Julianti, Head of the Women's School Seaweed Farmers Group Pangkajene and Islands, South Sulawesi

Abstract

Julianti's story is part of a peer-reviewed edited volume of women's life stories that draws on detailed ethnographic research of village women's lived experiences and how they, individually and collectively, have taken action to influence village development in Indonesia's multi-level governance structure under the new Village Law in Indonesia. The analysis identifies the processes of women's empowerment, their involvement in grassroots women's collective action, engagement with civil society organisations, and how women influence village institutions, policies, development spending and priorities, and new projects as well as social norms in communities.

Julianti is Head of the Women's School Seaweed Farmers Group in Pangkajene and Islands, South Sulawesi. Julianti has faced resistance to her involvement in the group from her family and has drawn upon support from the group and her friendship with a fieldworker from the Foundation for Community Studies and Empowerment (YKPM), the local-partner of KAPAL Perempuan who support the Women's School. Julianti learned about advocacy at the School, especially how to fight for the basic rights of villagers. She applied this knowledge to advocate for students and parents of a primary school in her village but was threatened by the school principal. Julianti became unwell, an illness many attributed to her advocacy. Juli, however, brushed off these fears and chose to continue to be involved in the Women's School. Julianti also led a petition for solar panels to provide electricity for the village. Julianti hopes that the Women's School program can continue in her village and that more women can become members and experience the changes and benefits like she has, particularly to have the confidence to speak in public and speak out for political and social rights.