Politik Desa dan Kepemimpinan Perempuan: Pengintegrasian Isu Gender Di Desa Wilayah Perbatasan Indonesia - Timor Leste

Abstract

Research about women’s leadership in East Nusa Tenggara Province is interesting considering the complexity of the socio-cultural life of the local community. In addition to the existence of a culture that placing women as second-class citizens such as giving belis, in general people’s lives in poverty. Poor economic context is intertwined with border area tensions and the existence of a customary power. In the midst of this situation, in Fatuba’a Village, Belu Regency, the Women’s Village Head was elected. Using qualitative research methods, with two data collection techniques namely in-depth interviews and document studies, this research concludes three things, first, that the female Village Head in Fatuba’a got the position because of social capital in the form of adat influence and support from warga baru in patron-clientalistic relationships. Second, during the leadership of the female village head, policies that facilitate the improvement of women’s quality of life emerged, such as the belis arrangement. A number of advances have also emerged, such as improving the quality of health services for mothers, babies and toddlers which have an impact on reducing stunting rates. Besides women, Emiliana also accommodates the needs of other minority groups, namely warga baru. Third, the leadership of the female Village Head is relatively lacks of political dynamics, because the village head has strong support from the largest ethnic group as well as from warga baru.