Introduction: Gender Relations, Equality, and Inclusion in Indonesia: Contradictions, Complexity, and Diversity

The articles for this special issue were selected from the papers presented at the International Conference on Contemporary Social and Political Affairs held in 2019 in Surabaya, Indonesia. Although the themes of the conference were more general, most of the papers presented focused on gender relations and women’s positions in Indonesia and in the global context. Therefore, we entitled this special issue “Gender Equality, and Social Inclusion in Local and Global Societies.” Numerous existing articles and past studies on Indonesian gender relations in international journals were written by authors or scholars from outside Indonesia, providing some foundations and insights on the topic. However, more research and articles written and conducted by Indonesians using their insiders’ perspectives are important for enriching the field and providing different perspectives. The voice, experience, and positionality of the authors serve as important factors affecting how they approach certain topics. This special edition offers various voices and positionalities of Indonesian researchers and authors from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities that will enhance our understanding of gender relations in Indonesian societies

Survival Strategies of Indonesian Women from Low-Income Families during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study analyzes the survival strategies of Indonesian women from low-income families with different social and geographical backgrounds. The participants of this study are married women with children from poor families who live in the provinces of East Java and West Sumatra, Indonesia. This research uses the survey method; researchers received questionnaire responses from 857 respondents (457 respondents in East Java, and 400 respondents in West Sumatra). The results of this study indicate that the survival strategy of low-income families during the COVID-19 pandemic is based on the strength of their existing social capital, especially with the support of their families and neighbors. Heavy reliance on their internal social capital creates heightened vulnerability; this study reveals that not all low-income families receive assistance or benefits from the central or local governments. External assistance is pivotal to amplify their existing social capital and to enhance their resilience. This study also suggests that the government’s policies designed to support low-income families need to emphasize women’s agency and empowerment

Unveiling the Mysteries of Aceh, Indonesia: Local and Global Intersections of Women\u27s Agency

Forces of globalization, local culture, and Islam continuously inform one another and dynamically manifest in cultures across the world. Scholars often assume that these influences may have distinct and independent effects. However, we argue that these global forces occur simultaneously and they may contradict or complement each other along a spectrum within Aceh, Indonesia. The manifestations and responses vary depending on the nature of the interactions of global and local factors. This spectrum represents various ways in which women negotiate identity and agency, specifically within the context of the implementation of Shari’ah Law. This research investigates the specific ways in which women’s identities influence and are influenced by the globalization of feminism, matrifocal traditions, and Islamic veiling practices in Aceh. In the summer of 2012, the authors conducted field research in Aceh, Indonesia through interviews and observations. These included over 70 participants and 20 organizations which varied in formality and size. The interview participants include: activists, academicians, spiritual leaders, government officials, law enforcement agents, university students, and other community members from both rural and urban areas

Essential Ecosystem Area Policies as a Means to Promote Participatory and Inclusive Conservation in Forest Landscape Governance: Centering Perspectives of Marginalized Women in Taman Kili-Kili, Indonesia

This study analyses dimensions of participatory forest landscape governance of the Essential Ecosystem Area (EEA) of Taman Kili-Kili, Indonesia. The voices of marginalized communities, and especially women, are rarely incorporated into forest landscape governance and conservation policies. The recently established Indonesian EEA policy mandates a participatory approach, with explicit requirements to involve marginalized groups and gendered perspectives. However, on a practical level, policy formulation and application unfold in very different ways. Using a Postcolonial Feminist Participatory Action Research (PFPAR) approach, we center local communities' power relations in our analysis as a specific means for drawing out various intersectional relations to conservation areas. The study found that local communities around EEA Taman Kili-Kili have a clear interest in participating in inclusive mangrove forest management models as they not only have the knowledge and capacity, outcomes significantly affect their lives and livelihoods. Findings suggest that the activism of local communities, specifically in the form of various women's gatherings, is reshaping policy milestones and opening up pathways towards gender and ecological justice

Confict management in multiethnic communities: a case study in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia

This study aims to identify physical confict management and avoidance between ethnic groups in transmigration settlements. Using a qualitative approach with data collection techniques comprised of observation and in-depth interviews, this research uses interpretive understanding for analyzing the data. Both macro-level and micro-level theories are applied in this research to analyze the interconnections of structure and agency. The fundamental question to be answered in this study is what causes conficts between ethnic groups in transmigration settlement sites and how ethnic group citizens manage conficts so that they do not become open con�ficts and remain coexistent. Results show that the sources of confict include the legal uncertainty of land ownership and the lack of social platforms for diferent ethnic groups to interact and discuss the problems. Social disparities between ethnic groups and diferences in values and norms also contribute to the confict. How�ever, there was a potential for cooperation between ethnic groups. The diferent ethnic groups tend to restrain themselves and prevent violent confict. The ethnic communities managed the confict by ignoring disputes and making compromises to avoid open disagreements. These compromises involved lowering the demands and expectations of the object of confict; the strategy manages the disputes and helps to reduce open disagreements and support multiethnic communities. In order for the ethnic groups involved in the confict to negotiate and compromise, the availability of social space plays a pivotal role