GENDER EQUALITY- KESETARAAN GENDER

GENDER EQUALITY OF BATAK TOBA AND MINANGKABAU

       In various conversations or a topic of discussion on "Gender" in the Batak culture, some of whom consider "women" received an unequal position with "male". In Toba Batak culture, men with women's status difference is easy to see. This is because the Batak culture, male - female is a carrier of the clan (the lineage of men ) . So the men in Batak are very privileged position.

            In this case can be seen that the Batak culture, especially in Batak Toba their gender differences that occur. Status and position of the male more in particular about the rights of a wife. Then we can see, it is not uncommon Batak women widows living alone, he should be able to as a father who can finance their children and a mother who can take care of children. Life works hard to support his family. And if we think about it, a woman  are human beings who have feelings and needs. Women also need a friend to sleep and friends to share joy and sorrow.

            Besides gender differences Batak Toba we see where if we go to the Batak’s  township we can see the mothers are working hard both the home and the fields to fulfill the needs of her family, but her husband instead riches in the tavern wine drinking and having fun , If the husband came home from work home he had served, from preparing food, bath water etc. If all his request was not granted he would get angry and beat his wife.

            Gender differences also occur to the child. Boys and girls. In a household, if they do not have a son they will try always to make children until they have a son. Because men are into the lineage of his father and clan carrier. Then the boy a very special man, so in daily life , the son greatly in favoring.

            In daily life, boys are also very taboo to do the work of women, boys only prepared to be a successful child and in demand to study and learn. The boy even though he are still in school (high school) both parents have prepared her son going where he would take his life, for example, he will be prepared by the going where he would be in highest level school , the parents do not care want how much his money runs out as long as her son may succeed. Compare what if the circumstances that happened to his daughter? His parents would think 10 times to send her, because her father think of girls doing high schooled daughter anyway also will only work in the kitchen.

 Here are some cases of gender in the life of the Batak Toba:
            1. Toba Batak society is a society that embraced patrilineal kinship system (based on the lineage of the men). In the division of inheritance is always men who got the biggest part, very rarely inheritance given to women. This shows the disparity in the distribution of inheritance in the traditional Batak Toba. Women in traditional environments are always in number-emphasized. In very rare indigenous Toba Batak daughter receives the inheritance.

2. In social life, the Batak people are always faced with various ceremonies / parties (weddings, parties death) and other ceremonies. In the ceremony that usually there is a discussion, a discussion that may include a discussion of the problems in the ceremony. Here the men are very dominant role, was so dominant role of this man to the point that women are not given the opportunity to participate sit together to discuss these issues, let alone to want to provide suggestions and feedback. You will hear the ravings of the fathers "hamui akka ina i , hu pudian jo hamu, mardebban majo hamu ". You're all women, backward course, you were just eating betel. This illustrates that the role of women in society is limited by men. So that women tend to choose passive and silent.

3. While in everyday life, in terms of the decision making of women also tend to leave the right to take decisions to the boy. " Bapakmu ma sukkun bah ". Just ask your father about this. It also illustrates that the man still has the dominant role of women.

In various conversations or a topic of discussion on "Gender" in the Batak culture is different with Minangkabau culture. In Minangkabau society embraces matrilineal kinship system. Matrilineal system is a system that regulates the life and order of a society that is bonded in a tangle of kinship in the maternal line. A boy or girl is a clan of communalism mother. Dad can’t put their children into the tribe as applicable in the patrilineal system. In other words, a child in minangkabau will follow his mother's tribe.
            Everything was arranged by the maternal lineage. do not have a clear legal sanctions regarding the existence of this matrilineal system, meaning there is no binding legal sanctions if someone violated the system. This system only taught generations later agreed upon and adhered to, there is no reference book or a book of laws. However, as far as any of an interpretation do it, essentially fixed and did not move from the function and role of women themselves.

The characteristics of matrilineal kinship system adopted in minangkabau rate is as follows:
1. Heredity is calculated according to mother’s lineage
2. Parts formed according to mother’s lineage

 A man in his tribe minangkabau could not pass on to their children. So if there are no     girls in the tribe it can be said that the tribes have become extinct.
3. Each person is required to marry outside the tribe (exogamy)
             According to the customary rules minangkabau person can not marry someone from the same tribe. If that happens then it may be subject to existing laws, such as the socially excluded.
4. The real power is the brother
             Who exercise power in minangkabau are men, women minangkabau positioned as a binder, preserver, and a store of treasures.
5. Marriage is matrilocal, the husband visited the home of his wife
6. The rights and inheritance bequeathed by mamak to his nephew and brother from the mother to the child of a sister.