Minister Highlights Shared Parenting Roles at GasMas Launch

RRI.CO.ID, Surakarta - A father’s involvement in child-rearing is crucial for building a harmonious family and fostering gender equality. Parenting and household chores are shared responsibilities for both fathers and mothers, not burdens borne solely by mothers.

This message was highlighted during the launch of the Gerakan Bapak Seneng Momong Anak Solo (GasMas), an initiative by the Surakarta City Administration that encourages fathers to take a more active role in their children’s lives.

Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA), Arifah Fauzi, commended GasMas as a step toward strengthening fathers’ involvement in parenting and promoting a more equitable division of roles within the family.

“Gender equality means that household chores and child-rearing are not solely the mother’s burden. Parenting must be a shared responsibility between the father and mother within the family,” Minister Arifah said during her remarks at the GasMas launch in Surakarta on Sunday, August 23, 2026.

She noted that a father’s involvement in parenting is not limited to housework. It also includes meeting a child’s emotional needs. A father’s presence strengthens family bonds and creates a more supportive environment for a child’s growth and development.

She believes the GasMas movement could serve as a model for other regions by encouraging active, involved fatherhood. She hopes the program will evolve into a sustainable social movement rather than remain a ceremonial activity of the local administration.

“This extraordinary initiative, the GasMas, originates in Solo but is intended for all of Indonesia. We hope this becomes a collective movement for the well-being of women and children,” she said.

Surakarta Mayor Respati Achmad Ardianto emphasized that fatherly involvement is vital for supporting a child’s growth, development, and character building. Through the GasMas initiative, the city administration aims to remind fathers of the importance of being present in their family lives.

“Through an organic movement carried out gradually yet steadily, we want to remind fathers of the importance of being present for their families,” Respati said.

According to Respati, a father’s presence can open avenues for closer communication with his children. An open relationship between father and child can strengthen emotional bonds and foster a harmonious and peaceful family atmosphere.

“A harmonious and peaceful family begins with an open relationship between father and child. A father’s involvement strengthens emotional bonds and family communication while creating a safe and welcoming environment for children,” he said.

In addition to launching GasMas, the Surakarta City Administration simultaneously introduced the Ruang Bersama Indonesia (Indonesia Shared Space) initiative across 54 urban villages.

Through these programs, the city hopes a father’s involvement in parenting will no longer be seen as merely an auxiliary role, but as an equal part of family responsibility. Gender equality can thus be fostered starting from the space closest to the child: the family. (Misni Parjiati)