Other publication / Published on Magdalene
This article explores the everyday realities faced by women farmers in Sirnabakti Village, Garut, West Java, where women increasingly sustain agricultural production while men migrate to cities for work. The daily routine of many women begins before dawn with household responsibilities such as cooking and childcare, followed by hours of labor in the rice fields. Even after returning home, domestic work continues, often accompanied by additional income-generating activities. In this setting, women’s labor moves constantly between the household and the fields, creating overlapping responsibilities that rarely pause.
Although women now make up a larger share of agricultural laborers in the village, this does not translate into improved welfare. Many women farmers are landless or own only very small plots, leaving them dependent on selling their labor to landowners. Wages remain unequal, with women typically paid significantly less than men for different agricultural tasks. Their work is often framed as supplementary income for the household, even though it frequently plays a crucial role in sustaining family livelihoods.
Beyond wage inequality, women also face structural barriers to technology and mobility. Cultural norms restrict women from using certain farming tools or operating machinery, which limits their participation in higher-paid or technologically assisted tasks. As a result, women remain concentrated in labor-intensive activities such as planting, harvesting, and weeding.
Despite these constraints, women in Sirnabakti demonstrate resilience and collective agency. Through community organizations and local networks, they share agricultural knowledge, manage household finances, and support each other in navigating economic pressures.
The article concludes that addressing these inequalities requires structural change, including equal wages, improved access to technology, and stronger recognition of women’s central role in agriculture. Without such reforms, the burdens carried by women farmers will continue to shape both rural livelihoods and the opportunities available to future generations.
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DEEP EnGender Author
Daniel Jeremia Natanael Nababan
Mr. Daniel Jeremia Natanael Nababan is a social researcher focusing on environmental governance and climate policy, with particular attention to European Union–ASEAN relations. His academic work examines the political dimensions of climate governance, including the mechanisms of European Union climate hegemony toward ASEAN countries and the implementation of EU forest fire policies in the post-pandemic context. He holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Sociology from Universitas Negeri Jakarta and a Master of Science in European Studies from Universitas Indonesia.
