Family Dynamics & Campaigning against Stunting in Indonesia: Some Under-explored Issues.

Paper Abstract: This presentation offers some under-explored issues on campaigns raised against stunting in Indonesia. While often focused on the importance of nutritional intake for children and increasing the quality of food prepared for them, the campaigns often do not incorporate the issues of family dynamics behind the practice of food preparation in the family. Assuming that most families in Indonesia would provide home-cooked meals for the family is oversimplifying matters. Today's young families in Indonesia have different lifestyles and dynamics compared to those of their parents. In Indonesia, heteronormative couples are still the norm, and conventional family dynamics is still the dominant practice. However, times are changing and women as mothers have more freedom and choices as to how they manage their families. Young mothers now often have diverse interests and engage in many religious and other social activities. Further, the issues that also need to be acknowledged are: the rise of the use of food order applications offering practicality in food preparation practices, the prevalent use of social media often distracts young parents from properly caring for their children, and the important roles of fathers & equal partnership within the family. Hence, the campaigns against stunting in Indonesia need to be updated with a more comprehensive understanding of the changes in family dynamics in young families' lives in Indonesia, their lifestyles, and their daily challenges.