Fitria Novita Sari, R. Farhan Fadhila Azhari

Ecofeminism Among Women Farmers in Pakel Village, Banyuwangi: An Ethnographic Study Amidst Land Conflicts

Introduction

Ecofeminism among women farmers in pakel village, banyuwangi: an ethnographic study amidst land conflicts. Explore ecofeminism among women farmers in Pakel Village, Banyuwangi, amidst land conflicts. An ethnographic study reveals their active roles, struggles, trauma, and dual responsibilities.

Abstract

In conflicts and struggles, women are both actively involved and affected, as discussed in various studies. However,research on the lives of women farmers in land conflicts in Pakel village, Banyuwangi Regency, is still limited. Thisstudy aims to describe the lives of women farmers in land conflicts that occur in Pakel village, BanyuwangiRegency. Pakel Village was chosen as the research location because the women had been abandoned by the men toavoid police arrest during a land conflict, leaving them to survive on their own. This qualitative research approachuses ethnographic methods with ecofeminism theory from Vandana Shiva. Primary data was collected throughparticipant observation, informal interviews, and in-depth interviews. The technique of determining informants inthis study used snowball sampling with a total of five female informants to be interviewed in depth. The resultsshowed that women farmers in Pakel village, Banyuwangi Regency, played an active role in the struggle. From theirdual roles as heads of households and housewives in the pre-land reclamation period to their active participation androles in various aspects of their daily activities after the land reclamation—such as farming, cooking, caring forchildren and/or grandchildren, istighosah, mediating conflicts, participating in night patrols, and fighting back. Theviolence in this land conflict also had a traumatic impact on one of the women farmers, so psychological serviceswere provided. Further research is needed to better understand the role of women in land conflicts in Pakel village,Banyuwangi Regency, with different themes and from various disciplines.

Review

This ethnographic study on ecofeminism among women farmers in Pakel Village, Banyuwangi, addresses a highly pertinent and under-researched area, particularly within the specific context of land conflicts where men have been forced to withdraw. The paper effectively outlines its objective to describe the lived experiences and active roles of women farmers, a population often marginalized in both conflict narratives and academic discourse. Employing a qualitative approach grounded in Vandana Shiva's ecofeminism theory, the research promises valuable insights into the intertwined struggles of women, land, and community resilience, making a timely contribution to agrarian studies, gender studies, and conflict resolution. A significant strength of this research lies in its methodological design and theoretical framing. The choice of an ethnographic approach is particularly fitting for capturing the intricate daily realities and complex dynamics of women's lives amidst intense land conflict, allowing for a rich, nuanced understanding of their agency and struggles. The application of Vandana Shiva's ecofeminism provides a robust lens through which to analyze the dual oppression of women and nature, offering a critical perspective on their active roles in resistance, from farming and household management to community organization, mediation, and direct confrontation. The detailed findings regarding women's multifaceted contributions—including their adaptation to new leadership roles and the acknowledgement of traumatic impacts—underscore the depth of engagement and the compelling nature of the case study. While the abstract clearly articulates the study's valuable contributions, a reviewer might consider potential areas for deeper exploration. The use of snowball sampling with five in-depth interviews, while appropriate for ethnographic depth, inevitably limits the generalizability of specific findings, a point often considered in qualitative research. Future iterations of the work could potentially elaborate on how the various facets of Shiva's ecofeminist theory are specifically demonstrated through the women's actions and perspectives, beyond a general understanding of women's connection to land. Nonetheless, this study lays a vital foundation, offering a compelling narrative of resilience and resistance, and aptly sets the stage for the recommended further research to broaden our understanding of women's pivotal roles in land conflicts from diverse disciplinary perspectives.

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