Antara Loncat Lindah dan Luka Parah: Gerakan Awal Pembelaan Buruh Migran Perempuan

Abstract

The situation of female migrant workers from Indonesia is closely linked to the conditions in their home villages. The green revolution initially established Indonesia as a nation capable of ensuring food security for its population, but this status lasted only five years. Subsequently, the agricultural land could no longer sustain the farmers' livelihoods. For women in rural areas, finding employment overseas has become a necessary step to take. There are almost no alternatives. Sadly, the nation perceives migrant workers merely as sources of foreign currency, and their susceptibility to the challenges of working abroad is not met with an adequate protective framework. Consequently, many fall victim to extortion and violence, resulting in serious injuries. Solidaritas Perempuan is the pioneering organization focused on advocating for female migrant workers through a feminist and human rights lens, specifically by challenging the patriarchal gender system and holding the state accountable for ensuring the human rights of its citizens. This article employs a feminist autoethnographic approach to trace these dynamics through lived experience and activist engagement. By situating personal reflections alongside structural analysis, the study reveals how women’s intimate lives in rural communities are reshaped by state policies, patriarchal systems, and the global labor market.