Review
Prostitution in Indonesia
by Dewi Erita
Prostitution
is one of public health issue from reproductive health aspect. This topic is
for understanding us about the spreading of Sexually Transmitted Diseases
(STDs) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus/ Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
(HIV/AIDS).
This
book consists of four chapter. That is the evolution of the commercial sex
sector in Indonesia, government policy and the sex sector, the organizational
structure of the sex industry, and economics of the sex sector.
First
chapter told us about history of prostitution. It was identified from Javanese
Kingdom. Women in this decade was valued commodities for power and wealth by
king and nobles. That women was named selir.
Commercialized sex industry wasn’t
seem yet.
Commercialization
sex during colonial period was more organized. This condition happened due to
many single man sent to Indonesia. They needed sexual services. Women who was
sex workers in this time is named as public women (women lacking moral). Enhancement
sexual relationship between foreigner and public women induced STDs. Government
tackled this problem with creating a law. Public women had to do medical
examination weekly. If there was found contagious disease, they had to be
isolated. This health program was good for preventing disease but unfortunately
declined since the responsibility for supervising shifted from central to the
regional government.
Prostitution
expanded when there was road and railway construction. Many male labourer needed
sexual services. Many women became sex workers around railway. In plantation
area, resident labourers drew young female village into prostitution.
In
second occupation between 1941 and 1945, the soldier needed sexual services
too. Sukarno discussed with religious leaders how to deal with this. As a
result under these circumstances, the prostitutes was placed in camp. The
soldier could visit them once a week.
In
late 1940s, new government of Indonesia had changed social structure and
development of sex industry. Many poorer young women from village migrated to
urban cities. Many of that women experienced marriage, divorced in early age,
had emotional circumstances, had financial difficulties and etc. In urban
cities, their social values, community solidarity, and religious beliefs
changed to individualistic values.
Second
chapter told about government policy. Prostitution had been seen as health and
public-order rather than moral considerations. The law that prohibit to
facilitate sexual services were articles 296, 297, and 506 in the Criminal Code
(KUHP). Regional regulations prohibited
sex workers in street. If they were caught in a raid, those women were sent to
Rehabilitation Centre for Immoral Women (Panti
Rehabilitasi Wanita Tuna Susila). There were 22 rehabilitation centres
nationwide which runs by central government Department of Social Affairs. Official
prostitution complexes (lokalisasi WTS)
were established for social discipline and control. There was medical
examination and educational activities which runs by central government.
Official
lokalisasi spreaded in big city.
There was the kampung of Silir in
Surakarta (1967), Kramat Tunggak in Jakarta (1970s), the Dolly-Jarak area in
Surabaya, the Sunan Kuning complex in Semarang (1966), the Kalisari complex in
Malang (1976) and another smaller towns had lokalisasi.
There was also Batam as a growth area of prostitute in recent years.
Chapter
three was about organizational structure of sex industry. There was organized
and unorganized form. Organized form consisted of sex workers, manager, and
intermediary person. Unorganized form was just sex workers herself and
sometimes intermediary person helped. Prostitutes who work in lokalisasi was
more secure than personal form. Sex workers who work by herself was vulnerable
from harassment of customers.
There
wasn’t accurate statistics about the number of prostitutes because of their varied
category. Categories of workers were in brothel complexes (lokalisasi), in massage parlours (panti pijat), in brothel houses, in night clubs, in salons, in discotheques,
call-girl establishments, snack vendors, call-girls (wanita panggilan), street walkers (perek/ wanita jalanan), and precocious teenagers (Anak Baru Gede).
Chapter
four was about economic of sex industry. Being prostitute was occupation with
high earnings compared to work in same place with low level of education. The
segment of prostitutes were lowest-class,
low-class, middle-class, high class, and highest-class. Actual earning of
prostitute depended on proportion of she got from customer. Unorganized workers
could get all of the charge paid, but prostitute in organized place got less
than that. Economic significance of sex industry was difficult to estimate
because of uncertainty of total turnover. Turnover in sex sector depended on
total number of prostitutes, average net earnings, and other people’s income
who related with this industry.
Prostitution
is a complex problem that we face throughout time, country, and sector. That is
past, present, and future problem. This is not only occured Indonesia, but also
around the world in many country.
STDs
and HIV/AIDS is common problem health in prostitution. HIV/AIDS is spreading
from infected customers to prostitutes, prostitutes to another customers,
customers to his innocent wife, and wife to infant. Sex workers is not only
women, but also male and transvestites (even thought not as much as women).
STDs
is big gate in which HIV/AIDS spread through sexual intercourse. Preventing
this disease is difficult. This requires integrate many sector. Government
policy, religious movements, economic improvement, social justice and public
health are related field. Is that great work which we must handled, isn’t it?
Pustaka
Hull, Terence
H., Endang Sulistyaningsih, Gavin W. Jones. 1999. Prostitution in Indonesia.
Jakarta: Pustaka Sinar Harapan
Depok, June 30,
2016_Ramadan 25, 1437 H
