Abstract:
This article aims to examine the gender-based agency at work in a peasant movement in Wongsorejo. Banyuwangi. This movement, which began after the fall of the Soeharto regime, is reclaiming peasants’ rights over land which was seized by a private company. Initially,men took action on initiating this movement, which is connected to other peasant movements in several parts of Java. Men alsoacted as leaders of the movement, including in determining agendas. They took risky yet masculine political actions, and some ended up being sentencedby the courts. However, there are also narratives which indicate that women have actually contributed significantly to the movement. They have efficiently mobilized mass support for political demonstrations,committed espionage on the company, and informally been involvedin the movement’s agenda discussions. They are the ones who perform daily acts of resistance, such as silently disturbing the company?s activities, protecting male activists targeted by the company, and bravely acting as witnessesduring the court process for activist kidnapping cases. However, women?s contributionsare often neglected and invisible, as many people only lookat formal political processes. This article will answerthe question of how, and in what condition, gendered agency has been part of the peasant movement to reclaim land rights.
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