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This book analyzes the cultural and colonial influences on the perspectives toward and treatment of female household workers in Indonesia to create a model for their empowerment. The hypothesis is that there is a connection between Dutch colonial legacy and Indonesian culture, particularly Javanese culture, and how people in the country think, relate and treat household workers. Cultural practices within Indonesian societies, particularly Java, contribute to the conditions of female household workers whether in workplaces or other spheres. In addition, female household workers are associated and attached with stereotypical images in which undervalue, underestimate and humiliate them such as in media, schools, TV shows, movies, etc. Finally, the potential of reconstructing these cultural views and practices in order to empower female household workers and create the cultural based advocacy to establish a female worker´s movement is discussed.

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Diah Irawaty has been working on women´s rights and gender issues with some women´s organizations in Indonesia, including Kalyanamitra, Rumpun Gema Perempuan and Komnas Perempuan; she earned a Master degree from the Sustainable International Development Studies and Women´s and Gender Studies at Brandeis University,USA.

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