YOGYAKARTA – The 30% quota for candidates of women MPs as mandated by General Elections Law allows opportunity for women to be able to become formulators and policy makers. In fact, after three elections, the number of women in the legislative has not reached 30%. “In average, there are 12 percent of women in the legislative. It means that neither of political parties could meet the quota,” said sociologist of UGM, Dr. Partini, responding to the establishment of quota for women on Monday (22/4).
Partini admitted the difficulty for women to become politicians was due to the low number of female legislator candidates who are qualified in political parties. Political parties have not been able to do re-generation and give good political education for women. “Besides, women are not yet ready to engage in politics,” she said.
Partini exemplified some female legislators elected in 2009 in the House were mostly celebrities. Often they had been proposed by parties near the election rather than trained by the parties for a long duration. “So, the female legislators did not know much about politics,” said the lady born in Klaten 62 years ago.
To be able to engage in politics, women have two important assets, dare and be self-confident. “Up to this time, women have very low self-confidence despite good education,” she added. She suggested women to be involved in organisations long before so they are more able to express their opinion. They also have to be permitted by their family. “The role of women would not surpass the limit set by local culture if there is no family permit.
In addition, women have to have knowledge and extensive networking. Two female legislators in Depok and East Nusa Tenggara in 2009 elections won bigger votes than male legislators as they were midwives who interacted much with local community. “Both helped people and people liked them and they had good networking,” she concluded.