The Role of Indigenous Women of Sunda Wiwitan in Kampong Cireundeu, Cimahi, West Java, Indonesia / Dr. Rakhmat Hidayat (Professor, Department of Sociology – State University of Jakarta)

The community in Kampong Cireundeu, Cimahi, West Java is a part of indigenous people of Sunda Wiwitan. Sunda Wiwitan’s religious belief system is traditional Sundanese. Indonesia is home to an estimated number of 50-70 million indigenous peoples (18 % to 19 % of the total population) according to the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), UN. However, during the period of country, indigenous peoples are often being associated with ‘’dirty, primitive, underdeveloped, alien, to forest enroacher’’. The stigma resulted in them being underrepresented, either economically, socially, politically and culturally. The stigmatization as well as discrimination made inequality position in the society. Various forms of injustice, including agrarian, environmental, gender, and social injustice, affect indigenous peoples as a second citizen with totally different with another Indonesian citizens.

Most people believe that indigenous people are closed to social change, including the role of women. Women in Kampong Cirendeu’s community(Cimahi district) have a significant historical footprint, so that they are not left behind compared to men. This research was conducted by qualitative methods. The data collection techniques used in this study are in-depth interview techniques for informants. The in-depth interview was conducted with the Sunda Wiwitan leaders at Kampong Cireundeu, the young generations as well as the followers of Sunda Wiwitan, and women’s group of Sunda Wiwitan in these locations.

The result shows that women’s role is not only in domestic, like other constructed women’s role in the village all the time, but also in public areas. Women in Kampong Cireundeu have two substantial role. There are tradition role as wife and mother in domestic life, and transition role as worker, community member, and they also play a role in development. Women in Kampong Cireundeu have important role with socio-economic empowerment. They have specialty on processing cassava into various foods. Their ability is helpful for the family’s economic life in particular, also the quality of Kampong Cireundeu’s communities in general.

Keywords: sunda wiwitan, indigenous people, women’s role, socio-economic empowerment