By I Putu Tirta Agung

Discourse on the role of women and gender issues into the conversation seemed to be quite warm in the middle of the Indonesian community. Problem of the status and position of women in society issues like subordination, marginalization, and oppression such as has been the main topics that are often mentioned on various occasions. Many experts together to debate the general ideology of gender development in Indonesia which implicitly as if to bless discrimination, lock the world of women in the domestic sphere, while embracing the man mastered the pubic sphere. Patriarkipun culture reinforces the dichotomy seen come earlier roles, cornering women on social reality is more complicated. As a result, he often used as a source of impoverishment issues facing women (Muhadjir, 2005: 166).

In fact, should the role of women is now not only limited in the domestic area only, but also independently has a real contribution, participate enliven the competition in the public sector. Therefore, it can not be denied that Indonesian women today is very potential to be the main motor driving the family economy. Not only wrestle in the formal sector, through persistence and perseverance, now women's achievements in the sector informalpun Indonesia, whether it be small or medium businesses, is one thing to be proud of. Because according to a study in 2006, from about 40 million micro, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Indonesia, 60% of them are driven by women (Tim Ekpos, March 2008). Just a pity, again because of the strong patriarchal culture in Indonesia is often negated the fact was, looking at all the achievements of Indonesian women no more than an additional income earner.

Like other regions in Indonesia, Bali with a viscosity of culture patriarkinya also harbored its own story about the role of women. Based on statistical data of 2006, overall estimated total population of 3.4426 million people of Bali, consisting of 1,724,300 male population and female population of 1.6983 million (Government of Bali Province, 2006). This indicates that 49.62% of the total population, or nearly half the population of Bali are women. That is here, Balinese women should save considerable potential to support regional development. But what power due to the fact the other speaks, rather than the potential of marginalized girls tend to Bali instead.

If the previous paragraph we know that approximately 60% of the nearly 40 million SME entrepreneurs are women, so if you see the reality of the growing contribution of women may contribute to bali in these figures can be said to be very small. How not resident female illiteracy rates in Bali in 2005 in the range of 5.47%, very much when compared to the male population is only 1.62%. Comparison of residents who graduate degree (S1) in Bali between men and women also no less shocking, 6.7%: 4.9%. Similarly the labor force participation rate (LFPR), only 66.8% of women of Bali that can be said earning and income, while the rest are vulnerable to poverty (CBS, 2006; 65).

Indeed, the people of Bali are still strong in fact covered by a patriarchal culture, always placing the position of women under men. Generally, for the Balinese, the glory of the family will be achieved only through one or several sons. Thus the demands of culture "purusa", the man is a continuation of a clan that guards morally charged ceremony "Pitra Yadnya" (holy sacrifice aimed at parents and ancestors). Wearing other words, the Balinese believe only one boy who can save her parents from the horrors of hell. As for Balinese women, since she was a teenager, they are conditioned and accommodated within the concept of "Yadnya Sesa" (all offering ceremony) on a continuous basis, with no clear boundaries between peoples and religions. The ideology of this kind is certainly grave implications for the social role of women in Bali.

The above situation must be supported by some of the terminology that actually reinforce the social status of women bali subordiansi under men. For instance, the term "pengayah" (servants) are usually given by the husband to the woman who will or already married. There is also the term "tetekan" (immigrants without resources), which is usually given to women who lived in the house belonging to her husband's family. Then, the reality of inter-caste marriage often also disturb the atmosphere, its impact would be detrimental to women. In fact, so strong affirmation of women's social roles Bali, probably no exaggeration to say that the world of women in Bali is always enclosed by a variety of concepts "purusa", which eventually forced them into the figures without power and without dignity.

Downloaded from: Jangkang Research Institute, Bali

Bibliography

1. Muhadjir, 2005, the State and Women, CV. Adipura, Yogyakarta.
2. Export Team, March 2008, CSR for SMEs Pempuan Empowerment, EXPORT Issue 39, Year 23/11/2008.
3. Government of Bali Province, 2006, Regional Profile of Bali, http://www.baliprov.go.id/informasi/profil/ , 19/11/2008.
4. BPS, 2006, Data Collection Households Poor in Bali Province.