Despite equal institutional treatment, female researchers still face obstacles from cultural values that hinder them from doing effective work and increasing their capacity as researchers.
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KOMPAS/LARASWATI ARIADNE ANWAR
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JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Women have made concrete contributions in advancing science and technology in Indonesia. Despite equal institutional treatment, female researchers still face obstacles from cultural values that hinder them from doing effective work and increasing their capacity as researchers.
Working in fields of researchers perceived by the public as “masculine”, female researchers often have people doubting their skills and capability. They have to do more work to prove themselves.
“When I’m about to do research in a mining region, locals or guides often ask, ‘You’re sure you want to go? It’s far away. You can get tired.’ I need to convince them that, as a mineral researcher, I’m used to venturing into mines,” said researcher Mutia Dewi Yuniati of the Indonesian Institute of Science’s (LIPI) center of geotechnical research division.
She was talking in a discussion themed “Resilient Women in National Science and Technology” at LIPI in Jakarta on Friday (20/4/2018).
Herpetologist Hellen Kurniati of LIPI’s center of biological research said that she had never received special treatment as a female researcher, who should always be prepared to go to various sites, including captive breeding sites, jungles and estuaries.
“The first requirement as a herpetologist is you must not be afraid of animals,” she said.
Gadjah Mada University (UGM) agricultural engineering professor Endang Sutriswati Rahayu, 64, also talked about her experience as female researcher. The recipient of an Adhikarya Pangan Nusantara award from President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said that many female researchers were more persistent and resilient than their male colleagues.
“Researches are never easy. We need to make a proposal first, present it in front of reviewers and then submit reports to the reviewers. In such a process, females are more resilient and persistent,” said Endang, who obtained her doctorate degree from the University of Tokyo in Japan.
Airlangga University school of dentistry researcher Ernie Maduratna Setiawatie, 52, also proved that female researchers and lecturers have equal capability with their male counterparts. Ernie has patented the results of her seven researches on gingivitis. This year, she is filing two more patents.
Among Ernie’s patented work is an antimicrobial topical tetracycline gel, a minocycline mouthwash and a Nigella sativa mouth wash.
Equal opportunity
The Higher Education, Research and Technology Ministry’s director general of research and development strengthening, Muhammad Dimyati, said that all researchers had equal opportunity to do research in universities.
“Female lecturers are also competitive in using research funds the ministry provides. Gender does not matter in research funding, as long as the research proposal fulfills the requirement,” Dimyati said.
So far this year, 18,433 lecturers have submitted research proposals in 10 fields. Of this figure, 8,552 (46 percent) are women and 9,881 (54 percent) are men.
The 10 focus fields of research at universities are food and agriculture, health and medicine, energy and renewables, defense and security, information and communication technology, maritime affairs, disaster management, transportation, advanced materials and humanities.
Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Yohana Susana Yembise said that male researchers often grasped opportunities faster than their female counterparts, many of whom are busy with domestic duties. This is also influenced by the still-pervasive patriarchy.
“However, all of this depends on the women themselves, who must be able to see their own potential as scientists with equal capacity to men. Strong will and bravery is needed to tear down the walls of traditions that have impeded women,” she said.
In order to achieve gender equality, including in science and technology, the government encourages all parties to adhere to Presidential Instruction No. 9/2000 on gender mainstreaming. This is achieved through planning, arranging, carrying out, monitoring and evaluating gender perspectives in national policies and development programs in line with the functions and authority of each institution.
Thus far, the Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry has disseminated the acceleration of gender mainstreaming to central and regional government agencies. The 2015-2019 National Mid-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) includes initiatives to improve women’s quality of life and role in development.
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