The Honorary Doctoral Degree Award Received By Puan Maharani Realizes The Aspiration Of Gender Equality

DPR Speaker Puan Maharani/PHOTO via Instagram puanmaharaniri

JAKARTA - The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, was awarded an Honoris Causa Doctorate from Pukyong National University (PKNU), South Korea. The award for Puan is considered to be an inspiration for Indonesian women.

According to the researcher at the Political Research Center, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Luky Sandra Amalia, Puan's presence as the Speaker of the DPR is not only interpreted as a step forward for Indonesia in realizing gender mainstreaming in all fields.

"But it also means realizing the ideals of gender equality for the world's citizens. This is what Pukyong National University Korea caught," Amalia said in an electronic message received in Jakarta, Wednesday, November 9.

Puan's achievements during her time in politics are also considered to have been proven through various recognitions. The award from PKNU itself is the second title of Doctor Honoris Causa that Puan has received in a period of 2 years.

"Puan's presence as the chairman of the DPR seems to open a wall of impossibility that has been haunting women when they want to take part in the world of politics," she continued.

Amalia said that the awarding of an honorary Doctorate Honoris Causa academic title was not arbitrary. She said the university granting the degree would have a number of considerations.

"The existence of Puan as the first female DPR Chair in the history of Indonesia alone is a phenomenon that tends to be rare in the masculine world of politics," said Amalia.

This female activist from the Sarinah Institute highlighted how the DPR differs from the patriarchal culture after being led by Puan. Amalia gave an example of the success of the DPR in the era of Puan's leadership in realizing the ratification of Law (UU) Number 12 of 2022 concerning the Crime of Sexual Violence (TPKS).

"The TPKS Law has been neglected for two periods in the DPR being led by men, and we are grateful that it was finally ratified when Puan became Chair of the DPR," she said.

"It must be admitted that the ratification of the TPKS Law is a success of the legislature in protecting its citizens who are most vulnerable to being victims of sexual violence, namely women," added Amalia.

The DPR under the leadership of Puan has also initiated the Bill on Maternal and Child Welfare (KIA). Amalia assessed that the MCH Bill would be a form of state protection for women as mothers and Indonesian children as the nation's next generation.

"Hopefully the MCH Bill will not be the last, we all certainly hope for the next step of a woman to continue to promote gender equality in this country," she said.

For that, said Amalia, the affirmative policy of encouraging more women in parliament is very important. This is intended so that the legislature produces more legislative products with a gender perspective.

"After four periods or 20 years, the chairman of the DPR RI is led by a man, the presence of a woman leading the DPR seems to erase the image that politics is the world of men," said Amalia.

As citizens who have the same rights and obligations as men, women are also considered to be able to influence political decisions through their work in politics, legislative institutions, and government institutions. Amalia also supports that more women take part in policy spaces, as did Puan.

"Strengthening Puan's consistency as Chair of the DPR can continue to produce policy products with a gender perspective towards the realization of gender equality," said the Ph.D. student at the University of Sydney, Australia.

Equality of rights between women and men, including in the political field, was also conveyed by Puan in her Scientific Speech when she was inaugurated as an Honoris Causa Doctor of Political Science from PKNU. The ceremony for conferring an Honorary Doctorate degree for Ms. Puan was held at the PKNU Campus in Busan, South Korea, Monday (7/11) yesterday.

Puan said democracy guarantees the participation of citizens in articulating political rights, social rights, cultural rights, and economic rights. She emphasized that democracy also provides a space for women's articulation in all fields.

"Including women in every position is not an affirmative policy, but is an awareness of respect for human dignity," said Puan.

According to the first woman who served as Chair of the DPR, the essence of developing gender equality and justice is not to determine who dominates and who is dominated. Rather, said Puan, how to find a corridor to share fairly with each other in all life activities without discriminating between male and female actors.

"This is also the same as not discriminating between actors in life activities because of differences in skin color, race, and belief," she said.

Puan illustrates a man and a woman as the two wings of a bird. If the two wings are equally strong then the bird flies to the highest peak. But if one of the two wings is broken, the bird cannot fly at all.

“This is the spirit that we must also instill together in building a democratic life, where women and men have the same dignity, progress, and prosperity. The country cannot prosper and progress if the women are left behind,” said Puan.

The former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture also dedicated the Honoris Causa Doctorate award he got to all Indonesian women. Puan said the honorary doctorate from PKNU was an acknowledgment of the work and passion of Indonesian women, especially in fighting for gender equality.

"The Honorary Doctorate from Pukyong University is an award not only for me, but also for the leadership of women in Indonesia, for the DPR's contribution to Indonesia's development, and for the close relationship between Indonesia and South Korea," said Bung Karno's granddaughter.