Balinese Hindu Women

摘要

This article is the result of a study on the practice of a patriarchal system that sets Balinese Hindu women in a weak position. They are subordinated by the dominance and hegemony of masculinity habituated over a very long period of time. Habituation is carried out using various symbols of religion, rites, and mythology so that patriarchal culture can be embedded in collective memory of the Balinese. As a result, women receive stigmatization and cultural violence that they will never be equal to men as long as this system is still functioned in all areas of life. The long struggle of women against this injustice is based on, first, patriarchal system that grows as an epicenter in social structure of Balinese society. Second, marriage is a huge burden for women to give birth to a son, so that customary mechanism is sought to save patrilineal system in several ways. Third, there is a biased misinterpretation regarding the meaning of the word suputra who is constantly interpreted as a good boy. Fourth, women from Tri Wangsa class are not free to choose and accept men who will become their husband later. Conversely, Tri Wangsa men are relatively free to marry women from any class. These four reasons make stigma and cultural violence for women difficult to eliminate. The decision of the upper house of Hindu religion which provides equal position and inheritance rights between men and women has not changed this situation.