Jilbab-Hijab, Siska Yofie and Condom

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="(ilustration: www.veronicasicoe.com)"][/caption] These few weeks can be called women-stereotyping-prone weeks. Days are filled with images of women with their stereotypes-prone derivatives. Why should they be called stereotype? As Jilbab, Siska Yofie and Condom are entities relate or prone to be women's vital organ, the vagina. The media seem highlight and display all the media-subjugation toward Jilbab, Siska Yofie and Condom. Or in one complete chain, these entities recall the nuance of raping. Jilbab, As Fashion and Silly Policy not Faith Jilbab worn by women are now become, as I can call it, practical and not simply abates its 'religious' aspect. Women wearing jilbab, useed to be seen this way, 'She is a faithful muslimah'. In common, this jilbab perspective was blurred or even torn down when the 'hijab' phenomenon occur. Hijab as from Arabic word having the meaning 'cover or screen' really shifts people's perspective on jilbab. There seems to be a thin line of anomaly between the terms jilbab and hijab. We can presume these term as, jilbab is always a hijab, but not the other way around. Women wearing hijab can be seen as those who become part of trend. A session of hijab trend, where women proclaim themselves as 'muslimah' in a fashionable way. Those who never wear hijab before can wear colorful gown and artistic veil. They seem to say. implicitly "Hi look, now I'm a muslimah, and I'm pretty. Now you can look at me. With respect". Does hijab really deviate its religious aspect? As women wearing hijab seem to be much more egocentric. The religius aspect in hijab seems blurred. Its only an attributive element in hijab. While the most prominent one in hijab is the fashion and ego. Hitherto, does it necessary for women police wear jilbab ? The police institution now has adjourned the policy. Without any public notice or further explanation of the adjourn, the police officials seem to hide the reason. Or maybe there were objections of tumult of resentment by the police officials themselves. Or the interest of certain nationalist or other believes affect the policy, no one knows? As so far, detailed confirmation haven't been announced yet. We can just guess. Let these police women wear hijab then. It would be more subtly-appropriate. They can simply wear a colorful veil matched with their brownish uniform. It would be more polite. Though in common, it will be seen as jilbab instead of hijab. As these police women wear them as they are in duty. The formal institution of police shadows the term hijab with its higher counterpart, jilbab. It would be necessarily, the police institution address the name hijab, not jilbab. Thus, the label would suggest the meaning. Though, the jilbab imagery will not cease away. Siska Yofie and Women Reluctance to Beauty

"Beauty is only skin deep. And it can bring you into trouble."

This axiom would seem fit nowadays. Beauty, an entity that women long for. Women would pay any price for its perfection and wellness. The pursuit seems endless and burdensome. Media have played key role in building the perfect beauty for women. Every cosmetics product would boast all of their product benefit. Ranging from longevity offer to anti-wrinkle benefit seems boastful and illogical. However, many young girls, those who still define the term in beauty, are lured in easily, trapped in the beauty offer of these products. Henceforth, when they seemingly are beautiful, the consequence are both beneficial and risky. Beneficial as women who are beauty are welcome everywhere.  People like to see and meet beautiful women. Its an innate characteristic that human fond of something eloquent or heart-pleasing. On the other hand, beauty is also risky. Beautiful women, especially in public situation, are prone to be abused. And in a certain situation, seclusion or under a threat, beauty may bring rape. As we have seen in Siska Yofie case, in which from the testimony of the convicted, it was purely a robbery. Though, nuance of hatred or vengeance of the ex-lover, a police officer Albertus seems real. Trial have sentenced to death both the convicted, but Siska Yofie's family are displeased by the verdict. Not on the two convicted, but toward the alleged-master-mind, police officer Albertus should also put into trial. This is the case where beauty can really threat its possessor. How dangerous beauty that unconsciously, attracts negative consequence. Robbery in Siska Yofie's case is only the surface. Though the intention or allegedly-accused mastermind is still at large, the case remains a pure crime. Beauty is both longed for and also have been subject to crime. A woman who is beautiful, is obliged to be aware of any bad intention from the surrounding. Beauty is subject to crime, such as robbery. Beauty is the object of lust, such as abuse or even rape. Surely, beauty is the type of entities that become women's stereotyping. Condom, Spurs on Free Sex Not to forget the Program of National Condom Week happens in Indonesia. The week which actually wants to pinpoint the necessary of using condom to reduce the AIDS risk, have been harvesting criticism. The Condom Week, is implicitly spurs or triggers the free sex itself. In one side, the free sex would 'safe'. But in the other hand, it consciously build up the legalization of free sex. The giveaways of free condom for people, facilitated by the KPAN (Komisi Penanggulangan AIDS Nasional), is accused of spurring free sex on teenager. The free condom in the hand of teenager can be (presumably) used to have sex. Or at least they can try to have sex with their fellow female friend, or a prostitute. As they have condom, given free. This issue of perspective on condom is clearly the bias of common belief in society. Indonesia have a stronghold on religious belief and cultural value. These, therefore would strongly suggest that condom, as a sex-related-item, is taboo. Condom is considered as personal and belong to the domain of intimacy. Any social consideration of condom, of building awareness of AIDS, has violated the shared belief and value of the society. The Condom Week has abruptly disrespect the belief and value. Many were against the program, but many are also participate. As long as, sex or any item relating to sex itself are considered taboo, Condom week will not be the way to become of of free sex and AIDS. Department should, therefore, instigate more appropriate or acceptable program that would fit in well the society's belief and value. Those who are on the top position can not just 'adapt' program from the Western hemisphere countries in Indonesia. As from this recent issue, belief and value are entities that should not be adapted to the program. But it should be vice versa. Women, Media, and Stereotyping Last but not least, role of media and women as their object is central in this article. How religious aspect of women of wearing jilbab are really the victim of society perspective. How jilbab now has 'lost' its natural religious value by hijab and the seemingly-joking policy of jilbab for police women. Then, how reluctant of beauty toward its 'total perfection'. How a artificially-beautiful woman should always has her cosmetics by bed time. Like an addiction, money is the least consideration. As long as beauty decorates their skin-deep outlook. Finally, the intimate aspect of women is also been (and it still is) the instigating news. Condom is always relate unconsciously toward women's vital organ, the vagina. It would be fruitless if we think condom relate to 'the users', men. How Condom Week Program has predetermined bad consequences. Many people object and rally for the program 'illogical' purpose. The duel between long-held belief and value with the program is endless. Each side stands on their ground. Each side has their own legitimate reason. "Women have served all these centuries as looking glasses possessing the magic and delicious power of reflecting the figure of man at twice its natural size." - Virginia Woolf Salam, Solo, 03 Desember 2013 02:03 pm