GENDER EQUALITY OF BATAK
TOBA AND MINANGKABAU
In
various conversations or a topic of discussion on "Gender" in the
Batak culture, some of whom consider "women" received an unequal
position with "male". In Toba Batak culture, men with women's status
difference is easy to see. This is because the Batak culture, male - female is
a carrier of the clan (the lineage of men ) . So the men in Batak are very
privileged position.
In this case can be seen that the Batak culture,
especially in Batak Toba their gender differences that occur. Status and
position of the male more in particular about the rights of a wife. Then we can
see, it is not uncommon Batak women widows living alone, he should be able to
as a father who can finance their children and a mother who can take care of
children. Life works hard to support his family. And if we think about it, a
woman are human beings who have feelings
and needs. Women also need a friend to sleep and friends to share joy and
sorrow.
Besides gender differences Batak Toba we see where if we
go to the Batak’s township we can see
the mothers are working hard both the home and the fields to fulfill the needs
of her family, but her husband instead riches in the tavern wine drinking and
having fun , If the husband came home from work home he had served, from
preparing food, bath water etc. If all his request was not granted he would get
angry and beat his wife.
Gender differences also occur to the child. Boys and
girls. In a household, if they do not have a son they will try always to make
children until they have a son. Because men are into the lineage of his father
and clan carrier. Then the boy a very special man, so in daily life , the son
greatly in favoring.
In daily life, boys are also very taboo to do the work of
women, boys only prepared to be a successful child and in demand to study and
learn. The boy even though he are still in school (high school) both parents
have prepared her son going where he would take his life, for example, he will
be prepared by the going where he would be in highest level school , the
parents do not care want how much his money runs out as long as her son may
succeed. Compare what if the circumstances that happened to his daughter? His
parents would think 10 times to send her, because her father think of girls
doing high schooled daughter anyway also will only work in the kitchen.
Here are some cases of gender in the life of
the Batak Toba:
1. Toba Batak society is a society that embraced patrilineal kinship system (based on the lineage of the men). In the division of inheritance is always men who got the biggest part, very rarely inheritance given to women. This shows the disparity in the distribution of inheritance in the traditional Batak Toba. Women in traditional environments are always in number-emphasized. In very rare indigenous Toba Batak daughter receives the inheritance.
1. Toba Batak society is a society that embraced patrilineal kinship system (based on the lineage of the men). In the division of inheritance is always men who got the biggest part, very rarely inheritance given to women. This shows the disparity in the distribution of inheritance in the traditional Batak Toba. Women in traditional environments are always in number-emphasized. In very rare indigenous Toba Batak daughter receives the inheritance.
2. In social
life, the Batak people are always faced with various ceremonies / parties
(weddings, parties death) and other ceremonies. In the ceremony that usually
there is a discussion, a discussion that may include a discussion of the
problems in the ceremony. Here the men are very dominant role, was so dominant
role of this man to the point that women are not given the opportunity to
participate sit together to discuss these issues, let alone to want to provide
suggestions and feedback. You will hear the ravings of the fathers "hamui
akka ina i , hu pudian jo hamu, mardebban majo hamu ".
You're all women, backward course, you were just eating betel. This illustrates
that the role of women in society is limited by men. So that women tend to
choose passive and silent.
3.
While in everyday life, in terms of the decision making of women also tend to
leave the right to take decisions to the boy. " Bapakmu ma sukkun bah
". Just ask your father about this. It also illustrates that the man still
has the dominant role of women.
In
various conversations or a topic of discussion on "Gender" in the
Batak culture is different with Minangkabau culture. In Minangkabau society
embraces matrilineal kinship system. Matrilineal system is a system that
regulates the life and order of a society that is bonded in a tangle of kinship
in the maternal line. A boy or girl is a clan of communalism mother. Dad can’t
put their children into the tribe as applicable in the patrilineal system. In
other words, a child in minangkabau will follow his mother's tribe.
Everything was arranged by the maternal lineage. do not have a clear legal sanctions regarding the existence of this matrilineal system, meaning there is no binding legal sanctions if someone violated the system. This system only taught generations later agreed upon and adhered to, there is no reference book or a book of laws. However, as far as any of an interpretation do it, essentially fixed and did not move from the function and role of women themselves.
Everything was arranged by the maternal lineage. do not have a clear legal sanctions regarding the existence of this matrilineal system, meaning there is no binding legal sanctions if someone violated the system. This system only taught generations later agreed upon and adhered to, there is no reference book or a book of laws. However, as far as any of an interpretation do it, essentially fixed and did not move from the function and role of women themselves.
The
characteristics of matrilineal kinship system adopted in minangkabau rate is as
follows:
1. Heredity is calculated according to mother’s lineage
2. Parts formed according to mother’s lineage
1. Heredity is calculated according to mother’s lineage
2. Parts formed according to mother’s lineage
A man in his tribe minangkabau could not pass
on to their children. So if there are no girls in the tribe it can be said that the
tribes have become extinct.
3. Each person is required to marry outside the tribe (exogami)
According to the customary rules minangkabau person can not marry someone from the same tribe. If that happens then it may be subject to existing laws, such as the socially excluded.
4. The real power is the brother
Who exercise power in minangkabau are men, women minangkabau positioned as a binder, preserver, and a store of treasures.
5. Marriage is matrilocal, the husband visited the home of his wife
6. The rights and inheritance bequeathed by mamak to his nephew and brother from the mother to the child of a sister.
3. Each person is required to marry outside the tribe (exogami)
According to the customary rules minangkabau person can not marry someone from the same tribe. If that happens then it may be subject to existing laws, such as the socially excluded.
4. The real power is the brother
Who exercise power in minangkabau are men, women minangkabau positioned as a binder, preserver, and a store of treasures.
5. Marriage is matrilocal, the husband visited the home of his wife
6. The rights and inheritance bequeathed by mamak to his nephew and brother from the mother to the child of a sister.
CONVERSATION
Friska : Good morning Ira ?
Ira : Good morning friska ?
Friska : How are you this morning ?
Ira : I’m fine thanks .
How about you ?
Friska : As you see, I’m fine too, thank you.
By the way why didn’t you come yesterday ?
Ira : Oh, I didn’t come yesterday, because I
have a bussness.
Why ? Do you miss me ?
Hahaha…
Friska : Hahah.. you’re right Ira.
I
really miss you, and I felt so lonely if there is no you beside me. Because you
are the one I need in my life as my best friend.
Ira : Hahaha.. you’re too much
Friska : Just kidding friend .
I’m serious to ask you, what was your business yesterday
?
Ira : I didin’t come yesterday because
yesterday was my uncle’s wedding . That’s why I was absent yesterday.
Friska : You’re uncle’s wedding ?
Ira : Yes you’re right Friska.
Friska : Where was that party held in ?
Ira : That wedding party held in
Siborongboong Friska.
Friska : I really sure that you looked so beautiful
at the time, right ?
Ira : Hahaha J
Yes of course, because there was a big party, so must
have a good appearance, right ?
Friska : Hahaha J
I know you so well Ira.
I’m sure that you have a good style at the time, like a
Cinderella .
Ira : Hahaha J
Don’t
say like that friska . I just wear a custom clothes.
Friska : Did you use Kebaya ?
Ira : Yes, of course .
My mother and also her daughter’s used Kebaya and we used
the same Kebaya.
Friska : Woww..
it heard so wonderful .
I’m sure that you look so beautiful with your custom
clothes.
Ira : Thank you Friska.
Friska : Ok Ira . So how about his wedding’s party ?
Ira : It was very wonderful. There were many
people came to that party.
Friska : Wow .. it means that party was very crowded,
right ?
Ira : Yes you’re right Friska .
Friska : So what activities that you did at the time
?
Ira : There were many activities that we
have done .
First
, we made an event in the house before we went to church, after we returned
from the church we made a custom event.
Friska : What did you do in the custom event ?
Ira : We made a tor-tor dance , we got lunch
together , gave some ulos , etc.
Friska : So how about the music ?
Ira : We used the traditional music
instrument as gondang , plute , keyboard , etc.
Friska : Wow it’s heard so interesting .
So did your mother say something at the event custom ?
Ira : No, my mother didn’t say anything. As
you know , at the Batak’s event the women
didn’t have right to speak.
Friska : Yes, I have ever heard it.
But why it happen ? Do you know why ?
Ira : Because the man are very dominant role
and the women are not given the opportunity to
participate sit together to discuss with man .
Friska : I ever heard in a discussion , there was
some words that said “ You’re all women, backward course , you’re just eating
betel “ . Do you know what does it mean Ira ?
Ira : Yes I know that. It means that the
role’s women in society is limited by men. So that the women ten to choose passive and silent.
Friska : How pity the women are ?
Ira : Yes, I think so. And my uncle ever
told me that the men has a highest position in Bataknese.
Friska : Yes , you’re right Ira. And I think in the
Bataknese prefer to have son than daughter and they are very happy if there was
a son born in their family.
Ira : Yes, you’re right Friska.
Like my uncle he still have no sun and he still keep
hoping until now.
Friska : I don’t know why is son so invaluable in
Bataknese.
Ira : Don’t you know about it ?
Friska : No I don’t know why ? I think daughter and
son both of them are just the same .
Ira : Yes, but in Bataknese the son brings
the lineage to his future family. That’s why many people in Bataknese want to
spend there money or their treasure to support there son’s education.
Friska : Yes. I think so that’s different to their
daughter , they think it’s not important for their daughter to have a high
education because in there future they are only stay in the kitchen and manage
her household and her job just as a house wife who care of her family.
Ira : Yes, you’re Friska .
Friska : So, do you know about the inheritance of
Batak’s tribe ?
Ira : In the division of inheritance is
always men who got the biggest part.
Friska : It means that very rarely inheritance given
to women .
Ira : Yes, you’re Friska . The women just
get the smallest part.
Friska : It means that the men’s role is most important , right ?
Ira : Yes, you’re Friska . It different with
Minangkabau culture.
Have you ever heard the culture of Minangkabau ?
Friska : Yes , I’ve ever heard that culture . Because
I have a friends from Minangkabau ethnic.
Ira : I think they are opposite with Batak’s
ethnic.
Friska : In your opinion, where is the difference ?
Ira : In Minangkabau ethnic, everything was
arranged by mother’s lineage.
We can also said that the women as a head of her family.
Friska : It means that the women must work hard to
earn a living for her family .
Ira : Yes, you’re right Friska .
Friska : Sometimes it heard so strange, right ?
Ira : Yes, but that’s a fact and we must
obey all of the rule in our ethnic. All of them look so unique .
Friska : Yes, but both of them just favor to one
gender . In Batak’s ethnic just favor to the men and in Minangkabau just favor
to the women.
Ira : Yes I think so , but I really hope
that both of them have a gender equality.
Do you agree with me ?
Friska : Yes, I agree with you . It’s better if we
have a gender equality. But what should we do ?
Ira : If we talked from religion all of
people were created according to God’s image
and have the same position in front of the God .
Friska : But it’s different when we talk from
culture, right ?
Ira : Yes, you’re right Friska . But just
remember that all of people have the rights to get their position.
Friska : No matter if they are a men or women, right
?
Just love each other, obey the rule and avoid the
discrimination.
Ira : Yes, I agree with you Friska.
Friska : Hmm Ira , I think we have spent a lot of
time to discuss about this .
Ira : Hahaha never mine Friska , actually
this is useful for us and we need to know it.
Friska : But actually because of talking too much,
I’m so thirsty .
Ira : Hahaha I know what do you mean . Let’s
go to buy the juice.
Friska : Hahaha .. Thank you Ira you always
understand me.
Ok , let’s go.
Ira : Let’s go Friska.
CONCLUSION
In terms of
Patrilineal inheritance customary law is still a striking gender bias, that is
where the party entitled as heir or heirs are men only and women are not
entitled to inherit. Patrilineal society, especially in the Batak Toba people
assume that boys are more valuable or higher status than in girls. Boys who
carry a descendant or successor to the clan of their parents.
Minangkabau
embraces matrilineal kinship system where women have an important role as a
binder, preserver, and a store of treasures. While men have an important role
to regulate and maintain treasures. Heredity is calculated according to mother’s
lineage Parts formed according to mother’s lineage.
MESSAGE
Every
culture has a different identity and also different gender. But there was some
culture favor to the men or to the women. Gender differences can make many
people suffer both physical or psychological (inner). Men and women are creatures
of God, the same rank. We must love each other and avoid the discrimination.
Reference :
http://sinagafernandes.blogspot.com/2012/03/potret-boru-batak-dalam-paradaton.html
