{"id":90145,"date":"2021-12-21T03:28:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-20T20:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ekuatorial.com\/?p=90145"},"modified":"2022-04-04T13:41:40","modified_gmt":"2022-04-04T06:41:40","slug":"fisherwomen-in-demak-struggle-to-achieve-equality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ekuatorial.com\/en\/2021\/12\/fisherwomen-in-demak-struggle-to-achieve-equality\/","title":{"rendered":"Fisherwomen in Demak struggle to achieve equality"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
The roar of a wooden boat\u2019s motor broke the silence of the morning in Tambakpolo Hamlet, Demak District, Central Java, early last November. The boat was carrying a fisher couple home after a day-long fishing trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The boat came to a halt on the river bank behind the last house at Tambakpolo Hamlet. Kustiah (45) and Solikin (47), came out of the boat with two buckets containing their catch – crabs and a kedukan fish (Hexanematichthys sagor<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kustiah has been a fisherwoman for 13 years. \u201cThe first time I went out to sea, my son was in kindergarten. Now he is in high school. In the past, I was frequently insulted by neighbors, women should not go to sea,\u201d Kustiah said as she washes the captured fish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then she moved on to do household chores. She washed used cooking utensils and clothes, before finally cleaning the house. After completing her house chores, she took a shower. Fresh from her bath, Kustiah carried her catch to a fish collector not far from her house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kustiah returned home with a big smile. Although the catch that day was not much, it was sold at a high price. One kilogram of crabs was valued at IDR 125,000. On any other day, she would earn somewhere between IDR 30,000 and IDR 50,000 for a kilogram of crabs. She kept some IDR 100,000 banknotes and spent the rest on her family\u2019s necessities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That is a glimpse of the life of fisherwomen in Demak District. They play a dual role – taking care of the household chores and contribute to the family economy. Kustiah is one of 32 fisherwomen in Demak carrying double duty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The daily life of a fisherwoman begins at 02.00. While other residents are fast asleep, they had woken up to prepare their fishing equipment. Then they set sail around 03.00.<\/p>\n\n\n
CATCH OF THE DAY: Kustiah (45) and her husband Solikin (47), residence of Tambakpolo, Demak District, Central Java, return from their fishing trip carrying their catch in white plastic buckets. <\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n
Some of the fisherwomen have been fishing for 20 to 30 years. Even when they were pregnant, they continued to work at sea. Alongside their husband, they put their life at risk in the open sea to support the family\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Siti Darwati (36), another fisher from Tambakpolo said, that she went to sea for the first time when she was four months pregnant with her third child. Her son is now eight years old. Another fisher, Mufadhilah (49), has been fishing for 20 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn the past, my husband went to sea with a crew. The crew then had their own ship. I couldn\u2019t bear seeing my husband going out to sea alone. I decided to join him. I was fishing even when I was seven months pregnant. When I got on the boat, I tied my belly to protect my womb,\u201d Darwati explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When they are at sea, they share responsibilities with their husband. Mufadhilah, for example, is in charge of casting nets, while her husband operates the boat engine. They sail to waters off Jepara, Semarang, Kendal, and Batang.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I was fishing even when I was seven months pregnant. When I got on the boat, I tied my belly to protect my womb.<\/p>Siti Darwati<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
When they return home, some fisherwomen will sell their catch at the Morodemak Fish Auction Place (TPI). Others, like Kustiah, sell their catch to fish collectors near their home. While there are others who produce processed fish to increase their income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Morodemak Village, after returning from fishing with her husband, Mujarokah (52) dries the remaining unsold fish. Once they are dried, she will sell them to her neighbors for IDR 70,000 per kilogram. The profit from the dried fish is saved for days when high tides prevent them from setting out sail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mujarokah had only been fishing for four years. She braved the sea to increase her family\u2019s income. Of her four children, three are still in need of school fees. Her first born had already begun working after completing Islamic Senior High School (MA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A minimum of IDR 100,000 per day is required to cover the needs of a family and three children who are still in school. In the past, when her husband went to sea with his crew, her family\u2019s income was always insufficient as the sale from the catch must be divided between five, including the boat and net owner, fuel, her husband, and the crew member. Because her husband did not own a boat, he must rent one with a profit-sharing scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At that time, the average fish sales were between IDR 300,000 to IDR 500,000 per day. If the price of the fish was IDR 300,000, her will take home IDR 60,000. With four children, that amount was far from meeting her family’s daily needs. Mujarokah decided to go to the sea with her husband. \u201cSince I joined my husband, our income is enough to meet the needs,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2019, Mujarokah received assistance in a form of fishing net from a state fishery agency, Perikanan Nusantara (Perinus). As a result, Mujarokah and her husband no longer need to spend money on net rental. Such assistance was only available after women who went out to see with their husband, were recognized as fisherwomen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fighting stigma<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Before being recognized as fisherwomen, 32 fisherwomen in Demak were paddling against a stream of stigma. The community\u2019s socio-cultural norms view fishing as an occupation that is only done by men. Women who catch fish in the sea are solely regarded as the fisherman\u2019s wife or part of their family responsibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Siti Bauzah (66), a fisherwoman in Tambakpolo who had been fishing for 30 years, said she often get mocked by her neighbors because their activities were considered against the norms. \u201cMany people insulted me, how come a woman work in the sea?\u201d she recalled as she relaxed after the Asar prayer at the mosque near her house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bauzah responded casually. For her, women must also contribute to the survival of the family. \u201cI\u2019m not ashamed. It\u2019s okay to be insulted. The most important thing is to do an honest and legal job for the family,\u201d she went on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bauzah had ceased going to the sea since her husband\u2019s death a few months ago. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to fighting stigma and dealing with an extra heavy workload, fisherwomen also face the risk of accidents while working. Not only big waves, but they are also threatened by fishing boats above 10 gross tons (GT).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bauzah said in 2007, she and her husband were involved in an accident while fishing in waters of Mangkang, Semarang. Her boat was hit by a trawl boat. \u201cMy boat was seriously damaged. It couldn\u2019t be used anymore. Only the net survived,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kustiah was also in an accident while fishing with her husband. Her boat was sunk after it was hit by a trawl boat. These accidents occurred before they were recognized as fisherwoman and so Bauzah and Kustiah were unable to obtain insurance from the government. At that time, their employment status in identity card was as housewives, not fisherwomen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To break free from the shackling patriarchy, in 2016, they fought for equality and recognition of their status as fisherwomen which will award them the same rights as fishermen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The movement was initiated by Masnuah, the founder of the Puspita Bahari Women Fishers Community that was based on Law (UU) Number 7 of 2016 concerning the Protection and Empowerment of Fishermen, Fish Cultivators, and Salt Farmers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Article 30 of the Law states that the government protects fishermen, fish cultivators, and salt farmers against the risks they face when fishing, cultivating fish, and producing salt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These risks include loss or damage to fishing equipment, work accidents, or loss of life. Risk protection is provided in the form of fishery insurance for work-related injuries or life insurance for death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In order to obtain insurance, they must have a fishers identification card (ID). To get this ID, it must be indicated in their citizen ID that their job status is a fisherwoman. This job status change must have a recommendation from the village officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For fisherwomen in Morodemak Village, changing data on their citizen ID was not an issue. However, for fisherwomen in Purworejo Village, the path to achieving equality posed many obstacles. Because of the strong patriarchal society, recognizing the identity of fisherwomen is difficult in itself. They must overcome oppositions from policymakers at all levels, from municipal to provincial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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