While the younger generation uses the internet for memes, the Ibu-Ibu use WhatsApp groups for digital farming (watching short videos for pennies) and spreading information. Unfortunately, this has fueled the social issue of hoax (fake news). In 2020-2023, COVID-19 misinformation—from refusing vaccines to promoting unproven herbal cures—spread fastest in Ibu-Ibu WhatsApp chains. They are not malicious; they are driven by khawatir (worry) for their children. Yet, this worry makes them vectors for digital disinformation.
The jilbab has become an integral part of Indonesian Muslim culture, representing modesty, humility, and devotion to faith. Ibu-ibu berjilbab are often seen as role models, embodying the values of Indonesian Muslim society. They are expected to manage household affairs, raise children, and contribute to community activities while maintaining their spiritual and moral integrity. While the younger generation uses the internet for
In the bustling warungs , at crowded pasar (markets), or behind the steering wheel during the school run, the Ibu berjilbab is an iconic fixture of contemporary Indonesia. She is a mother, a wife, a neighbor, and often a breadwinner. The hijab she wears—once a rarity in the late 20th century—has become a normalized, almost expected, part of the urban and rural landscape. Yet, beneath the folds of her hijab syar’i lies a complex intersection of piety, social performance, economic pressure, and quiet resilience. They are not malicious; they are driven by
Yet, to focus only on the struggles is to miss the quiet power of the Ibu berjilbab . In many communities, these women are the unsung social workers. They run the TPA (Al-Qur’an education parks) for neighborhood kids after school. They organize jimpitan (daily savings) for funerals. They are the first to bring a tray of food to a grieving neighbor. Ibu-ibu berjilbab are often seen as role models,
In arisan group chats, the Ibu Berjilbab often perpetuates toxic beauty standards. Conversations about weight gain after childbirth, the need for skincare putih (whitening skincare), and critiques of other women's hijab styles (is it syar'i enough? Are pants visible?) create a culture of surveillance where women police other women’s bodies.
Furthermore, the discourse of "menutup aurat" (covering private parts) often places the moral burden exclusively on her shoulders. If her rambut tersingkap (hair slips out), or if her clothing is deemed ketat (tight), she risks moral judgment from her community. This constant surveillance creates anxiety. She is told the hijab protects her honor, yet she is often left alone to navigate public harassment, where the blame inevitably circles back to her modesty.
: Muslim women who choose to wear the jilbab have, at times, faced challenges in education and employment. There have been instances where women wearing the jilbab have been discriminated against or have faced restrictions in certain workplaces or educational institutions. However, many organizations and communities have worked to challenge such practices and promote inclusivity.
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