Indonesia

The Republic of Indonesia is populated by several hundred different ethnic groups, the largest of which includes the Javanese and Sudanese. The predominant religion is Muslim although there are numerous others practiced. Women's social and political positions are generally considered high for a mainly Muslim nation but they still face traditional cultural expectations of subservience. One sign of advancement is that Indonesia recently had a female head of state. Overall, though, the living and working conditions for women vary by region and ethnic group. The sex trade is a major problem hindering women's advancement in this country, the world's fourth most populous nation. Indonesia ranked 93rd of 134 countries in the World Economic Forum's 2009 Global Gender Gap Report.

Indonesians generally marry and there is great ...