Gender Division of Labor in Two Javanese Villages

Abstract

This paper investigates gender division in agricultural labor and decision-making in two villages in the special province of Yogyakarta, Indonesia based on surveys, interviews, and field observation conducted during 1995 and 1996. The two villages differ in how agricultural tasks are allocated. The 'traditional' gender division of labor in agricultural activities is closely adhered to in the rural village. There is an indication that men in the urban village are involved in the tasks previously assumed to be women's. Women contribute less labor to agriculture in the more urbanized village, but are more involved in decision-making about agriculture. There is evidence of a corresponding increase in paid labor employed in planting and harvesting, tasks that are traditionally performed by village women, suggesting a process of substituting male paid labor for women's labor. ¹