beginning of ARN’s motivation to progress and develop. To make ends meet during school, she worked as a helper at her aunt's restaurant to continue making ends meet. Then after junior high school, ARN intended to leave Kalimantan because she believed that to develop further we had to get out of an unsupportive environment. With her good academic abilities, ARN was finally able to continue her vocational studies in Malang in the field of culinary arts with a scholarship.

While she was in Malang, ARN really wanted to take advantage of all the opportunities available by trying many things. While attending school, ARN became a model and earned side income from there. Because when she was in Malang, ARN studied at a Catholic school which could be said to be very expensive, even though ARN received a scholarship there were still other expenses that ARN had to pay. Finally, apart from being a model, ARN also worked in the hospitality sector to make ends meet. With hard work, ARN was finally able to complete her studies in Malang

After studying vocational school in Malang, ARN then moved to Bali and worked for 2 years in Bali and then moved again to Balikpapan. It could be said that this position was the best point for her, by working in Bali and Balikpapan ARN was able to become financially stable. ARN was finally able to help pay off her parents' debts, help renovate her parents' house, and send her siblings to school until they graduated.

That success is not only achieved easily, many sacrifices have been made, starting from becoming a sales promotion girl for a cigarette brand, becoming a model in a nightclub and many more things have been done to survive to the point of financial success. With the financial stability she had, ARN then saw the opportunity to open a laundry business. After some time, her laundry business finally achieved success and earned a turnover of hundreds of millions.

At this point of success, ARN finally found her passion in the field of communications so she was moved to become a professional waitress who could work on cruise ships and be able to travel around the world and see the beauty of the world out there.

Realizing that to achieve her dream, there are many things that she must fight for and learn, one of which is English itself. At that point, ARN finally started her journey to learn English. In the end, when ARN had acquired English language skills, she finally received paid internship offers in three different places (Jakarta, Bali and Malaysia). Once again, ARN saw a big opportunity if she chose to go to Malaysia because apart from being paid quite well there, she could also prepare herself, especially in English language habits, considering that the English language culture in Malaysia is higher compared to Indonesia.

Now ARN has been running a paid internship program for 3 months in Malaysia and will end next September. After the paid internship process is complete, she will immediately prepare herself for all the subsequent needs and preparations towards her dream of becoming a professional cruise ship waitress who is ready to see the world. ARN's journey is proof that everyone has the right to dream regardless of gender. "Women are not slaves to men, women are equal to men, so don't be afraid to chase our dreams, we are women, we have the right to dream." ARN's voice is a loud voice to voice gender equality, it is a call to all women out there not to be afraid to chase dreams.

In our section with ARN, we finally agreed on several crucial things, where Feminist Society will always support her and we also gave several recommendations to her on what she could do to deal with several challenges forward regarding discriminatory treatment against her rights as a woman.

If you have any case related to gender equality or feminist issues and you need either advocacy assistance, counseling, support for campaign media, or some kind of that, feel free to contact us by this section. All of those things are free, you do not need to pay anything, it is our commitment to promote progress in gender equality and women’s rights through education and advocacy.

You can also contact us on:

Instagram            : @feministsociety.id

Email                   : fem.official7@gmail.com

The Importance of Paternity Leave in Promoting Gender Equality and Family Well-Being

Juneidi Coloay

Feminist Society - The issues about paternity leave have been widely discussed in Indonesia since the Draft Law on Maternal and Child Welfare in the First 1000 Days of Life was passed by the House of Representatives on June 4^th, 2024. In this Law, the fathers and families must accompany the mothers during the birthing process, therefore they have paternity leave rights as an effort to ensure the welfare of mothers and children in the first 1000 days and as a form of comprehensive child care between both parents. However, the paternity leave rights in the Law are regarded as suboptimal because the leave rights are more dominant in mothers than fathers. Thereby, it should be examined more deeply by the government with the involvement of all parties in order to be able to place an equality perspective in child care.

Paternity leave is a crucial policy that supports gender equality, strengthens family bonds, and promotes a more balanced division of childcare responsibilities. By allowing fathers to take time off work following the birth or adoption of a child, paternity leave encourages active fatherhood and helps dismantle traditional gender roles that often place the burden of child-rearing solely on mothers.

The benefits of paternity leave extend beyond the immediate family unit. It contributes to closing the gender gap in the workplace by normalizing the idea that both parents are equally responsible for childcare. This shift in perception can lead to more equitable career opportunities for women, as employers become less likely to discriminate based on potential maternity leave.

Moreover, paternity leave has been linked to positive outcomes for children’s development. Fathers who take paternity leave are more involved in their children’s lives, leading to better cognitive and social outcomes. This early involvement can foster stronger father-child relationships that last a lifetime.

Paternity leave is not just a period away from work; it’s an investment in family health, workplace equality, and societal progress. As such, it is essential for governments and employers to support and promote paternity leave policies that reflect the evolving dynamics of modern families.

However, it always faces difficulty these days to promote and normalize paternity leave in every field. There are several challenges that countries often face in implementing paternity leave.

1.       Legal Compliance

Ensuring businesses are ready for changes in paternity leave entitlements and comply with new regulations.

2.       Cultural Shifts

Overcoming traditional gender roles and encouraging fathers to take advantage of paternity leave benefits.

3.       Economic Considerations

Balancing the cost of providing paternity leave with the economic benefits it can bring to families and society.

4.       Workplace Integration

Adapting workplace policies to accommodate flexible paternity leave and support for returning employees.

Those challenges require a concerted effort from governments, employers, and society to create an environment where paternity leave is valued and supported. In addition, public awareness plays a significant role in promoting paternity leave uptake. By raising awareness about the benefits of paternity leave for children’s development, family well-being, and gender equality, society can shift towards more supportive attitudes for fathers taking leave.

Awareness campaigns can help dispel myths and stigmas associated with men taking time off for childcare, encouraging more fathers to take advantage of paternity leave policies. Additionally, public discourse on the topic can influence policy-making, leading to more favorable conditions for paternity leave uptake.

Educational initiatives and media coverage can also highlight successful stories of paternity leave, providing positive role models and demonstrating the practicality and benefits of such policies in real-life scenarios.

If you are interested in issues related to gender equality and in-depth discussion about feminism, let’s join with Feminist Society. Feminist Society aims to promote progress in gender equality and women’s rights through education and advocacy. To get related articles, please visit the page feminist-society.blogspot.com.

You can also contact us on:

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View More:

https://www.lewissilkin.com/en/insights/statutory-paternity-leave-new-rules-from-april

https://www.hr.admin.cam.ac.uk/news/hr-policies-effective-6-april-2024

https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/statutory-paternity-leave-changes-april-2024/

https://www.thehrdirector.com/legal-updates/legal-updates-2024/latest-paternity-leave-regulations/

https://arbor.law/insights/paternity-and-maternity-leave-entitlements-2024/

https://www.hrlab.de/en/hr-lexicon/paternity-leave-2024

https://hrdailyadvisor.blr.com/2024/06/14/paternity-leave-gaining-momentum-in-the-modern-workplace-to-drive-business-performance/

https://www.brabners.com/insights/employment/changes-to-paternity-leave-redundancy-protection-flexible-working-and-carers-leave-explained

https://harperjames.co.uk/article/changes-to-statutory-paternity-leave/

https://appartnership.co.uk/statutory-paternity-leave-changes-2024/

 

The Controversy of Female Genital Mutilations

 Juneidi Coloay

Feminist Society - Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), also known as female genital cutting or female circumcision, is a practice that involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injuries to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. This practice is found in some countries of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, and within their respective diasporas.

As of 2023, it is estimated that over 200 million girls and women in 31 countries, including Indonesia, Iraq, Yemen, and 27 African countries, have been subjected to one or more types of FGM. The procedure is typically carried out by a traditional circumciser using a blade, from days after birth to puberty and beyond. In half of the countries for which national statistics are available, most girls are cut before the age of five.

FGM is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women. It reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against girls and women. The practice also violates a person’s rights to health, security, and physical integrity; the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment; and the right to life, in instances when the procedure results in death. In the context of Indonesia, those rights are guaranteed in various legal regulations such as the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, the Human Rights Law, the Child Protection Law, and even the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) that Indonesia has been ratifying.

The World Health Organization (WHO) strongly urges healthcare providers not to perform FGM. Treatment of the health complications of FGM is estimated to cost health systems US$ 1.4 billion per year, a number expected to rise unless urgent action is taken towards its abandonment.

FGM is classified into 4 major types:

1.       Partial or total removal of the clitoral glans (the external and visible part of the clitoris) and/or the prepuce/clitoral hood.

2.       Partial or total removal of the clitoral glans and the labia minora (the inner folds of the vulva), with or without removal of the labia majora (the outer folds of skin of the vulva).

3.       Known as infibulation, this is the narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal. The seal is formed by cutting and repositioning the labia minora, or labia majora, sometimes through stitching, with or without removal of the clitoral prepuce/clitoral hood and glans.

4.       This includes all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, for instance pricking, piercing, incising, scraping, and cauterizing the genital area.

In Indonesia, FGM is problematic and it has also become a debatable practice. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a complex issue with various reasons behind its practice, often deeply rooted in the cultural, social, and traditional norms of the societies where it is practiced. Here are some of the most frequently cited reasons:

Social Acceptance

FGM is often seen as a rite of passage into womanhood and is widely practiced to gain social acceptance. Families who don’t participate face ostracism and their daughters may be considered ineligible for marriage.

Religion

Although FGM is not endorsed by Islam or Christianity, religious texts are commonly deployed to justify it. It is one of the misconceptions that people believe to apply the FGM’s practices in the status quo.

Beauty and Cleanliness

Some cultures consider the female genitalia to be dirty and ugly and believe that they should be cut to appear clean and beautiful. This misunderstanding is also common to be found in almost FGM’s practices.

It’s important to note that these reasons are based on deep-seated gender inequalities and misconceptions, and the practice of FGM has been internationally recognized as a violation of human rights. Efforts are ongoing globally to educate communities about the harmful effects of FGM and to eradicate the practice.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) can have severe long-term health consequences affecting women’s physical, mental, and sexual health. The most common long-term health risks associated with FGM would be pain, infections, impaired wound healing, sexual health problems, urination problems, mental health problems, obstetric complications, and infertility.

It is important to note that all forms of FGM are associated with increased health risks in the short- and long-term. The World Health Organization (WHO) strongly urges healthcare providers not to perform FGM.

If you are interested in issues related to gender equality and in-depth discussion about feminism, let’s join with Feminist Society. Feminist Society aims to promote progress in gender equality and women’s rights through education and advocacy. To get related articles, please visit the page feminist-society.blogspot.com.

You can also contact us on:

Instagram            : @feministsociety.id

Email                     : fem.official7@gmail.com

View More:

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/female-genital-mutilation

https://www.unicef.org/protection/female-genital-mutilation

https://www.unfpa.org/female-genital-mutilation

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-47131052

https://www.wvi.org/stories/facts-history-faqs-what-you-need-know-about-fgm

https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/faqs/female-genital-mutilation

https://www.worldvision.org/child-protection-news-stories/female-genital-mutilation-fgm-facts