males, females and their differences in society
This image shows the typical gender role a woman plays in Indonesian society- cooking for her family.
Source: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/91972017363233513/
Whilst their husbands are the breadwinners of the family, females are traditionally meant to be housewives. This division of labour has become ingrained as a result of cultural and religious beliefs and is visibly practiced in most of Asia. This reduces the chances of women being offered same opportunities as men. For women, pursuing skills necessary for employment may prove to be difficult and a future of domestic work is probable. This leaves women to be financially dependent and reliant on their husbands, which causes them to be in a precarious situation in the case of tragedy or divorce.
An economic disparity is observed as a result of this division of labor in Indonesia. According to the 2011 Global Gender Gap Report, only 53 percent of women were participating in the labor force, as compared to 87 percent of men. In addition, it was found that men earn an annual income of US$5,915, while women only earn US$2,487. Indonesia’s annual gross domestic product (GDP) per capita is $4,003, and women earn only around half of the average income.
Men are so dominant in the society and workforce that only 22 percent of legislators, senior officials, and managers are women and only 18 percent of the seats in the House of Representatives are held by women. Male dominance is shown clearly too in terms of education, with 95 percent of Indonesian men literate compared to 89 percent of women.
Economic and social inequality entrenched through the traditional division of labour thus exists between men and women. Should the division be eliminated, not all women may want to pursue paths other than domestic work, however, it may indeed be the case that some women are seeking liberation from the gender constraints of the society.
Gender equality will mean equal exposure to opportunities that were once only presented to males. In order to work towards equality of gender, certain measures must be taken.
In Indonesia, a near perfect equality in school enrollment between girls and boys exists. In order to make gender equality more effective, both men and women should be taught the same curriculum at school. Subjects traditionally only taught to females, such as sewing or home economics, should not be mandatory but should be made available as electives for both genders. In addition, an effective curriculum should not mold students along specific paths (in female's cases the domestic path) but rather expose them to a variety of opportunities
Equal pay for similar or same work must also be enforced by the state through regulation. Any disparity in wages amongst gender would suggest that women are less able than men. Equal pay would promote a greater level of respect among co-workers of both genders. It would also encourage increased female participation in the workforce for they would then receive the same benefits as men. This also broadens the search for potential, as females would be given an equal opportunity to rise through the ranks.
Affirmative action policies (provides special opportunities for a group that is discriminated) in favor of women should be slowly reduced as the first two factors above be would increasingly common. As women are given more equal exposure to the same opportunities, affirmative action policies prove no longer necessary. This would eliminate any backlash from groups who claim that the rise of women in the labor force is due to mitigating circumstances, and would also validate the credibility of women in the workforce.
The traditional division of labor has the effect of disadvantaging women as measured through economic, and Indonesia should aim to provide equal exposure to opportunities for all. Thus, more rules and regulations should be enforced in favor of gender equality in the society.
An economic disparity is observed as a result of this division of labor in Indonesia. According to the 2011 Global Gender Gap Report, only 53 percent of women were participating in the labor force, as compared to 87 percent of men. In addition, it was found that men earn an annual income of US$5,915, while women only earn US$2,487. Indonesia’s annual gross domestic product (GDP) per capita is $4,003, and women earn only around half of the average income.
Men are so dominant in the society and workforce that only 22 percent of legislators, senior officials, and managers are women and only 18 percent of the seats in the House of Representatives are held by women. Male dominance is shown clearly too in terms of education, with 95 percent of Indonesian men literate compared to 89 percent of women.
Economic and social inequality entrenched through the traditional division of labour thus exists between men and women. Should the division be eliminated, not all women may want to pursue paths other than domestic work, however, it may indeed be the case that some women are seeking liberation from the gender constraints of the society.
Gender equality will mean equal exposure to opportunities that were once only presented to males. In order to work towards equality of gender, certain measures must be taken.
In Indonesia, a near perfect equality in school enrollment between girls and boys exists. In order to make gender equality more effective, both men and women should be taught the same curriculum at school. Subjects traditionally only taught to females, such as sewing or home economics, should not be mandatory but should be made available as electives for both genders. In addition, an effective curriculum should not mold students along specific paths (in female's cases the domestic path) but rather expose them to a variety of opportunities
Equal pay for similar or same work must also be enforced by the state through regulation. Any disparity in wages amongst gender would suggest that women are less able than men. Equal pay would promote a greater level of respect among co-workers of both genders. It would also encourage increased female participation in the workforce for they would then receive the same benefits as men. This also broadens the search for potential, as females would be given an equal opportunity to rise through the ranks.
Affirmative action policies (provides special opportunities for a group that is discriminated) in favor of women should be slowly reduced as the first two factors above be would increasingly common. As women are given more equal exposure to the same opportunities, affirmative action policies prove no longer necessary. This would eliminate any backlash from groups who claim that the rise of women in the labor force is due to mitigating circumstances, and would also validate the credibility of women in the workforce.
The traditional division of labor has the effect of disadvantaging women as measured through economic, and Indonesia should aim to provide equal exposure to opportunities for all. Thus, more rules and regulations should be enforced in favor of gender equality in the society.