In this neoteric times, it almost doesn’t make sense if we
can live our lives without buying things, or registered as a product or a service’s
customer. Anyway, without acts of consuming, there is no room to grow for
economy. While all countries need bigger consumption level data from time to
time in order to prove that people feel safe and confident over the current
government’s ability to control any extent of situation, which in turns make
them feel secure to spend their money. However, people don’t have the same
level in terms of money management quality to prevent bigger cost than income,
as money management capability also depends on one’s competence in controlling
their emotions.
What might be the very reason that push one to consume more
than their needs? Boredom is likely. All people will and used to face a
specific phase when their loved ones and friends presence around them is not
enough to make them feel the pleasure of life. Protected against rain and heat
and can afford three times of meals per day turns out fail to offer satisfied
life. Since they don’t have any clue on how to end their restlessness, humans
buy things to fulfill their small yet temporary desires. Unfortunately, women
are the most vulnerable ones toward consumerism. A presumption says, women are
thinking with their feelings. This makes sense why emotional thrust push some
women to fall into consumptive behavior.
Is frugal lifestyle able and enough to control consumptive
behavior? Not really, because each person has different level when it comes to
resiliency against ads seduction. And, there is no one exact applied method
that can deliver the same result on everyone in terms of developing self-endurance.
Since we can’t put all of our hopes to one certain mainstream fashion efficacy,
the only way remains is to build self-endurance based on one’s creativity,
sense of feeling, and will. It’s not so difficult to build self-endurance, as
it will be awaken unexpectedly if one has found their true selves, consciousness
of who they are and their life purpose. Nevertheless, some tend to assume that
journey to seek true self will end as they reach particular age. They think
that finding true self only belongs to the teenagers. Whilst human life journey
and getting old is an evolution. In other words, as long as they live humans
can change themselves and be whoever they want to be.
Not a superhero
Indonesia
Tanpa Feminis (Indonesia Without Feminists) is an Instagram group
which started its activity since March 17, and puts “My body is not mine.
Indonesia doesn’t need feminism” as the group’s description. This
viewpoint is reflected on one of its follower’s post reads, “They said, they agree with feminism because
women need equality … On the other hand, in Islam, women don’t need to be equal
because in fact women are dignified … Her father takes care of her, her
brothers and her husband protect her.” They who support this group argue, Indonesian
customs and culture teach how to respect and to treasure women. Men have been
taught to protect women and many women have become leaders, even presidents, so
why feminism needs to exist?
These days, we rarely find women with low-level of education
or illiterate. There are women who have finally found their self-potentials,
reach their highest self-actualization, and become the “numero uno” among their
kind, and also among their opposite. But, whatever happens to the “average”
ones? (not in physical meaning, though). The “average” ones are many, abundance
of numbers. I wonder to imagine, what is occurred inside the mind of these
“average” women when they are watching celebrities gossips show, or when they
are reading about PM Theresa May’s struggle during the Brexit drama (which
sadly she lost the battle). Will these stories inspire them to move, absorbing
the spirit of these female top figures and making it as part of their ordinary
life? Or, they feel cornered, inferior, and assure that they are not so special
kinds indeed?
Basically, all humans are born with potentials. It is rarely
to never got sharpen perspective over one’s self that becomes the very reason
why we can’t see any distinction inside ourselves. The truth is, we don’t even need
to be a superhero in order to be proud of our existence. Introversion as a
process of one’s interest shifting to inner flush, this is not a difficult
thing to do. Anyone can do this by practicing how to withdraw for a while from
the worldly frenzied, just to observing carefully turbulence that may occur in
mind and heart. Only needs some minutes to see, not being carried away, and not
resist. Just be quiet and look inside. A reminder is turned on just to tell us
when the idle time is up. As the alarm rang, it is a sign for us to return to
reality and showing where our potential is. The potential that makes us feel
valuable, even without imitating the behavior of female celebrities, even
though we don't have luxury stuff, even though we are only a group of soccer-mommies.
By exercising awareness of self-potential, it is hoped that there will also
appear an
enlightenment about who belongs to the body of a woman.
Compromise with lust
On October 2017, a million hashtag of #MeToo movement was
launched as sort of online action against sexual abuse and harassment over
women in workplace. This movement technical implementation is, women across the
world were extensively participating to post their stories of abuse back then. This
action managed to open the eyes of the public about the injustices experienced
by some women, also managed to drag a number of male figures with big names. Politicians,
sportsmen, singers, actors, film producers, script writers, bankers, scientists,
to porn stars are among them. Massive responses from all over the world made some
valued MeToo movement as the fourth wave of feminism noteworthy in history. I
did not underestimate the feelings of humiliation and trauma experienced by the
victims. I strongly agree that the perpetrators must get their sentences.
Violence and sexual harassment have taken something forcibly from the victims,
and it will never return. But as we are being ruthless judging and humiliating
the perpetrators, what has happened cannot be undone.
According to MeToo's narrative, the workplace can be a
dangerous place for women. Is that so? In fact, public space has a greater
potential for danger because most of the time people are not aware that acts of
sexual abuse are happening under their noses. The MeToo movement has not fully
succeeded in formulating an answer or solution to a crucial problem, how should
women behave so that they will not get into a situation where they are being
objects of humiliation by the opposite sex, both physically and verbally?
Awareness of "whose is this body?" is challenged when women try to
actualized themselves out of their comfort zone. Such awareness will also make
women question things that are storming the mind such as: "do I have the
life I want?", "What is the meaning of my life?", and many more.
To unravel this tangled thread, let us roll the awareness into each of us.
Basically, libido is something that cannot be separated from
the human body. An understanding of the body itself and the body of others make
life more meaningful. Humans no longer live lonely because they can and may
have a partner, unless they take the path of serving God and putting aside
worldliness. However, there are some people, who are either less educated or do
not know how to attract the opposite sex's attention, forcing their passions on
the opposite sex they are targeting. Such background may end a woman's steps,
when she does not dare to do something that she’s capable of as she is worried
about being an object. We cannot consider this merely anxiety or excessive
nervousness, since MeToo (with its pluses and minuses) has revealed many bitter
stories. Besides being a father, husband, lover, relative, or child, men can
actually be the women best of friend. He can be a respectful partner and can be
relied on to work together to complete a common mission. By intensifying the
practice of living in a society, women can make skill of reading the situations.
A skill which is needed to keep steady the step of reaching goals and to
maintain women’s honor at once.
In the course of actualized , anyone will experience a situation where they have different views from the people around them. According to what I learned during college, being different is unrestrained and is allowed as long as we can formulate the concept of why we choose to be or think differently. Anyone, male and female, has the same right to express opinions from their hearts and minds. However, there are still many of us who are prefer to be reactive against any comments addressed to us and we stall this attitude as freedom of expression. Just so you know, we also have the right to enrich our knowledge on how to elaborate opinions or ideas. Everyone has the right to be mature in attitude and speech. In socialized living, there are boundaries that need to be taken care of to lower small fires. We strengthen that boundaries not only by preserving a specific physical appearance in order to not violate applicable rules and accepted by society in general. Keeping the tongue is also very important, so that we can hone the ability to appreciate our own words, before expecting others to appreciate our existence. With regard to sharpening the prowess of a woman (and a man) to doubtlessly say, "My mouth my tiger". (swast)
