That great leap never has been handling good by women in general as well as women movement. It was results of great obstacle by patriarchal system of the government, as well as with everything rules Indonesia; cultures, education, economy and social. This paper will underline media coverage on women in headline news, as female “figure” not in term of statue of photo, but words which represent a woman’s name and individual existence in headline, and women’s issues in front page.

1. … Women in Government AVery Limited Media Coverage on Women
Umi Lasmina
History of Women in Government
A Very Limited Media Coverage
on Women
Prepared by Umi Lasmina, Jakarta-Indonesia
Women Worlds 05 Congress,
International Interdisciplinary Congress on Women 2005,
June 19-24 Seoul - South Korea
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2. … Women in Government AVery Limited Media Coverage on Women
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Indonesia History of Women in Government
A Very Limited Media Coverage on Women
A very limited story (her stories) of women in relating their contribution to govern
the nation is acute. Women’s contribution is often taken for granted. First, Since the new
Indonesia government formally established in 1945, the year of Indonesian Independent,
women has not given the chance to exercise power to govern, and second if they had, and
embrace the power to make contribution to govern (in executive), history and media
almost always given less space for acknowledge them.
Furthermore, Indonesian women has limited opportunities to involved in
government or in term of three partied as part of executives board. Yet the achievement
of Indonesian woman to be a president in 2001, Megawati Soekarnopoetri did not change
the situation, which was the contribution of her reign to govern the nation is less
acknowledge in stories and media. There were almost neither as president nor as woman’s
president. Although woman has already been ‘elected’ as President (substituted President
whom has been impeach by parliament), but with muslim majority population, Indonesia
has been enter a great leap for a women’s movement.
That great leap never has been handling good by women in general as well as
women movement. It was results of great obstacle by patriarchal system of the
government, as well as with everything rules Indonesia; cultures, education, economy and
social.
This paper will underline media coverage on women in headline news, as female
“figure” not in term of statue of photo, but words which represent a woman’s name and
individual existence in headline, and women’s issues in front page. Women mention in
headline news is to show us, how woman was involved in major issues or big issues of in
the country according to media people. Headline as main news reflected by most
importance news of which published at that day1. This is the way we have seen, how
news media headline include woman as female---in quantity of news coverage. I will not
analyze representation of woman’s perspective in headline, but how many women is
included in period of a month headlines of daily newspaper. Woman’s role in public life
or politics is still limited, though there was a female’s president. I chose sample from the
news in Kompas by year of 2002.
The quantity of female figure in headline news will bring idea on how and in what
condition woman usually become part of the subject in headline. This is very important
way to see woman’s representation as creator and be part of big national issue. Indonesia
has female president. And many times, though it’s not mention in news media, accusation
have made for woman’s leader (president) failure, for reason that because she was a
woman. And if the president is male, and fail, media and most people always never judge
in related with his gender.
The quantity of female in headline could bring reader, especially women’s reader
a sense of women mirror women. It was too, would bring a sense of other women’s
feeling (readers) that they too, could participate and contributed for the nation. Though
very seldom, women who has chance to be presented in headline, are almost always in
related with their position in the government as head/vice executives where their have
power as decision maker their, in local as well national level. It would be a simply as way
woman identify woman, without stereotype. Women mirror themselves in the news. The
women’s contribution has been long given for the country but almost never been
acknowledge by the media, as well in historical note.
1
Lesmana Tjipta., 20 Tahun Kompas, profil pers Indonesia dewasa ini, Jakarta:Erwin-Rita.,1985., page.53.
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The invisibility of women in headline news and national historical note, were
common situation where the majority of parliament members were male, and public
positions as well media still within patriarchal bias. This paper will show those facts by
using sample Kompas, a national newspaper whose local supplement published for
readers in Java (West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta and East Java). As leading daily
newspaper published since 1965, has millions of reader throughout Indonesia. And Java is
chosen as one of the island where many women become executive officer or head of local
government (City Major).
With common argument that it is still a great expectation to accomplish for
implementing and endorse women’s issues and interests if woman with power is still few
and very limited numbers, as it was stated by Drude Dahlerup,” Don’t expect us to make
much difference as long as we are only a few woman in politics. It takes critical mass of
women to make a fundamental change in politics”2. in Indonesia, though there are few
progress situations in several provinces, especially in Java, where women become the
head of executive for regency /district as City Major, this is why I choose Java for the
subject areas of survey. Within period of time 2002 the paper will focus headline, front
page and regular profile article in Kompas.
The survey will show how the media news coverage, in related with woman as
female figure, how many woman’s in government official presented in headline. First
and main effort is to show the frequency of woman as female (non gender related-but a
sex) is told in headline news. Limited within this context are the un-proportional spaces
of non-stereotype as female in government position and woman’s issue brought in news. I
try not to examine woman’s feminist perspective on the news, because it might need huge
effort and already predict disappointed result. The second is to create link in relating the
news coverage between women with or without position in official government bodies,
and the frequency of them in the news.
It is a way to show, the awareness of the media of “the other sex” presence in the
headline. It includes if the paper mention word of “woman” “wife” “daughter” within
their headline news. These might have varied interpretation and meaning though, but I it
could mirror the woman see woman in the news, in very limited way. This is how the role
of the media in portraying women. The quantity of newspaper in portraying women
might as well have the effect for women identify themselves in sense of public areas, but
again, this might need a lot of works to examine it.
It is, limited media coverage on women, merely woman as gender representation
of female, will brought a horizon to think of how media not necessary cover women as
equal as their male counterpart, as citizen. Specifically middle-upper class woman who
held public offices do not share equal space of page in newspaper, as with man.
By examine of how many words frequency of woman figure within Headline of
Kompas (National edition) newspaper, and frequency of woman’s issue on front page in
Kompas (Java editions), taken into the sign and symbol of woman to be seen in reality of
news media. The content analysis will bring us to the amount how media bureaucracy and
journalist habit t presenting women in their news. And how many times, during headline
news, give space for woman’s president to be mention in news and cover in headline 3.
Within this range, I use concept of content analysis as ‘research technique for the
objective, systematic and quantitative description of the manifest content of
communication’. It is semiotic and content analysts in general4. The limited numbers of
2
Dahlerup, Drude.,Women’s Beyond numbers, edited by Azza Karram, et.,all., Stockholm., IDEA: 1998,
3
Stempel III, Guido H., Analisis Isi., (Content Analysis) as translated by Rakhmat, Jalaludin Drs., and
Kasta., Arko Drs., Arai Komunikasi Bandung: 1983., p.11
4
Van Zoonen, Liesbet., Feminist Media Studies.,London.Sage Pubication;1994.,p.85
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4. … Women in Government AVery Limited Media Coverage on Women
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words of woman’s name and figure in text will become a signifier of women’s presence
in headlines and issues as woman’s existence in whole news. The amount of finding the
words of woman’s figure is similar with quantity and quality of women in whole
representation of woman in Kompas and whole news media in Indonesia. This findings
too, will show us that having the press freedom and have a woman as the country’s head
government, not necessarily accommodate women as part of big news to be cover beyond
stereotype.
History of Women In Government: short list women
Indonesian women’s movement became big part of shareholder for Indonesian’s
women’s interest, their contribution to escort the women’s in government in necessary.
As Margaret Stacey and Marion Price stated “a strategy of encouraging women to gain
power position must have clearly linked with continuing discussion as how to we can
achieve liberty, equality and comradeship as well the importance of women with power to
be kept closely in touch with well and organized women’s movement. 5 But in Indonesia,
the great leap of women’s movement by having the woman president, has not yet ready to
escort those great power of a woman. Woman has to face the difficulties against male bias
and male dominated system of government, which showed in the making of regulation,
where women’s interest and issues was abandoned.
Since Independence of the Nation, in August 1945 Indonesia has very limited
women in government position, especially in national level. It was not until 1946 when
the third Cabinet was formed, a woman appointed to be a minister. She was Maria Ulfah
Subadio, who became Social Minister in Sjahrir cabinet (Prime Minister while Soekarno
was a President). She was a member of PERWARI Persatuan Wanita Republik Indonesia
and Perhimpunan Perempuan Indonesia. PERWARI was a largest women’s organization
at that time and PPI was a coordinating organization for many women’s organizations.
The next woman to be appointed to become minister was SK Trimurti, as Labour
Minister. She was a member of PBI Indonesia Labour Party. That was a very short history
after Indonesia Independence day.
After the year of 1950 to 1978, there were seldom woman officer at national and
local government. One of them was only Maria Ulfah who was Secretary for Prime
Minister, and she was a former minister in cabinet 1946. Other position in this period for
women in government was supporting institution such as government’s own hospital,
research institute and university. In legislative body, women run for seat in parliament
rather different than male counterparts.
In Old Order from first election 1955 to 1965, with liberal multy parties system
women has small opportunity to practice in politics and compete with other candidate.
The result of first general election in 1955, has 17 women member of parliament (MP)
out of 272 or 6,3 % of women MPs.
Within those period women did not share same attention for media coverage as
men. The headline that include woman’s figure was not different than today. Woman
figure mostly in related their link with bureaucracy or male officer to be in headline, or
front page. The most coverage woman’s issues and woman figure to be presented, to be
covered in newspaper that period were in year of 1953, where women was planned to
held demonstration against government regulation PP19/Th.1952, and the demonstration
against its regulation on December 17, 1953. The regulation was induced and passed by
president Soekarno has allowed civil servant practicing polygamy6. Almost all media put
5
Margareth Stacey and Marion Price Women in politics and Society in The Third World, Second Edition.,
Peter Calvert and Susan Cail., Pearson Education Ltd.England:2001
6
.Lasminah. Umi., Demonstrasi Perwari Menolak P19.Thn.1952., script for graduated University of
Indonesia.,1995
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5. … Women in Government AVery Limited Media Coverage on Women
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woman’s action in demonstration in headlines. Other than that, woman’s figure mostly
presented in front page photo of wife of president or any foreign woman delegation met
with president.
In New Order era, 1966-1998, women rarely have chance to practice politics
freely. The military influenced Government set up a mono political culture. Most women
who joint in politics were women who have relation with bureaucrat or military. General
election 1992, Women MPs reach highest number, there were 62 out of 500, or 12,5%,
but mostly those women were daughter, sisters of bureacrats or military officers. The last
election 2004, there were 61 women’s MPs out of 550 MPs or 11,1 %. And most of them
did not practice politics as road for women’s empowerment and progressiveness.
The woman minister has been chosen again during the midterm of Soeharto’s era
(1966-1998). At this time, Indonesia was like under pressure by international community
to give a woman chance to be head in executive. The first woman minister in Soeharto’s
eras was Mrs. Lasijah Sutanto, a first Young Minister of Women’s Role in 1978. It was
called young minister, to indicated that the as new formed ministry. In 1983, Women’s
Role ministry become State Minister of Women’s Role with no portfolio, or department,
that means the all the budget and operational for the ministry activities was token from
The State Minister.
Mrs Lasijah Sutanto succession with Mrs.A.Soelasikin Moerpratomo in 1987, and
continued her post until 1993. The Women’s role minister for 1993-1998 was Mrs.Mien
Sugandhi, and 1998-1999 women’s role minister was Mrs.Hj.Tuty Alawiyah. Those are
the ministers from New Order era, whose president was Soeharto. They were all a
Golongan Karya cadre, a political organization reign Indonesia for almost 32 years since
1967. Not until 1998 Women’s Role minister change their name with Women’s
Empowerment Minister, and had a minister from Partai Kebangkitan Bangsa (The Rising
Nation Party), Mrs.Khofifah Indar Parawangsa. Partai Kebangkitan Bangsa is a new form
party after Soeharto’s dawn. Those shows short list of women’s minister, compare to all
member of minister since 1978 to 1998, 7 women’s minister to150 member of male
ministers or 5,3% women’s minister for 20 years of Indonesia national government.
When students movement and women’s movement grow all over Indonesia, with
demand Soeharto to resigned, so was Soeharto’s influence became less and less. Public
and media start to notice issues of woman’s participation in politics. Because a
memorable action of a group women and mothers called Suara Ibu Peduli (Voice of
concern Mothers) in Hotel Indonesia circle in 21 February 1998. Women’s middle class
movement has great attention by national and international media. The women who has
been leading in action; Karlina Leksono Supelly, Gadis Arivia and Wilasih, were arrested
by police, and had been interrogated for almost 24 hours. Their photo shows all over the
media, national and international media. Soeharto regime was in alert. Two months after
their actions, students occupied the parliament building with demand, Suharto resign.
Suharto resigned May 21, 1998. That was the time for beginning of Indonesia new
democratic system. The year of 1998 too, became beginning year of change for women’s
position in government. But their story too, for most of time vanish from mainstream
history, secluded with mass students demo.
Later on in 1999, Indonesia held general election, yet another multy parties has
been participated. This was a new time for a rebound democracy. The winner party was
Partai Democracy Indonesia Perjuangan/PDIP (Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle)
chair by first ever woman lead big party, Megawati Soekarnopoetri. The situation after
legislative election was confusing, people who chose PDIP wanted Megawati to be
president. Due to Islamic issues brought by politician, especially Partai Amanat Nasional
(National Messenger Party) and Muhamadiyah leader Amien Rais, that woman was
forbidden to be a nation leader. Megawati failed to grasp the right that her party rights as
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6. … Women in Government AVery Limited Media Coverage on Women
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winner. She was not posted as president, instead the General Assembly chose her as vice
president.
It was KH Abdurrahman Wahid leadership was, again another starting point for
good woman’s movement. He was has tight relationship with women’s activist. In fact
her wife, Sinta Nuriyah was a member of commissioner of National Commission of Anti
Violence against Women (formed 1998). During Wahid era, Government has induced a
regulation for every offices department to have Pengharusutamaan Gender (Gender
Mainstreaming Program) with President Instruction No 9/Thn.2000. The instruction was
a follow up program of CEDAW implementation. One of the ministers of his era was
Khofifah Indar Parawangsa as Women’s Empowerment minister. During her work time
as minister for 2 years, Women’s Empowerment minister has a tight relationship with
women’s feminist activist.
It was another time in history of having two women posted in cabinet minister,
one in Women’s Empowerment Minister and the other was Housing Minister. It was
happened because the president of Indonesia, KH.Abdurrahman Wahid was/is well
known to have close relation with women’s movement, and has been great supporter for
women’s rights issues. The Abdurrahman Wahid reign was only for two years. He was
ousted by the parliament in July 2001, and vice president Megawati, was automatically
chosen to replace him. At the same time, Megawati still a chair of PDIP.
During Megawati presidency, many women become head of government offices,
national and local in compare with previous government. Though there were not exacts
argument that could explain this was related situation, the fact that during the Megawati
era that women’s role in government increased is something we cannot deny. And the fact
that in many districts, the PDIP’s were endorse women to become a City Major, such as
in Nganjuk, East Java and Kebumen Central Java.
Highest positions of women in executive level for national and local government
are varied since 1999 first election. As we know, Megawati already achieve the highest
position for executive level as President, but other than that there are very limited number
of women in executive in national level. There are only 3 women ministers during
Megawati presidency. Minister for women’s empowerment: Sri Rejeki Soemaryoto, trade
and industry minister: Rini Soewandi and secretary general for Internal Affairs
Department Siti Nurbaya, and the latest one woman chosen to be a Deputy Governor of
Bank Indonesia is Miranda Goeltom. And at the local level, highest position for executive
was Vice Governor of Banten Province, Hj Rt Atut Chosiyah and Major for some district
or regent in East Java, West Java, Central Java and North Sulawesi. Many women were
leader of Rukun Tetangga and Village. As for Major of regency in Majalengka West Java
is Hj.Tutty Hayati Anwar SH, Major of Demak regent is Endang Setyaningsih, Major for
Karanganyar district is Rina Iriani, and Kebumen’s district Rustriningsih. All women
executive is too, joint a political party before they were chosen to be executives by Local
Parliament (DPRD). The lowest level position for government executive is leader of
Rukun Tetangga branch of sub village areas where consists about 300 families for each.
Leader for village is Lurah, and there are many women as Lurah. Such in Panarung,
Central Kalimantan, Zulhikmah Ravieq, Lurah Salatiga, Central Java, Siti Sulami, dan
Lurah Mangungsari Dra Nunuk Dartini Msi in Central Java and in Selong, vice Lurah in
South Jakarta.
Though it is still very limited number of woman in government, women become
more and more visible in politics. It was excess of freedom of the press and freedom to
form organization has brought condition that there were increasing numbers of news
people as experts and commentators from various backgrounds. And many of them talk of
social and politics situation, few were woman, such as Chusnul Mar’iyah (later become
one of Member of National Elections Committee), Smita Notosusanto and Nursyahbani
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7. … Women in Government AVery Limited Media Coverage on Women
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Katjasungkana (a chair of Indonesia Women’s Coalition for Justice and Democracy).
Theirs comment mostly about political situation on women and politics in general.
Usually their views broadcast in television, radio and printed in newspaper, but again
rarely be part of headline news and front page coverage.
Limited Media Coverage on Women
Kompas is a leading newspaper, published since 1965, and well known for its
quality to be one of the best newspapers today, as an objective and check-recheck news
sources. Choosing Kompas as main research target merely for its relation with power and
how its published voices rather accountable compare to other media, beside it’s a long
and survive newspaper to date. Kompas survive the ‘accusation’ and gossip as a Christian
resonance. And to now, it is the biggest prints national newspaper daily, to which has
more number of women in board of editor. Kompas has 24 women out 121 editors,
compare to overall newspaper bureaucracy in Indonesia which not even reach to 3 %
women7. As news media, Kompas become one of the pint points to know what was
important circumstances take place in the country. People read their headlines and scan
front pages. Government looks, and driven to responds, sometimes on what have been
presented in Kompas, especially in headline and front page. They event react by using hak
jawab (Counter Act) by using media against what has been published in news. 8
And in one of my interview with a young educated woman whose her office is
Kompas subscriber and she read newspaper in her office, she said she read headlines, and
if there is a woman’s issue in front page, she usually stop to read the title scan a bit, and if
it is interesting subject she might read to finished at that time. On other subject title in
front page, she usually not doing read scan9.
In Kompas though, women’s comment mostly put in page 4 where its content
column for law and politics news. Unlike other male counterpart, where their comment
might quoted and become title for the news in front page whether or not it follow other
story in the news. Women comments put in other page, if quoted for title usually follow
other big action concerning the issue. The big action is such as demonstration, protest or
controversial regulation. Almost none, women commentator created certain issue that
might be a title. The moment for women to join and melting with the change was hardly
be left to follow in print media. And women’s writer opinion seldom published in
Opinion section of Kompas, whether it is related or not with equal opportunity or equal
judgment for quality. We never know.
This table shows limited frequency female figure could be part in cover in daily news as
part of the headline news.
7
.Daniel Dhakidae., in opening launch of book of Ani Widyani Soetjipto’s Perempuan dalam Politik bukan
Gerhana., Jakarta April 29,2005
8
. Kompas headline and front page on March, 18,19,20, 2005 about fact on the alert and danger of Hunger
in East Nusa Tenggara, has been great concern for government, and they tried to clarified the fact using
other media, television to counter the news.
9
Interview with Yuli, (age 27) 4 April, 2005, Jakarta
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Table 1 Woman in Headline January 2002
National Headline Kompas January 2002
Times of Women mention in Month(27-30
Main Headline news days)
Subject President Women’s Other Total Female
official Figure
Economy 3 1 1 5
Politics 8 3 11
Social 2 1 3
Legal
Culture
Total 13 1 5 19
Note: Women’s official: woman with as head executive in government office national/ local and in National Army or
Police.,Other : woman
Sample of News title January
(HEADLINE)
Pertamina Diperintahkan Lakukan Operasi Pasar January 6, 2002, (Pertamina being ordered to do Market
Operation) (Economy)
> Has two woman figure mention: president Megawati and Titi Suprapti, a supplier/trader of kerosene.
Banjir Besar Landa Medan 5 Tewas dan 6 Hilang, Bandara ditutup Big Flood occur Medan
5 Died and 6 missing, Airport closed (Social)
> Has five woman figure mention: they are victims of flood
Table 1 show us that women’s figure only mention 19 times in headlines a month or
mostly in politics (8 times), because of woman’s president, she have been mention to be
published in headline for 13 out of 19 times in a month. Worse of it, there is one mention
word “president” but not without name, it was a quotation words from a minister,
Menurut Suwoto, …. “Hasil Keputusan Presiden yang menetapkan walikota berhenti
itulah yang disebut berhalangan tetap.Bisa juga karena meninggal….” (According to
Suwoto, what it mean to be static condition of unavailable is a legilative product which
legalized by President). The word president within this context is blur, which president.
But it is only person with understanding that a president in here referred to institutional
organization, with authority of presidency. While other woman only mention 5 times.
But for several headlines, there were more than one female figure most of them victims of
the flood (social news) Big flood in Medan where I could identify woman’s figure by
their names. As in one headline about fuels, where PERTAMINA, government’s to held
market operation, due to difficulty of people to get fuels. One of the agents presented in
news is woman. My interpretation is that only in a major disturbance that non-official
woman’s figure would presence as part of casualties. As the same with victims of flood,
plane crash and legal case where woman’s presence in news usually related with the main
subject person.
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Table 2 Woman’s figure in Headline March 2002
National Women in news frequency Month (27-30 day)
Kompas Female Female ’s Other Total woman Figure
March 2002 President officer
Economy 3 3
Politics 5 5
Social
Legal 2 2 6* 10
Culture
TOTAL 7 5 6 18
*3 times in three days headline was Akbar Tanjung’s Wife. Akbar Tanjung was a Golkar
chairman who has been detained due to allegation for corruption.
Three other names of woman’s figures were related with Tommy Soeharto’s ( trial. Tommy
Soeharto was/is well known as womanizer, has many mistresses because of his wealth of
fortune and good looking face. When he was arrested for the first time, it was because of
police trace hidden information from one of his woman.
Sample of News title March 2002
(HEADLINE)
Penegakan Hukum Nasional dibawah Tekanan Politik (National Law Enforcement is under political pressure)
Kompas. March,9,2002
> Has a woman figure mention: president Megawati. (politics)
Tommy diancam hukuman mati. (Tommy is threaten to have Death Sentence)
Kompas March22,2002
> has three woman’s figure in news, 2 witnesses of Tommy case (Ny.Sokinah, Hetty Siti Hartika), and
Tommy’s lawyer Elza Syarif (legal)
Akbar Tanjung Tunjuk Pengacara Baru (Akbar Tanjung appointed new lawyer)
>Has a woman’s figure in news, a wife of Akbar Tanjung, Krisnina Akbar Tanjung. (legal)
Kompas March 23, 2002
Table 3 Women Issue in Front Page of Kompas National
Month: January 2002
Date Women’s Issue title Female figure mention Issue
19 “Bunga” atau kerudung Laporan dari Durkani, woman live in Requin Women in
Afganistan conflict, areas
“Flower” or Veil, report from Afganistan Afganistan
28 Perpanjangan Kader terbaik Muhamadiyah Prof.Dr.Siti Chamamah Soeratno Women in
untuk menjadi pimpinan Nasional (leader of Aisyiah. A women mass politics (mass
(Lengthening Best Cadre of Muhamadiyah organization of Muhamadiyah) organization)
to become National Leader)
29 Photo news: No.4 Rank Women Tennis Martina Hingis, Monica Seles, Jelena Women in sport
Association Martina Hingis with Jelena Dokic
Dokic and Monica Seles in Japan
Table 3 shows us in general, that women’s issue rarely be pick in front page. In Kompas
National, there were 7 news in front page, daily (30 days x 7news), and approximately
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10. … Women in Government AVery Limited Media Coverage on Women
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only 2 women issue content news in a month for front page. In general it was only 2
women’s issue out of 210 news is equal 0,95 % monthly.
Table 4 Women Issue in Front Page Local section of Kompas East Java
Month: October 2002
Date Title in Front Page of Women’s Issue Female’s figure Main Issue
mention
15 Perempuan Berperan Cegah Disitegrasi 0 politics
Women had role to prevent disintegration
17 8% Perempuan mengidap Inkontinensia 0 health
8% of women had inkontinensia
19 Foto News: Mengalah, demi menghemat duduk di economy
belakang pengayuh becak, sementara barang di depan
Give in, for conserve and sit in the back of becak
driver, while stock in the front.
Table 4 is funny, there were 2 news related women’s issue, but there were not woman’s
figure in the news. On the news “Perempuan Berperan Cegah Disitegrasi /Women had
role to prevent disintegration”, it was a quotation statement stated by an male academic.
And the other news in table 5, again its male researcher who doing research about sex
habit of female student in “Deliti, Virginitas Mahasiswi Yogyakarta/
Research conduct on College Student Virginity in Yogyakarta”. Where the news only
present a male resource person, a researcher.
Table 5 Women Issue in Front Page of Local Pages of Kompas Central Java
Month: August 2002
Date Title of Front page of Women’s Issue Women’s figure
mention
2 Deliti, Virginitas Mahasiswi Yogyakarta 0
Research conduct on College Student Virginity in Yogyakarta
6 Mengadu ke DPRD DIY, 35 TKI Kesulitan Minta Dana Asuransi 1
Difficult to get insurance, 35 Indonesia Migrant Workers
counseled to Yogyakarta local parliament
Table 6. Women Issue in Front Page of Local Pages of Kompas East Java
Month: March 2002
Date Sample of Others Title of Front page of Women’s Issue Women’s figure mention
issue
18 Pelecehan Buruh diadukan ke Polres 2. Yuni Susilawati: a women’s
Sidoarjo (Sexual Harassment against worker worker leader, Ice (not real
reported to Police) name): victim of sexual
Issue Violenc against women harrashment
26 Majikan yang menganiaya pembantu 5. Suna, Yenni are maid;
diperiksa jiwanya. (Employee who abused Ratjh, Sunarsih, victims of
maid is examined its soul) violence by employee, Ny Ita:
Issue Violence against women wife of employee
1 Golkar Jatim prohibit 0
their cadres to go to
High Court of Justice
Though the samples did not represent all media coverage of women. The finding
is that there was very limited media coverage, stereotype and do not give much credit for
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11. … Women in Government AVery Limited Media Coverage on Women
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women. Stereotype was, as woman, you might be presented in headlines, if you are a wife
bureaucrat, or daughter of a well- known male figure. It was much easier to find women
represent as female figure in media, that for sure, but of course you could not find it
anywhere in front page and headline, not in Kompas too.
In Indonesia, a way to find woman’s figure is seek by their names. Though did
not put Mr, Ms, or Mrs before names, there are certain indication for customary names for
male and female. And especially for most woman’s journalist, they sometimes put a word
woman (perempuan), in front of name or status of a person, to make sure the reader will
have background information.
Many news headline, we could see more of woman names as name for hospital or
boats, but that is not what I intend to. Woman figures whose I seek for content analysis
are women, representing with no gender role stereotype and preference. And that was
limited. If we would find more women as female figure in front-page color, of women’s
female figure, we might see much (Nama dan Peristiwa) Name and Event. This page is
readable by most of Kompas reader. The survey by Kompas prove about their reader is
always read Nama dan Peristiwa in page 12 (backpage), for almost 40 %, often for above
80%, and only slightly reader do not read Nama dan Peristiwa.10 And I see this rubric
function is for intermezzo. Women (and men) who mostly presented in section are
celebrities, artist, actors or actresses, from Indonesia or outside. The average estimation
was only 4 out 50 women in public offices (Indonesia or foreign) out of people (mostly
celebrities) to be published in back-page of Name and Event rubric.
Conclusion
Media coverage for Politics, is like Sports, where male is still the owner for all of
these pages11 and headline of Kompas mostly politics. Even though Indonesia’s head of
executive is a woman, there is no guarantee, that woman’s figure would be part of
importance news. Well woman’s figure might shows in headline photo, but it is not news.
It is importance photo, a good photo, but not yet importance news, though sometimes the
photo is side with news about the photo. For women’s figure in photo, was mostly photo
for attract reader to read further more, especially in Saturday and Sunday edition.
Woman’s figure has space photo color in left side of front page.
But though limited coverage on women in politics, women who had public
profession could be more comfort with media, than their peers in Western Country. In
Indonesia, media rarely criticize or underline performance of women’s officers. It was for
celebrity media most underline or give commentary performance, because of course they
have more space in front of pages for women’s public officers.
Unlike their peers of head of executive, in Denmark, when a male reporter wrote
about Denmark new young woman’s Justice Minister Ms. Espersen “Are you going to
touch her tits then?” asked my Mrs. As the last thing before I left home on that rainy
Monday morning.”Never,” I answered a little too fast.12 Though sometimes news in
Kompas mention too, what color of dress that president wearing, it was merely for
information during particular occasion as in Mother’s day commemoration, or when she
is going to do an opening ceremony. Fortunately Indonesian press did not obsessed with
performance of their female pubic officers or excecutives.
10
.Presentasi Hasil Angket Pembaca Kompas Harian, 2004, oleh Puslitbis Litbang Kompas.
11
.Jones, Ray, J.Murrell, Audrey and Jackson, Jenifer., Pretty Versus Powerful in the Sports Pages: Print
Media Coverage of U.S Women’s Olympic Gold Winning Teams., Journal of Sport and Social Issues,
Vol.23, No.2, 1999 p.183-192.
12
Moustgaard Andersen, Ulrikke., The Handbag, The Witch and the Blue Eyes Blond., presentation made
on the international conference Mass Media in (Re)Distribution of Power, 12-14 January 2005.
11

12. … Women in Government AVery Limited Media Coverage on Women
Umi Lasmina
The importance to presence woman’s figure in headlines news and front page,
especially women’s issues in front page for Kompas, as leading media, that claim to have
more than 600.000 copies, which reach millions readers is crucial for create a equal
sphere in news space. As a leading media, other media will look and follow what in
Kompas done, especially if it good way to attract more readers, buyers, and maybe
subscribers. We know, that Kompas do not gain money and profit from selling their
newspaper copies, but from advertising. But of course, they will have more attention from
public, and have a better newspaper image, if they have the courage to embrace more of
woman figure to be present news headline. Why what is that, because more women, will
buy and read Kompas. More women could identify themselves in the news, and it’s
headline, and front page. Women might still look for their stories and figure in woman’s
magazine, and they to might be looking for their story and figure in daily newspaper. It
would be a story of inclusive way to acknowledge women as citizen, as politics and social
creatures that could be part of national-regional news. Women will no longer excluded
from national story, male universe in media is deconstructed, with human (male and
female) news stories.
We might be agreed that news has to be present hard fact of what happening today
or last night, become news might be printed in “today” news on headline and front page
of daily newspaper. But it is hard fact too that woman’s life in general sometimes related
with story in headline and front page. And how that journalist and bureaucracy in
journalist find out that, we do not know, until there is an effort to doing it. In every single
thing that happened in national and regional level, journalist have to seek and present
woman as apart of it, in important and not so important role. Since media have consider
power to frame our understanding of public life, to set the agenda on key issues and to
influence political process13. And Kompas is one of media with greater influence to create
public opinion from headline and front page.
And I will not argue that Kompas too, its capitalist tool media. But it is too one
media which dare to present different angle on selecting to be published news. As when
no other media covered Socialist Forum, Kompas put the News in front page with photo
insert of Hugo Chaves’s of Venezuale president, and on the other day placed big photo of
Fidel Casto with Hugo Chaves in foreign section. Everyone, the reader of Kompas
especially (middle to upper class people) who has knowledge about background ideology
might be reading behind the lines of what it meant.
If woman figure to be present more in headlines and front page, it will bring a new
way of deconstruction male space in press. That newspaper space is not only for male,
masculine figure especially in Kompas. We know, there is other newspaper who brought
woman’s figure in almost everyday front page---but again, not many woman would read
this newspaper, because of its presentation of woman most only as victims of rape, or
robbery or sexploitation figure for male reader14. As result, again woman will seek ‘news’
about them, where presented only once in a week (weekly women’s magazine or
woman’s tabloid), two week (woman’s magazine or tabloid) or monthly (monthly
woman’s magazine). The question is, are Kompas dare to try and give woman more space
in headline and front page and other pages too, so they will not only buy weekly, monthly
media to seek their woman-identify- woman, and woman do not feel isolated with
nationwide event in Indonesia. And for knowingly that Kompas’s news content is not
13
Lawrence, Dr.Carmen.,Woman’s Politicians and The Media.,www.carmenlawrence.com
14
.There are daily newspaper with focus on politics and crime where woman often be presented in headline
and front page: Rakyat Merdeka, Post Kota, Sinar Pagi and Sinar Harapan.
12

13. … Women in Government AVery Limited Media Coverage on Women
Umi Lasmina
determined by market forces, there is hope to change to be better media that representing
woman, not only as stereotype but as pubic figure and politicians. (U/L @2005)
umeegila@yahoo.com
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