Since she was a Psychology student in the University of Indonesia, Myra spent a lot of her time studying women’s issues and feminism, which became the subject of her thesis (S1) and also later her MA thesis. Myra also raised women’s issues when she participated in discussion groups with women workers in Jakarta . In 1985 she co-founded Kalyanamitra and for 12 years straight under this organization she was active in agitation as well as gender awareness activities for activists and intellectuals from various segments. Even the label feminist radical was attached to her. In addition, Myra was also intensely involved in issues on violence, specifically violence against women, through research in various regions, such as East Nusa Tenggara, Papua, and other regions.

Her grave concern for violence against women moved her to co-found a women’s crises center, Rumah Ibu, in 1996, which is a shelter for victims of domestic violence. Myra was a counselor in this center. She continued her role as an ideologue, became facilitators at various educational/critical thinking activities, popularly known as social analysis, collaborated with various civil society organizations (CSO) at different sectors almost all through out Indonesia.

She is still committed to her field of expertise, but now working in a different organization where she is the Commissioner of The National Commission on Violence Against Women. This Commission was established based on Presidential Decision No. 181/1998. It was founded to meet civil society’s demand that the State responds to violation of women’s rights. Myra has also joined the Women Research Institute (WRI), a feminist research institute. ***