AT first, Marzuki Wahid would always feel conflicted when listening to talks or discussions about gender equality. Marzuki, who was born and grew up in a pesantren (Islamic boarding school) environment in Cirebon, West Java, was trapped in the social construct that placing men at a higher status than women. When he was young, Marzuki even believed that only men should be a leader.

He says he once firmly rejected discussions on gender equality, b