Because She Is A Woman

KOMPAS/SONYA HELLEN SINOMBOR

Collembola expert Yayuk Rahayuningsih Suhardjono.

A female researcher’s career can stop dead in its tracks just because of gender-related problems. Furthermore, female researchers are sometimes perceived negatively by society.

“I hear with my own ears how male researchers often talk about their certain female colleagues, that they could not be promoted ‘because she is a mother’,” said University of Indonesia (UI) gender studies researcher Mia Siscawati in Jakarta on Friday (20/4/2018).

Female researchers often face problems due to their gender. They often have to deal with the pervasive public mindset that they are only suitable for certain lines of work, such as administrative or secretarial duties. Such a perspective may close the door for women to make their own choices of profession.

Often, a family status is also problematic. When she was offered by the Ford Foundation to undergo a PhD program at Rutgers University in the United States at the same time her husband was about to pursue higher education in the United Kingdom, University of Indonesia professor of anthropology Yunita T Winarno said that she was perplexed by her husband’s boss’ response.

“The answer made me realize [how people see] ‘the position of women and wives’. I got the impression that ‘a wife should not obstruct her husband’s career’. That was the first time I was truly shocked. It hurt my feelings so much as that had never been my intention,” Yunita said. “All hopes seemed lost. However, I was hurt more due to the perception that I am ‘a wife that must take a back seat for my husband’s sake’,” she continued.

Yunita ended up taking a master’s program at the Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine at the University of London. She later obtained her doctorate from the Australian National University. She brought along her three children and practically became a single mother while studying. At one time, she was over-exhausted and suffered from symptoms of severe repetitive strain injury (RSI) that required prolonged medical treatment. She continued her studies as a disabled student. With help from her nephew and husband, both of whom took unpaid leave, Yunita managed to complete her PhD education.

As field researcher, women often face risks of gender violence: being sexually belittled and at the receiving end of violence due to her gender.

When researching at a logging camp, Mia said that sometimes local women visited the camp “as entertainment”. It made her terribly uncomfortable and afraid.

“Every time I took a bath in the river, I was afraid someone would peek or rape me,” she said.

She always took a bath at 4 a.m. and she needed to be alert all the time. She said she still received the same treatment even when she was no longer young.

“I am always greeted with certain glances. I call it the ‘I-want-to-swallow-you-up’ glance,” Mia said.

“Locals often flirt with us and size us up. Farmers’ wives are jealous of us. We often felt unaccepted just because we are women,” said anthropologist Adlinanur Febri Prihardiani.

Her colleagues Dea Rifia Bella and Nadia Reza Chairani confirmed this. The three are doing research on how chemicals affect agricultural land in Kahuman village, Polanharjo district, Klaten regency, Central Java.

Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) acting chair Bambang Subiyanto reaffirmed such views. In offering female researchers promotions or opportunities to study abroad, he always asks them what their family thought about the opportunity.

“We need to really be sure that they have spouses who fully support their careers,” Bambang said.

Physical constraints

Outside of gender problems and patriarchal culture, female researchers often face physical threats that require courage to overcome.

Collembolaexpert Yayuk Rahayuningsih Suhardjono said, “One time, I was sitting and collecting samples in a forest when a male orangutan suddenly sat in front of me. I was startled and then he was startled. We looked at each other and time seemed to stop.”

Yayuk ended up screaming to call her friends. The orangutan was shocked and ran away.

Yayuk is also traumatized by her experience of almost falling into a cave filled with sharp stalagmites. “The next day, I refused to get close to the cave,” she said.

Female researchers of the Eijkman Institute of Molecular Biology often risk their safety to go into malaria-riddled regions, such as Sumba Island, Papua and the forests where the Orang Rimba community lives in Jambi, to collect genetic samples and mosquitoes.

Deep-sea microbe researcher Yosmina Hellena Tapilatu of LIPI’s deep sea research center in Ambon, Maluku, is known her bravery in sailing in the open seas to collect samples in depths of between 100 meters and 1,457 meters. The Ambon Sea is notorious for its huge waves.

Commitment and dreams

The sustainability and success of female researchers depend on their continuously fostered commitment, dream, stamina and curiosity.

“Upon recruitment, we ask what they plan for their future as it determines their career movement. This is especially so for married women,” senior researcher and Eijkman Institute deputy director Herawati Sudoyo said.

“There is the possibility that, after we have accepted someone to work here and they have become a brilliant researcher, suddenly they ask to resign as they want to get married,” Herawati said. “What we have given them will be for nothing. This is not sustainable.”

(AIK/DNE/FRN/HRS/ISW/RWN/SON/SYA)