Dayak Women and leadership
Written by Dr. John Brian Anthony
Dayak NGOs
The Serakup Indu Dayak Sarawak (SIDS) is a Division of Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) and it has many Branches. It is heartening to see that SIDS leaders has reached the position of Senator. Hopefully this recognition could be extended as it brings benefits to SIDS.
In this regards, the Branches are also producing Branch Chairwoman and some are very active. Some of these woman leaders are well educated and well positioned in the community income structure.
Moving forward with Dayak Women Leadership
The power of Dayak women in politic is well known. They are very focus and are not easily changed when they have made up their mind on who to support. In a substantial number of cases, the women are actually the decision maker in the house. But have we tap this potential to help Dayak progress in socio-economic field?
In Bangladesh, the best paymaster of micro-credit financial facilities are women. Those taking in micro-credit facilities are progressive to help the economic well-being of the family and community. Could such an approach succeed in the Dayak Community.
Dayak Women Political Leadership
The Dayak Women leaders has not been given an DUN / MP seat. This should be a serious matter to consider as half of Dayak population ( I assumed) would be women. That is a big opportunity to develop for the well being of Dayaks.
We see women Minister among other races and these has given their political party an advantage as the women vote may follow the own gender leader. When will this possible for Dayak women?
What is stopping this Dayak Women leadership?
The women folk in Dayak tradition has always been the main stay of the family. A strong hand to steady the family and a not so small contribution in bring food to the table.
Slowly, some long houses has appointed women Tuai Rumah. By now, 45 years after independence it should be appropriate to see Dayak Women community leadership should accelerate to Penghulu, Pemancha and Temenggong level.
Likewise, they is really no reason why Dayak Women political leaderships are not given opportunity to become elected representative and sit in both State and Federal Cabinet position.
It is prudent for PKR to consider this approach. This would add to PKR creditability in making changes to the face of Sarawak politic. Hopefully, BN would also take this idea seriously as the Dayak Women Leadership at policy and Executive level are important for Dayak progress.
Dayak Women Education
They used to be a bias towards women getting good education. I have heard more than once from relatives and close friends that it is a waste to give their daughters good education. The reason is very simple: after they get married they will not look after us. They will follow their husband’s family. The husband will feed them.
How this has changed – and it is changing fast. There are so many Dayak women graduates and holding certain high office. Of course they should be more Dayak women holding high office today. At the same time they are Dayak women in professional field – medical doctors, lawyers, engineers etc – not least are the women teachers. These educated women presented the Dayak with new opportunity to improve the community.
Dayak Women Responsibility towards parent
There is no difference in the ability of women taking care of their parents. In some cases, the parent prefer their daughter to look after them in old age. They are more caring and emotionally connected with their parent’s daily life.
Properties of Dayak family used to favor men traditionally. This has changed much and the women folk are no less capable in managing ancestor traditional lands. Slowly the transfer of Dayak family leadership is happening as factors favoring the change are occurring. This is a necessary development to bring forward dayak women leadership in the community.
Conclusion
In my over simplistic view, those political parties that manage women properly would win the right to govern the state of Sarawak. It is therefor important that the political leadership of Dayak women should be look into immediately for the forth coming Sarawak State election.
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I would agree with you on this matter. I attended the PKR Women Seminar on ” Harapan Baru” the other day. Among the panels for that day was YB Zuraidah Kamaruddin, Ketua Wanita PKR Pusat and YB Rodziah Ismail, Timbalan Ketua Wanita Pusat, who is also the EXCO Selangor(Menteri Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat) and also the Pengarah Pilihanraya Wanita PKR. PKR Women are fighting for a 30% representation in th DUNs and MPs. In the previous GE2008, 11 out of 15 women candidates for MPs won, while in Selangor, all 4 women candidates won.
The purpose of the seminar is to educate women and identifying women who are capable and has the material to be groomed to be potential YBs, alike men. However, not many of our Dayak women who have the leadership qualities were present.
I believe that if more were to know that PKR is no ordinary Party alike the rest who always puts women 2nd to men, more will be interested in the PKR women manifesto. If any of you women are interested, let me know. I am in the process of recruiting more women into the party.
The lack of Dayak women in leadership reflects clearly the myopic leadership. It also reflects the trust of the Dayak leadership on the capabilities of others. It is also greed, unwillingness to share responsibilities and benefits with others.
It mirrors the reluctance of the present Dayak leadership in grooming new Dayak faces to shoulder leadership responsibiites with them. The way the leadership condemned the so-called “intellectual” is the same way they side-lined opinions and ideas contrary with theirs.
Dr John I am not surprised at all that Dayak women leadership will not surface (other than their own family members)in this generation.
kadang cewek tergolong ciptaan tuhan yang sulit dimengerti. pengennya macam-macam. Sulit dimengerti. n cewek tercipta lebih banyak bicara. kata-kata yang dilontarkan jauh lebih banyak dari laki-laki. Menurut survey di lapangannya memang begitu, dan wajib dipenuhi. supaya mengurangi tekanan… :d so dengarkanlah…