Laeli, Chairperson of the Village Constituent Group, East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara

Abstract

Laeli'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.

Laeli'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.: Laeli moved to this village in East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara where she is the Head of the BaKTI-supported Constituent Group and is also the Deputy Head of the PKK. Laeli took part in training and was involved in the drafting of the 2018 Village Regulation on the Protection of Women and Children, which provides women and children in the village with resources to respond to threats of domestic violence. The Constituent Group has helped Laeli develop her skills and confidence to speak in public and increased her awareness of problems faced by women in her community. The network which Laeli has cultivated through this work has also been crucial to the growth of her cracker business.