Strategi Resiliensi Ibu-Ibu Batak Toba dalam Menjalani Budaya Patriarki (Studi Etnografi di Kelurahan Beras Basah, Kecamatan Pangkalan Susu)

Abstract

This study examines the phenomenon of gender inequality rooted in the patriarchal culture of the Batak Toba society. The kinship system of Dalihan Na Tolu places men at the center of authority while subordinating women, limiting their roles in both public and customary domains. Nevertheless, Batak Toba women, particularly mothers, demonstrate resilience through various strategies that enable them to endure, adapt, and even negotiate within such a restrictive social system. This research employs a qualitative approach using ethnographic methods. The fieldwork was conducted in Beras Basah Village, Pangkalan Susu Subdistrict, Langkat Regency. Data collection techniques included participant observation, in-depth interviews with Batak Toba mothers, and documentation. The analysis was framed by Michel Foucault’s theory of power and discourse, which highlights how women negotiate their roles and build resilience within patriarchal structures. Findings reveal that Batak Toba women develop four main forms of resilience: economic resilience through savings and multiple livelihood strategies; social resilience through solidarity and women’s support networks; psychological resilience through emotional management, patience, and spirituality; and cultural resilience by adapting to symbolic roles and negotiating participation in customary practices. These strategies function not only as survival mechanisms but also as forms of “silent power” that illustrate women’s agency in constrained social spaces. The discussion underscores that Batak Toba women are not merely passive subjects of patriarchal domination, but active agents capable of creating alternative spaces of power. These findings enrich anthropological and gender studies by demonstrating how local cultural contexts shape women’s resilience, while also providing practical insights for community-based women’s empowerment programs. Keywords: Resilience, Batak Toba Women, Patriarchy.