99 Most Powerful Women

Ada tema menarik dari Majalah Globe Asia yang saya beli hampir setahun lalu. Untungnya masih ada di tumpukan majalah dan akhirnya saya baca lagi. Setahun yang lalu saya belum tahu kalau ada majalah bernama Globe Asia, sampai suatu hari muncul iklannya di sebuah koran harian dengan warna dan desain yang menarik, dan tentu saja tema yang membuat alis saya berkerut dan kelopak mata membesar: 99 Most Powerful Women.

Majalah Globe Asia edisi Oktober 2007 -terbit tiap bulan- akhirnya saya buru ke toko buku. Curangnya, harga jual majalah ini persis sesuai banderol Rp. 35.000,- padahal toko buku itu terkenal dengan harga mahasiswa, diskon 10-25%. Tapi setelah selesai membaca artikel-artikel yang menarik dan membuka sampai halaman terakhir, baru saya maklum. Oh, wajar kalau harganya 35 ribu, karena majalah ini terbit dengan bahasa Inggris dengan jumlah halaman per edisi kurang lebih 182 full-color.

Sekilas saya paparkan orang-orang di balik meja yang mengurus majalah ini. Di bawah bendera Globe Media Group dengan tag line “Powerhouse For Enterpreneurship”, tersebutlah nama Rizal Ramli sebagai Executive Chairman, Tanri Abeng sebagai Publisher, Editor In Chief S.K. Zainudin, dan lainnya.

Pada Editor’s Note, S.K. Zainudin menulis, “it will come as little surprise to most readers that our pick for the top spot is former president Megawati Soekarnoputri given the fact that she still heads the second largest political party in the country and has just announced her decision to make another run for president. The decision to put her at the top of the list, however, was not taken lighlty and was made after many hours of deliberation given the quality and intellectual heft of the other candidates.”

Saya langsung membalik halaman, kembali melihat sampul majalah. Oh iya, saya baru sadar ternyata foto Megawati diletakkan tepat di tengah di antara 8 foto tokoh lainnya yang pada masing-masing sudut kiri-bawah foto itu tertulis nama dan peringkat mereka. Lalu saya tertawa kecil sambil menjentikkan abu rokok ke asbak.

Buat saya kalimat tadi lucu. Dari nada tulisannya, ada kemungkinan editornya agak ‘malu’, mengapa majalahnya menempatkan Megawati di peringkat pertama. Makanya dia mengawali Editor’s Note dengan, “ini mungkin akan sedikit mengejutkan bagi sebagian besar pembaca karena kami memilih posisi teratas adalah Megawati.” Dan itu belum cukup, dia segera menambahkan,”keputusan untuk menempatkan dia di posisi teratas, bagaimanapun, tidak diambil dengan mudah dan dibuat setelah melalui pertimbangan yang lama mengenai kualitas dan intelektualitas dari kandidat lain.” Cukuplah alasan saya untuk tertawa. Ya, saya tahu, itu tidak mudah. Sebab rasanya memang memalukan.

Pilihan kalimat, “it will come as little surprise to most readers..“, artinya dia sadar bahwa sebagian besar pembaca majalahnya mungkin akan berbeda pendapat. Temen saya komentar nggak terima, “Masa negara ini pernah dipimpin sama presiden yang suka mutung [pundung/ngambek], nggak tamat S-1, udah gitu masih ngeyel mau mencalonkan buat jadi presiden lagi. Kayak nggak ada perempuan lain yang lebih hebat aja di Indonesia. Eh, di majalahmu itu dia malah peringkat pertama.” Saya cuma tersenyum, tidak bisa memberi tanggapan balik. Kenyataannya memang begitu.

Oke, tentang Megawati nanti kita bahas lagi kapan-kapan. Tapi saya rasa anda tidak berminat. Ya sudah, lupakan!

Di bawah ini ada daftar 99 wanita termasuk kontribusinya bagi kemajuan negara ini. Deskripsi profil tokoh sebagian besar saya ambil dari Globe Asia, sebagian kecil saya tulis sendiri mengambil dari berbagai sumber. Mari kita simak..!

1. Megawati Soekarnoputri/Former President of Indonesia

Chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle [PDIP], the country’s second largest political party, and Indonesia’s fifth president. She controls 20% of parliamentary seats and the appointment of numerous governors, regents and mayors. Has a huge impact on the economic, business, social and political life of Indonesia. Her father, Sukarno, is Indonesia’s founding father first president and national hero. This tough and seasoned lady politicians has set her sights on the 2009 presidential elections. Her husband Taufik Kiemas is a shrewd, grassroot political operator who acts as her advisor.

2. Sri Mulyani Indrawati/Minister of Finance

Minister of Finance since 2006. Former head of the National Development Planning Agency [Bappenas] and executive director of the International Monetary Fund [IMF], she was named the best minister of finance in Asia last year by emerging Market Singapore. She has an excellent reputation as an economist and is considered amongst the best cabinet ministers. Has a huge impact on the economy as she controls the government’s fiscal stimulus package through her deficit spending strategy. She is touted as a potential future vice presidential candidate. Very active socially and woman to watch.

3. Kristiani Herawati Yudhoyono/Indonesia’s First Lady

She graduated from the faculty of medicine from the Indonesian Christian University. Has the ear of the president, her husband, and is not shy to using her influence by acting as his main advisor. She is unafraid to push the president’s social and community agenda and wields considerable power from the force of her personality and strong character. Officially the Deputy Chairperson of Susilo’s Democrat Party, a small but fast growing political party. Her father was the late General Sarwo Edhie Wibowo, former Commander of The Army Special Forces Regiment [RPKAD] and former Governor of the Armed Forces Academy [AKABRI].

4. Miranda Gultom/Senior Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia

As the Senior Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia, she’s the de-facto chief operating officer of Indonesia’s central bank. She commands a huge influence on the money flow, business and the overall health of the economy. The PhD graduate from Boston University is widely respected as a hands-on, no-non-sense bureaucrat. She is also dynamic social entrepreneur and activist with her heart and hands in a wide variety of social concerns including the arts, music, education, and philanthropy. Always championing the needs of the less privileged, she chairs the ambitious old Jakarta restoration project.

5. Siti Hartati Murdaya/Social Enterpreneur, businesswoman, politician

Co-Founder of Cipta Murdaya Group, a conglomerate involved in infrastructure, trading and investment. Controls and runs the Metropolitan Development property group, one of Indonesian’s largest property companies with mega development including the Pondok Indah township, Pondok Indah and Puri Indah malls, hotels, [Mandarin Oriental] and office buildings [including the Metropolitan office buildings along Sudirman], which put her number on the Globe Asia rich list. She is the head of Buddhist faith and takes it upon herself to be involved in poverty alleviation through education, medical and emergency aid programs. A member of Parliament and the Democrat Party, she is considered a close confidant of president SBY. Husband Murdaya Poh is also a member of Parliament and close confidant and trusted advisor of Megawati Sukarnoputri.

6. Mari Elka Pangestu/Minister of Trade

An architect of turning Batam into free trade zone, she has been a strong advocate of establishing special economic zones to promote foreign investments. One of her top policies has been to stabilize the price of basic commodities such as rise, sugar, and cooking oil. She earned PhD from the University of California.

7. Mooryati Soedibyo/Enterpreneur, politician

8. Kartini Mulyadi/Entrepreneur

Kartini Mulyadi is the founder and senior partner of the law firm Kartini Mulyadi & Rekan. The firm has for more than 20 years occupied a prominent posisiton in the practice of Indonesian law and in the Indonesian business community.

9. Itjih Nursalim/Entrepreneur

10. Yanti Sukamdani/Head of Hotels Association

11. Butet Manurung/Social Worker

Named as Asian Hero in 2004 by Time magazine, Saur Marlina Manurung, better known as Butet Manurung, has been a tireless promoter of the rights of Indonesia’s indigenous tribes. Her Sokola organization has created educational programs for Sumatra’s Orang Rimba tribe [people of the forest] and 10 other similar tribes in the country.

12. Yenny Wahid/Director of Wahid Institute

Daughter of former president Abdurrahman Wahid who started her working life as journalist with the Sydney Morning Herald. She is now director of the Wahid Institute founded by her father to nurture and propagate multiculturism and pluralism. She also the secretary general of the National Awakening Party [PKB].

13. Melinda Tedja/Entrepreneur

14. Shanti Soedarpo/ Entrepreneur

15. Erna Witoelar/MDGs Indonesian Chairwoman

A noted environmental activist and founder of the leading Indonesian environmental NGO Wahli, she was appointed the minister of environment in 1999 by the president Abdurrahman Wahid. The post is now held by her husband Rahmat Witoelar, a senior Golkar Party politician. She is currently a special envoy of the United Nations for Millenium Development Goals for the Asia Pacific region.

16. Siti Fadilah/Health Minister

One of the four women serving in the cabinet of President SBY. As Minister for Health in nation with more than 225 million people. Siti Fadilah has one of the toughest jobs in the country. She is known for her consistency in imposing step by step bans on non commercial poultry farms and other bird flu prevention.

NB: Siti Fadilah menentang eksistensi laboratorium Namru-2 di Indonesia karena disinyalir digunakan lebih dari fungsinya sebagai laboratorium riset oleh agen Amerika. Dino Pati Djalal juru bicara presiden SBY justru mendukung eksistensi Namru-2 sehingga sempat dicurigai sebagai agen atau mata-mata Amerika.

17. Fatimah Kalla/Entrepreneur

18. Meutia Hatta/Minister of Women Affairs

19. Khofifah Indar Parawansa/Politician

20. Dewi Fortuna Anwar/International researcher at LIPI

21. Viven G. Sitiabudi/Business Executive

22. Sinta Nuriyah Wahid/Gender issue activist

23. Suciwati/Human Right Activist

Widow of Munir Said Thalib, a leading figure in the Indonesian human rights movement, and founder of the Commission for Victims of Violence and Disappearances [Kontras] and another NGO, Imparsial. He was poisoned with arsenic on flight to Amsterdam in 2004 and Suciwati has done much to prod the Indonesian government to continue investigating his murder. She was named an “Asian Hero” in 2005 by Time Asia magazine.

24. Rina Ciputra/Entreprenuer

25. Ratu Atut Chosiyah/Governor of Banten

26. Herelina Candinegara/Entreprenuer

27. Ratna Maida Ning/Enterpreneur

28. Nani Wijaya/Director of Jawa Pos Group

29. Dian Soedarjo/Entrepreneur

A trend setter and media mogul, she runs a stable of leading women magazines including Cosmopolitan and Bazaar. She now has 13 international magazine brands under her Mugi Rekso Abadi Group. Along with her husband Soetikno Soedarjo she also owns the distribution rights for top automotive brands such as Ferrari and Harley Davidson and a share in international boutique hotel Bulgari in Bali.

NB:Suami Dian, Soetikno Soedarjo adalah putra dari pemilik harian Suara Pembaruan. Sementara Dian adalah anak perempuan dari Kartini Mulyadi [no. 8]. Bersama-sama mereka memimpin Mugi Rekso Abadi Group [MRA Group] yang merupakan induk perusahaan pemegang merek dan lisensi merek-merek internasional, Harley Davidson, Ferrari, Hard Rock Café Jakarta dan Bali, majalah Autocar, Cosmopolitan, Cosmo Girl, FHM, dan sejak 2006 terbit Cosmopolitan for Men. Tidak cukup di situ, di bawah bendera MRA, Dian mengontrol 13 stasiun radio yang on air di berbagai kota besar di Indonesia bernama I-Radio. Oya, pernah makan Haagen Dazs Ice Cream yang mak nyus ketika lumer di mulut itu? Ya, es krim mahal itu juga dipegang MRA.

30. Pia Alisjahbana/Entreprenuer, journalist

Supia Latifah, born in 1933 to Professor R. Sorjomihardjo and Hisnat Djajadiningrat led the way for Indonesian women to widen their perspective through contemporary magazines designed for them at the time when there was only a single family-oriented magazines, Keluarga magazine.

The Alisjahbana family had a printing house, and Pia’s husband Sofjan Alisjahbana suggested there was a scope for new magazine for women. Pia first jumped at the idea of teenagers magazine but both proved succesful.

NB: Bersama temannya Widarti Gunawan dan adik iparnya Mirta kartohadiprojo, Pia mendirikan Femina majalah wanita mingguan dan Gadis majalah untuk remaja pada tahun 1973. Pia menjadi pemimpin redaksi hingga 1985. Femina Group melahirkan lagi majalah Ayahbunda dengan target orang tua –pasangan muda, Dewi majalah gaya hidup, Fit majalah kesehatan bulanan, Femina, dan Cita Cinta.

Meski menjadi salah satu pelopor pada dunia media di Indonesia, selama bertahun-tahun Pia lebih melihat dirinya lebih sebagai pendidik, mendedikasikan 30 tahun hidupnya sebagai profesor di jurusan sastra Inggris, fakultas sastra Universitas Indonesia.

Pia lulus dari fakultas yang sama tahun 1958 dan menjadi asisten dosen. “I did two jobs, I went to the magazine office, then to the campus to teach”. Rutinitas itu terus ia lakukan selama 15 tahun.

Tahun 1975, Pia memunculkan ide baru: Putri Indonesia dan Gadis Sampul. “I mingled a lot with my students, and I knew that young girls had dreams to be in magazine”, ujar Pia.

Beberapa alumni Putri Indonesia meraih gelar PhD. Okky Asokawatidan Danny Dahlan, keduanya adalah model yang sukses, dan juga Tika Bisono yang kita tahu sebagai psikolog terkenal.

Pia jugalah yang berinisiatif untuk memajukan industri fashion di Indonesia melalui Lomba Perancang Mode [LPM] pada tahun 1979. Even LPM yang digagasnya telah berjasa melahirkan designer seperti Oscar Lawalata, Samuel Wattimena, Chossy Latu, Edward Hutabarat, Itang Yunasz, dan Stephanus Hamy. Mereka adalah alumni kompetisi Lomba Perancang Mode.

Kini pada usianya 74 tahun, dia masih bugar. “I swim every morning after breakfast. I try to lead a healthy life. I eat light food. With a help of a nutritionist, my husband and I have a menu based on our blood type.” Dahsyat! Golongan darah saya O tante Pia, any suggestion?

31. Krisdayanti/Artist

One of the highest paid pop singers in the country, she is dubbed as one of the divas of Indonesia. She has been appointed as the ambassador for Samsung products in Indonesia.

NB: Kini KD didaulat menjadi ikon sebuah merek sampo dengan tag line, “Sebab hidup tak bisa menunggu”. Hmm.. Setahu saya memang banyak lelaki yang bilang, “Kapan kau akan single KD, sebab kami tak tahan menunggu jandamu.”

32. Kanjeng Ratu Hemas/Sultan Jogja’s wife

33. Yani Panigoro/Enterpreneur, social engineer

34. Martha Tilaar/Entrepreneur

35. Orie Andari Sutadji/President Director of PT. Askes

36. Siti Hadijanti Rukmana/Entrepreneur

37. Christine Hakim/Actress

A movie star and producer. She was a member of the Jakarta Art Council from 1982 to 1985. In a long career she has received six Citra awards from national film industry, medals from the government and awards from the international film community. She has served as a judge at number of international film festivals.

38. Sukmawati Widjaja/Entrepreneur, socialite

39. Agnes Monica/Artist

A succesful young artist. She started her celebrity career as a singer when she was still a child. As she grew up, she expanded her career to star in advertisement and as singer and movie actreess. She received the Panasonic Award in 1999 as the best anchor for children programs, was named best young artist by artiscilik.com and best actress in 2002 by the Bandung Movie Forum. She’s graduate of Pelita Harapan High School.

NB: Agnes berobsesi untuk naik ke panggung internasional. Suatu kali itu pernah terbukti ketika dia main film bareng Jerry Yan salah satu personel F4. Sekali saja tentu tak membuatnya puas. Wajar bila kini Agnes masih sering mengucapkan, “saya ingin go international” atau “go international itu tujuan saya”. Sering sekali. Jadi anda nggak perlu heran kalau akhir-akhir ini melihat Agnes main sinetron. Cukup saya saja yang heran. Sido opo ora?

40. Marwah Daud Ibrahim/Politician

41. Titik Puspa/Artist

42. Emmy Hafild/Walhi

43. Wardah Hafidz/Chairwoman of UPC

44. Sri Indrastuti Hadiputranto/Lawyer

45. Rini Soemarmo/Entrepreneur

46. Roosniati Salihin/Deputy Director of Panin Bank

47. Giwo Rubianto/Chairwoman of children protection commission

48. Koesmariharti/Telecommunication regulator

49. Rita Subowo/Chairwoman of Indoensian Sport Commission [KONI]

50. Dita Indah Sari/Labor Activist

51. Nursyahbani Katjasungkana/Gender issue activist, politician

52. Siti Fadjriah/Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia

53. Rustriningsih/Regent of Kebumen

54. Winny Hasan/President Director of Bank DKI

55. Maria Lukito/Publisher of Indonesian Tatler

56. Catherine Hambali/Entrepreneur

57. Eva Rianti Hutapea/Entrepreneur

58. Suryani Motik/Entrepreneur

59. Ratna Ani Lestari/Regent of Banyuwangi

60. SK Trimurti/Senior Journalist

NB: SK Trimurti termasuk anggota Petisi 5o, meninggal tahun ini.

61. Lily Kasoem/Entrepreneur

62. Harkristuti Harkrisnowo/Director General of Law

63. Tri Mumpuni/Activist

64. Susi Darmawan/Entrepreneur

65. Inke Marris/PR Counsultant

66. Lily Widjaja/Banker

67. Non Rawung/Social Entrepreneur

68. Husniah Rubiana Thamrin/Chief of National Agency of Food and Drugs

69. Obin/Fashion Designer

70. Betti Alisjahbana/President Director of IBM Indonesia

Born in Bandung and graduate of the Institute of Technology [ITB]. Betti Alisjahbana has spent 20 years in the IT world. From ITB she went on to New York’s Business Management Institute and then Tokyo’s Asia Pacific Global Leadership Development program. And since 1999, she has been the boss at IBM Indonesia. In 2000, she won IBM’s Country General Manager Excellence award. An active blogger, she and publisher Mario Alisjahbana have two children.

71. Melsiana Tjahyadikarta/Entrepreneur

72. Shinta Kamdani/Entrepreneur

73. Lie Phing/Entrepreneur

74. Nia Dinata/Director, film maker

An international award winning director, producer and scriptwriter of Internationally appraised movies, she studied film production at New York University. She won the Best Feature Film award at the 2006 Hawaiian International Film Festival and Best New Director at 2002 Asia Pacific Film Festival.

75. Ratna Sarumpaet/Film Director

76. Gadis Arivia/Feminist

A feminist activist, known for her fervent fight for gender and human rights issues. A PhD holder and philosophy scholar, she was a student of French philosopher Jacques Derrida. She teaches feminism and contemporary philosophy. The Foundation of Woman Journal that publishes Jurnal Perempuan -a publication which address gender issues-was founded by her.

NB: Gadis Arivia menulis tentang “Serat ‘Centhini’ Porno?” di Kompas 21 Juli 2008.

“Menurut hemat saya, Indonesia terlalu rajin membuat undang-undang baru yang tidak ada manfaatnya, tidak cost effective. Pengawasan pornografi dengan definisi ajaib yang diajukan anggota parlemen akan memakan biaya cukup besar dan juga keresahan sosial. Bagaimana tidak, menurut RUU Porno, setiap anggota masyarakat berhak melapor bila dianggap ada yang ”berbau-bau” atau implisit memuat kesan pornografi, baik dalam bentuk gambaran maupun tulisan, bahkan mempertontonkan kegiatan yang menggunakan tubuh dengan gerakan yang bermuatan pornografi (Pasal 10, Pasal 22, Pasal 23). Bukankah ini definisi pornoaksi? Jadi, bila saya yang sudah berumur 40 tahunan ini memakai kebaya yang menonjolkan sedikit buah dada saya, dapat dianggap melanggar RUU itu? Apalagi saya kemudian berlenggak lenggok menari serampang dua belas, dalam RUU ini, dapat dianggap melakukan kegiatan pornografis dan dipenjara atas laporan tetangga pula.”

77. Felia Salim/Activist

78. Lisa Tirto Utomo/Entrepreneur

President commisioner of Aqua Golden Mississippi Tbk. She is the daughter of Tirto Utomo, the founder of the company which is pioneerd the bottled drinking water industry in Indonesia.

79. Puan Maharani/Activist

80. Dyah Maulida/Director General of Foreign Trade

81. Siti Nurbaya/Secretary General of Regional Representative Council [DPD]

82. Herawati Diah/Journalist

83. Retno Iswari Tranggono/Entrepreneur

84. Kemala Chandra Kirana/Chairwoman of Komnas Perempuan

A social activist particularly in promoting for the protection and promotion of woman rights. She is currently the head of National Commission on Violence Againts Woman, commonly referred to by its Indonesian acronim, Komnas Perempuan. She earned a Master of Science in development sociology from Cornell University in New York in 1988. She has been involved in a numerous research projects on women’s issues.

85. Baby Jim Aditya/Activist anti AIDS/HIV

86. Dewi Motik/Entrepreneur

87. Poppy Dharsono/Entrepreneur, fashion designer

A fashion designer, she graduated from Ecole Superieur De La Monde Guerre in Paris, and is seen as one of the icons of the Indonesian design world. She runs or has interest in 10 companies, is member of the advisory board of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry [Kadin], and is active in other social organization.

88. Nunun Nurbaetje Daradjatun/Entrepreneur

89. Mira Lesmana/Film Director

Noted movie director and producer. Dubbed by the media as one of the most creative people in Indonesia, she is an icon of the recent revival of Indonesian film after long dominated by Hollywood and Bollywood.

90. Maggie Liem/Speciality Fashion Retailer

91. Tri Sudwikatmono/Entrepreneur

92. Titi Said/Chief of Film Censor Board

Head of the Film Censors Agency [BSF], she has been active in the campaign againts pornography and violence in TV programs, but has also strongly criticized over the agency’s censorship style, which her detractors say is reminiscent of the Suharto era.

93. Sally Bachtiar/Entrepreneur

94. Sandra Ang/Entrepreneur

Founding owner of low cost carrier Adam Air.

95. Saparinah Sadli/Psychologist

A noted women activist who succesfully pressured the government of B.J. Habibie to acknowledge and investigate sexual crimes againts Chinese women during the 1998 May Riots. She played an instrument role in setting up the National Commission on Violence Againts Women [Komnas Perempuan] in 1998 and became its first chair-woman. The wife of noted economist M. Sadli, is still active ini giving lectures and advising Komnas Perempuan and National Commission of Human Rights.

96. Retnowati Abdulgani-Knapp/Author

97. Rosianna Silalahi/Editor in Chief of Liputan 6 SCTV

News director of TV station SCTV. When she asuusmed the post two years ago, some reporters and senior journalists moved to other stations. Despite the challenge to her authority, she has managed to turn SCTV into Indonesia’s top news station, according AC Nielsen.

98. Mien Uno/Motivational Trainer

Her full name is Rachmini Rachman Uno. Formerly known as the icon of the John Robert Power [JRP] school of personality development in Indonesia, she quit JRP in 2001 and set up her own school. Lembaga Pendidikan Duta Bangsa [Nation’s Envoy Education Institute].

99. Veronica Colondam/Social Activist YCAB

Founded the Yayasan Cinta Anak Bangsa [YCAB – Love the Nation’s Children Foundation] in 1999 to increase awareness about drug abuse problem in Indonesia. At YCAB, she offers prevention programs for youth that reached millions of people and mobilized the mass media to shape public opinion. Veronica is also fellow of the Asia Society’s Asia 21 Young Leaders Initiative.

Hal yang menarik untuk dicatat dari 99 Most Powerful Women di atas, 45 adalah entrepreneur, 35 aktivis sosial, dan 19 politisi.

Maaf bila tidak setiap deskripsi atau profil tokoh dituliskan mendetil karena memang hanya yang menarik perhatian saya saja yang saya tulis. Tentu ukurannya adalah selera dan subyektifitas. Anda berhak setuju atau tidak dengan 99 nama di atas, berikut dengan alasannya. Saya yakin anda punya tokoh lain yang ingin dimasukkan dalam daftar 99 Most Powerful Women versi anda sendiri. Silahkan, setiap orang berhak punya 99 daftar sendiri.

Saya sungguh ingin memasukkan nama Ayu Utami, Rieke Dyah Pitaloka, dan Djenar Maesa Ayu setidaknya sebelum atau di atas Agnes Monica/no. 39.

Ayu Utami lewat novel Saman memenangi Sayembara Roman Dewan Kesenian Jakarta [DKJ] 1998 dan Prince Claus Award 2000. Arif Zulkifli [Media Indonesia] berpendapat tentang Saman, “setiap rinci peristiwa dibangun berdasarkan riset yang rigid yang mengingatkan kita pada roman-roman Pramoedya Ananta Toer. Keleluasaan dalam menggunakan bahasa kemungkinan dipengaruhi oleh pandangan betapa ambigu sesungguhnya moralitas itu. Perselingkuhan, tugas pastoral yang suci, percintaan yang sembunyi-sembunyi tidak didudukkan dalam sebuah ‘kursi moralitas yang hitam putih’. Tapi itulah justru kelebihan [lain] Saman. Ia tidak sedang meneriakkan dogma.”

Pramoedya Ananta Toer pun berkata tentang Saman, “Integritas penulisnya tinggi.. Saya tidak kuat melanjutkannya. Melanjutkan membaca ini rasanya saya jadi tapol lagi.”

Tentang Rieke dan Djenar, anda bisa membaca “Renungan Kloset” dan “Mereka Bilang Saya Monyet” untuk mengapresiasi salah satu dari beberapa karya mereka. Pendek saja saya bahas Ayu Utami, Rieke Dyah Pitaloka, dan Djenar Maesa Ayu, sebab tulisan ini sedang tidak ingin melenceng menjadi 99 Most Powerful Writers. Hahaha..

Saya tunggu pendapat anda di blog saya, tapi tolong jangan tambahkan Sandra Dewi, Mayang Sari, atau Maia Estianti. Sandra Dewi masih jauh kalau berharap masuk daftar 99, kontribusinya masih sekedar memajukan sinetron kejar tayang yang bagi saya itu sama dengan memundurkan standar kualitas sinematografi dan melecehkan skill insan perfilman Indonesia. Mayang Sari dan Maia Estianti, hmm.. saya pilih memanfaatkan waktu buat nonton Oprah Winfrey dari pada infotainment.

Akhirnya saya ingin memuat kalimat yang saya baca di Cosmopolitan For Men,

Anda bisa melihat banyak pria pintar berdampingan dengan wanita yang kurang cerdas, tapi jarang sekali ada wanita pintar berpasangan dengan pria yang tidak intelek.

-Erica Jong-

Tapi saya pernah dengar juga, biasanya wanita cantik itu tidak cerdas. Hmm.. Wanita itu bisa jadi mirip hipotesa, tapi bukan sebuah kepastian: jika begini pasti begitu. Pastinya sih.. tiap hari saya harus makin intelek, itu saja dulu..