INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2014 — A time to reflect on women's choices in Bali
For an island so rich in resources and capital alike, it is remarkable that poverty in Bali is currently on the rise with more than 186,000 people living on less than $2 (USD) a day. Gender inequalities in income distribution, access to credit and employment, and control over property make women in Indonesia even more vulnerable to chronic poverty than men.
In a day of recognition and awareness of women, the 8th of March marks the annual celebration of International Women’s Day. Conceived in the early 1900s as a dedicated time for women to join together and press for equal working conditions as men, the day continues to serve as a global platform for women’s issues today.
In Indonesia especially, this event provides a timely opportunity to shed light on the ever-increasing number of women who find themselves struggling between tourism-driven inflation and increasing competition in the low-skilled job market. In Bali, many girls are trapped in degrading working conditions and a life of poverty, without the means to escape or improve their and their family's situation.
It is no secret that there is a strong correlation between education attainment and financial earning power. According to the Australian Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the average wage of a woman can increase by up to 25 percent with just one extra year of schooling. However, in many cases women have no choice but to enter the work force after high school due to economic constraints.
Though women have made tremendous gains in education and the workplace, the uphill struggle for complete gender equality persists still. On average, the issue is not that there is a clear discrepancy in school enrollment or wages between men and women; it is the perception of gender roles and capabilities that are buried much deeper in our societal psyche that affect women’s earning power.
Stereotypes about what subjects girls and boys are more likely to exceed in dramatically alter their confidence in ability. If, for example, girls grow up thinking that they aren’t expected to excel in the realm of hard sciences, then they won’t perform as well as they could, due to their own self-fulfilling prophecy. After years of personal development under this subconscious gender programming, it is not unlikely that a woman would see her most “suitable” role as one in a less profitable field, perhaps as a housewife. Furthermore, if that role is then valued considerably less than an upper management position or a profession in the hard sciences, such as an engineer or a computer programmer, therein lies the gap in earning potential.
When Vira, a hospitality human resources manager from Surabaya, was asked if she thinks that society in Indonesia is conducive to allow women to succeed, she replied, “What hinders women to be successful is the perception of it. Is it being successful in a career or is it being a good mother or homemaker? Everything comes down to a choice.” She argues that the better question to ask is, “Do all women wish to participate in having successful careers? Or is a woman’s wish simply to become a stronger equal partner to her spouse, allowing her to contribute in the household and have the option to either stay home, start a small business or build a career?”
Overall, it is about women gaining the confidence and securing the freedom to assert themselves fully in any given profession, not just the ones that were deemed “fitting” for them. If women are raised to believe that they are equally competent to men in any study or line of work, it doesn't matter what jobs they choose as long as they are given the same range of choices as men from the start.
Women from low-income families face double the choice barriers: societal stereotypes plus access to quality education. The ROLE Foundation’s Bali WISE initiative aims to close this gender gap by providing disadvantaged women with free training courses in basic work and life skills, hospitality and tourism, and social business development. The ultimate goal is to enable and empower women with the tools to become financially independent and competitive candidates for skilled job positions.
© Bali WISE
The majority of women who come to Bali WISE are eager for the opportunity to further their education. Veni, a current student of Bali WISE, began working after high school in various part-time jobs. Through her church in Denpasar, she heard about Bali WISE and what kinds of skills the program teaches. Learning English is a big draw for many of the girls because in most jobs it is a major advantage when communicating with clients or guests. “I want to work in the hospitality industry after this and possibly go abroad to travel”, says Veni.
Another student, Wina, grew up in Denpasar where her parents are both merchants for a goods store. Before coming to Bali WISE, Wina had paused her studies at university due to money constraints and had begun to work alongside her parents. Restless and yearning to continue her schooling, she found herself eligible to enroll in the Bali WISE courses. “I am excited I get to learn how to cook here because it is something I have always wanted to do,” Wina says in reference to the cooking training offered in the basic work and life skills program. Ultimately, Wina wants to open up her own restaurant some day.
Thanks to Bali WISE’s partnerships with AYANA Resort and Spa, the Conrad Hotel, Alila Villas Uluwatu and the Nusa Dua Beach Hotel, Veni and Wina are able to participate in on-site training at these hotels, where they spend 20 hours a week gaining practical work experience. “Being able to communicate well and show your confidence and strength in thought process” are just a few of the skills taught that are imperative for employment in the hospitality industry, or any industry for that matter, says Vira. “Good life skills will be tools that help them make choices in their careers, [as well as a] strong thought process and sufficient knowledge base that will help them become a stronger support to their family.”
Yearly, 200 Bali WISE graduates learn the skills to earn independent and sustainable incomes resulting in improved living standards and community development. Children of educated women are more likely to become educated, as their mothers are able to make informed life-choices, which includes preparing for their children's futures. The long-term effects include a decrease of prostitution, human trafficking, HIV/AIDS, unwanted teenage pregnancy and a lower infant mortality rate.
To celebrate International Women’s Day and the local women of Bali, Bali WISE will host a get together on Friday, the 7th of March at their campus in Nusa Dua on Jalan Siligita 22. Staff, volunteers and students, both current and former, will be invited to come and share their experiences with everyone, in the hopes of providing an example of Indonesian women who have been able to advance in their work placements and achieve financial freedom. All are welcome to join the event, with drinks, live music and other entertainment taking place in an effort to raise awareness and gain support for these women. More details are available on the Bali WISE Facebook page and website.
This article was originally published in the Bali Advertiser for a R.O.L.E. Foundation fundraising event.