Coronavirus exposes hidden struggles of poor Indonesian-Chinese families
- Low-income ethnic Chinese families are finding it hard to make ends meet as the pandemic batters incomes
- Their struggles are often overlooked in Indonesia, where Suharto-era policies have led to a persistent stereotype that Indonesian-Chinese are rich
Indonesian-Chinese mum Shinta Lie, 33, has been trying to make ends meet by selling fish crackers and facial tissues for about US$1 in Jakarta, with her husband and three young children in tow.
The sole breadwinner has no choice but to take them along. Her husband, 40, lost his sight four years ago, and there is no one to look after the family if she leaves them at home.
The struggling family also often endured stares from people, Lie said, because of a perception in the country that ethnic Chinese tended to be wealthy.
Lie, whose children are 10, six and a year old, said it felt as if her family’s circumstances were “embarrassing the Chinese” in Indonesia. Others have judged her as being “crazy” for travelling with her husband, children and goods all on one motorbike.
