YOGYAKARTA- Treatment differentiation to men and women is not always identical with efforts to discredit the women. The differentiation is rather to divide tasks between men and women to keep the existing system running. It was delivered by a member of faculty of Department of Sociology, Drs. Soeprapto, S.U, in a discussion on Harmonization Model Studies of Cultural Values and Local Wisdom in National Identity Formation towards Gender Equality Justice. The discussion was held at the Center for Women's Studies at Universitas Gadjah Mada, Thursday (19/1). "From the Forum Group Discussion results we did in early December last year, it was revealed that the difference in treatment between men and women over the division of tasks does not attempt to discredit women," Soeprapto said.
Soeprapto added that the discussion involves many elements of society from diverse backgrounds, both religious and ethnic groups. From those diverse backgrounds they actually have their own philosophy. In every culture and local wisdom there are values that support gender equality or gender inequality. "Enrichment of information is done through literature study and interviews with cultural experts," he added.
Soeprapto described the discussion and study aim to see whether the social, cultural values and local wisdom can be harmonized towards gender equality so that the identity of the Indonesian nation can be identified.
In terms of gender equality, in view of Soeprapto, now it can not be achieved fully. However, there is the tendency towards gender equality efforts in companies and government. "Women are treated equally with men in spite of the imbalanced amount," he said.
Soeprapto admitted that gender equality efforts in Indonesia still face some matters, especially the distinction interpretation of social and cultural values that exist. He cited the Javanese ethnic group has the term garwo "sigaraning nyowo" (spouse) that looks at women only as part of men, making their position only as a ‘filler in the gap’. "Therefore, socialization to the community needs to be done so that the difference in treatment between men and women would not discredit the women," Soeprapto expresses his hope.