In cities like Bandung and Surabaya, Ibu-Ibu groups have replaced plastic shopping bags with besek (woven baskets) and daun pisang (banana leaves) for food delivery. Driven by the Islamic principle of mitsaq (stewardship of Earth), these mothers attend bank sampah (waste bank) workshops. They are the unsung heroes of Indonesia’s attempts to reduce ocean plastic.
A specific torment for veiled mothers is the critique of hijab syar’i (the "proper" loose hijab covering the chest). In many neighborhoods, an Ibu wearing a tight jilbab with jeans is mocked as "hijabers gaul" (cool hijab) implying she is sexually provocative despite being covered. Conversely, if she wears the extremely loose gamis (long dress) and cadar (niqab), she is accused of being a radikal (terrorist sympathizer).