| dc.description.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. | en_US |
