A paradox of women representatives in a Muslim patriarchy and matrilineal society in West Sumatra, Indonesia

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2007.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 82-86).xi, 86 leaves, bound ill., maps 29 cmThe thesis examines the impact of a tradition of matrilinealism on the political participation of women in West Sumatra, Indonesia. West Sumatra has an ethnic group, the Minangkabau, which has a matrilineal tradition that provides more opportunities for women in terms of public activities. The data shows the number of female legislators is on average. This contradicts the assumption that women in a matrilineal society have higher status than their counterparts in patriarchal regions. By using interviews and observations of fifteen female representatives in four provinces in Indonesia, the results indicate that most successful female politicians have male relatives, have highly motivation, and often face discrimination in their efforts to get elected. Their service in the Parliament is challenging due to the male domination as well as their inadequate relationship with women activists outside of the Parliament. But the matrilinealism means that compared to female politicians in other provinces, Minangkabau female politicians can publicly voice their opinions in media