Women in Media Show Their Strength
Translator
Editor
15 December 2018 10:05 WIB
One of the most frustrating issues faced by Indonesia’s media and corporate women is the menstruation law that allows women two days leave per month. Ulfa is concerned the menstruation-leave law discourages editors from hiring women.
A comparison between the personal and maternity leave a working woman is entitled to. Designed by Walmond.
“It’s great,” she says, “but on the other hand if you’re a business leader from a business perspective, it will reduce your productivity, so they have another reason to hire more men than women.”
Kompas TV producer Yunita Tandililing adds that some women are too reserved to admit they are taking menstruation leave.
“It used to be that women could say ‘I’m not coming today because I am sick, or I am unwell.’ We say, ‘okay fine’, but these days you have to give a doctor’s certificate so that it is approved,” she says.
Despite the Labour Law’s reaffirmation in 2003, not all corporate companies adhere to the law, Mahrani says. “The female journalists sometimes cannot use their menstruation leave, because so many media companies do not talk about that. But, in fact, it is the right of female journalists,” she says.
Ulfa agrees. “They should know that if they work in a company that they have that right.”
The stigmas against female journalists have prompted the women in media fields to gain respect, according to Diani.
“A woman works twice as hard to prove she can do it,” says Diani on her experience as managing editor of Magdalene. The female journalists, she encounters, are more diligent, less corrupt and have a willingness and eagerness to improve themselves.
But what are the tangible benefits of employing women in media fields?
With more women in positions of power within the media industry, there will be a higher quantity and quality of reporting on gender-specific matters, according to Diani.
“It’s important to have women in leadership positions so that such issues, very important issues, can have a place in the media.”
Ulfa notes that although it’s usually not possible to generalize about people’s performance based on gender, there are some settings where it’s better to have a female journalist. “If the source is a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault, I think it would be better for a woman to interview them…. Sometimes the victim will be more comfortable talking to a woman journalist”.
Tandililing says a woman’s touch will always improve the quality of a story, as she believes women’s emotional sensitivity while reporting can be used to their advantage.
“Women can see more than it seems on the surface. Women can use their feelings and make news more human…. Viewers want to see the real you as a journalist,” she says.
