Jakarta – Bintang Puspayoga, Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, has stated that patriarchal culture is at the foundation of women’s inequity.
“The patriarchal culture that has been ingrained for generations is one of the causes that is limiting women’s potential to have equality in development, to enjoy the advantages of development,” she said in an interview for the ANTARA podcast on Wednesday.
Women and children are receiving special attention from the Indonesian government because they are still classified as vulnerable groups.
Puspayoga emphasized the importance of synergy and collaboration among ministries and agencies in addressing women’s and children’s issues.
Furthermore, she believes that attempts to address those concerns should be directed at religious leaders, traditional leaders, and local community leaders.
In Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara, for example, the minister stated that in 2020, the issue of the kawin tangkap (capture and marry) local tradition—which is a type of bride kidnapping—was addressed by engaging religious and traditional leaders in the region.
According to her, kawin tangkap should be prohibited since it incorporates elements of aggression against women and is insulting to women’s dignity.
She stated that the practice of swapping women for two horses for marriage is demeaning to women.
Puspayoga also emphasized the importance of regional governments, religious leaders, traditional leaders, and community leaders working together to eliminate cultures that are no longer relevant in the modern period.
“Because we all know that culture is fluid. Culture is a living thing that changes with the times,” she made a remark.
Source: Antara