Women’s Resistance to Toba Batak Umpasa from a Feminist Perspective

This study explores Toba Batak umpasa which is a set of Indonesian cultural values related to son and daughter familial relationships. There is a need to investigate the cultural values of the umpasa as a guide to the upbringing of their children. The following study focuses on (1) the construction of the concept of Toba Batak sons and daughters within current Indonesian society and (2) women's resistance to the Toba Batak umpasa from a feminist perspective. A feminist lens allows one to analyze meanings, reevaluation, renegotiation and resistance to the concept of gender in the umpasa. The authors use a qualitative research method and a descriptive approach. Our methodology includes identifying and defining the umpasa, in-depth interviews with informants including parents and leaders of the Toba Batak in the city of Medan, observations on the upbringing of Toba Batak sons and daughters, and an analysis followed by a discussion and conclusions. The results found that (1) the Toba Batak umpasa is a predominantly patriarchal culture in which men are the central figures; (2) there are shifts in the value systems regarding sons and daughters; (3) the role of daughters who previously occupied a marginal position in society is now considered important as they can become highly respected hula-hula; (4) women's resistance to the umpasa is carried out by working hard and achieving hagabeon (having sons and daughters), hamaraon (wealth), and hasangapon (a respected family).