Artist on mission to change Indonesia's misogynistic dictionary entry for 'woman'

Ika Vantianti, an Indonesian artist, wearing a t-shirt that calls for a change to the dictionary entry for 'perempuan', gestures as she poses for pictures at a cafe in Jakarta, Indonesia, March 4, 2021. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan

(Reuters) - Hussy, mistress, w****, evil woman - these are just some of the nine example compound words that artist Ika Vantiani was shocked to find listed under the entry for 'woman' or 'perempuan' in Indonesia's official dictionary.

All nine were sexualised or derogatory terms. In contrast, in the entry for 'laki-laki', one of the words for man, there is just one example, 'laki-laki jemputan', which means a 'man chosen as a son-in-law'. Another word for man, 'pria' also lists one term: 'pria idaman' meaning 'heartthrob'.