Credit Union Perempuan sebagai Kendaraan Ekonomi-Politik Perempuan Akar Rumput: Pengalaman PESADA dalam Membangun Kekuatan Politik Perempuan Akar Rumput melalui Credit Union Perempuan di Sumatra Utara dan Pulau Sumatra

Abstract

Grassroots women in Indonesia face limitations in economic access due to the patriarchal capitalist system which places them in a vulnerable position. A paradigm shift is necessary to strengthen women’s economic empowerment as a means of eradicating their systemic impoverishment across various social and political institutions. Such initiative has been developed by PESADA since 2006 through the women Credit Union (CU). Women CU takes different perspective from the mainstream economic approaches by fostering financial independence while simultaneously cultivating political awareness through conscientization and active participation in the public sphere. This article adopts the feminist economics framework and conscientization theory as implemented by PESADA in North Sumatra. The study employs a case study methodology, incorporating document analysis, participant interviews, and field observations. The findings in this article demonstrate that women CU not only enhances women’s economic independence but also strengthens their political participation—notably through SPUK (Suara Perempuan untuk Keadilan - Women’s Voices for Justice). Women CU proves that community-based economic models with a feminist perspective can serve as an effective strategy for social transformation of grassroots women