The Investigating the Oppression of Toba Batak Women: Call for Empowerment and Woman Leadership
Abstract
This research has been developed around the two contrasting views/themes of the Toba Batak women's oppression and call for women's empowerment and leadership. It initially explored the philosophy of the Toba Batak society while identifying the forces of Toba Batak women's suppression. It has examined and critically analyzed the Toba Batak society and its patriarchal culture. It has been discovered that the Toba Batak women are subordinated because of an attitude or disposition dictated and perpetuated by the cultural belief systems, especially the social system of the clan (marga), which places women under the authority of men. Consequently, women are considered mere objects to men, particularly in childbearing, because they must be available to produce male children; otherwise, they suffer exclusion from the clan system, including being a leader. In order to gather data and explore the problem more deeply, this research uses a case study and a qualitative method through a literature study. Rethinking Toba Batak Philosophy and family practices involves rethinking the Toba Batak kinship arrangement and embodying it through substitute liberating, non-discriminating practices. In order to construct space to promote equality between men and women in Toba Batak society, the rethinking and counter-acting of patriarchal Toba Batak philosophy and family practices is essential and fundamental. This way, a cultural analysis will create a more appropriate proposal for addressing women's subjection. A culturalist approach (like promoting newer beliefs through habitual alternative practices) may be similarly called forth to foster women empowerment.
References
Behavoir, Simone de. The Ethics of Ambiguity. Translated by Bernard Frenchman. New York: Kensington Publishing Corp, 1948.
Dias, Mario Saturno. Rooting Faith in Asia: Source Book for Inculturation. Quezon City: Claretian Publications, 2005.
Dwyer, Judith A., ed. The New Dictionary of Catholic Social Thought. Collegville, Minnesota: A Michael Glazier Book, The Liturgical Press, 1994.
Embu, Emanuel J, and Amatus Woi, eds. Berpastoral Di Tapal Batas (Mission on Border). Maumere: Ledalero, 2004.
Fiorenza, No Elisabeth Schǜssler. Discipleship of Equals: Critical Feminist Ekklesia-Logy of Liberation. New York: Crossroad, 1993.
Francis. Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2013.
Grenfell, Michael. Pierre Bourdieu Agent Provocateur. New York: Continuum, 2004.
J.C., Vergouwen. The Social Organization and Customary Law of the Toba Batak of Northern Sumatra. Netherlands: Publication Commissioned and Financed, 1964.
John Paul II. Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation on Jesus Christ and the Peoples of Oceania: (Walking His Way, Telling His Truth, Living His Life) Ecclesia in Oceania. Vatican City: Libreria EditriceVaticana, 2001.
Komonchak, Joseph A., Mary Collins, and Dermot A. Lane, eds. The New Dictionary of Theology. Collegville, Minnesota: A Michael Glazier Book, The Liturgical Press, 1987.
Kroeger, James H. The Documents of Vatican Council II. Pasay City: Paulines Publishing House, 2011.
Lawrence, Marilyn. “Women’s Psychology, and Feminist Social Work Practice.” In Women, Oppression and Social Work: Issues in Anti-Discriminatory Practice, edited by Mary Langan and Lesley Day. New York: Routledge, 1992.
Mercado, Leonardo N. Working with Indigenous Peoples: A Philippine Resource Book. Manila: Divine Word Publications, 1994.
Michael Miller, J., ed. The Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortations of John Paul II. Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor Inc, 1989.
Murniati, Agustina Prasetyo. “The Human Face of the Church in Indonesia: Indonesian Christian Women’a Hope.” In Ecclesia of Women in Asia: Gathering the Voices of the Silenced, edited by Evelyn Monteiro and Antoinette Gutzler. Delhi: ISPCK, 2005.
Murphy, Cornelius F. Beyond Feminism: Toward a Dialogue on Difference. United States of America: The Catholic University of America Press, 1995.
Murray, Mary. The Law of the Father: Patriarchy in the Transition Form Feudalism to Capitalism. New York: Routledge, 1995.
Pui-Ian, Kwok. Introducing Asian Feminist Theology. England: Cromwell Press, 2000.
Pui-lan, Kwok. Postcolonial Imagination and Feminist Theology. Louisville, Kentucky: John Know Press, 2005.
Raluto, Reynaldo D. Theologies of Creation/Environmental Ethics: The Catholic Ecological Teaching. Quezon City: St. Vincent School of Theology, 2014.
Ruether, Rosemary Radford. “Ecofeminism: Symbol and Social Connections of the Oppression of Women and the Domination of Nature.” Feminist Theology, 1995.
———. Integrating Ecofeminism Globalization and World Religious. New York: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, inc, 2005.
Saldanha, Virginia. “Feminist Power-Living the Gospel Outside Patriarchal Structures.” In Liberating Power: Asian Feminist Theological Perspectives, edited by Andrea Lizares Si and Jeane Peracullo. Bengaluru: Dharmaran Publications, 2019.
Silaban, Charly. “Boru Raja, Sebuah Konsep Priyayi Perempuan Batak (The Women as a King, an Aristocracy Concept Toba Batak Women),” 2008. http://www.silaban.net/2008/01/17/boru-raja-sebuah-konsep-priyayi.
Sirico, Robert. Environmental Stewardship in the Judeo-Christian Tradition: Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant Wisdom on the Environment. Michigan: Grand Rapids, 2007.
Situmeang, Doangsa. Dalihan Na Tolu Sistem Sosial Kemasyarakatan Batak-Toba (Dalihan Na Tolu Social System of Toba Batak Society). Jakarta: Kerabat, 2007.
Situmorang, Moses Elias. Samosir: Mutiara Cita Dan Cerita (Samosir: Its Pearl Dreams and Stories). Pangururan: Bina Media Perintis, 2009.
The Bishops Conference of Indonesia (KWI). “Laporan Departemen Pengembangan Sumber Daya Manusia Dan Pelayanan Umum Dan Tenaga Gerejawi (Update from the Department of Human Resources and General Service and the Church Employee).” In Spektrum, Vol. XL. Jakarta: Departemen Dokumentasi dan Penerangan Konferensi Waligereja Indonesia, 2012.
Thoppil, James. Towards an Asian Ecclesiology: The Understanding of the Church in the Documents of the FABC (1970-2000). Shillong: Oriens Publications, 2005.
Witz, Anne. Professions and Patriarchy. New York: Routledge, 1992.
