Being women in Adonara

Being women in Adonara, NTT, is not a simple matter. “Since such a young age, we were treated differently. I often envied my brother, whatever he asked, he would get it from our parents,” Susana Rawaborot, 39 years of age, said.

There is a rebellion DNA streaming down her veins, Susana admitted it proudly. “Goe (I) could never accept that girls are never be prioritized. Got hit by Ama (Dad) was nothing new to me.” After middle school, Susana went to Jakarta. She just followed her guts. She found a job in a garment factory. Knowing this, her uncle, could not let it slip away. He went looking for her and sent her to a high school in Karawang, then continued to Universitas Komputer in Bandung.

After graduated from university in 2005, Susana went back to Adonara. She joined PEKKA, Perempuan Kepala Keluarga, an organization that empowers widows through many kinds of programme to support each other.

She got married in 2006. But the marriage did not last long, only for a few months. The husband remarried. “I’d rather live alone. Look at those women in PEKKA, they are strong even facing so many problems. Goe is nothing compared to them.” In NTT, polygamy is an endless issue. The men can remarry anytime and as many times as they wish, as long as they have ivory for the dowry. Tradition, unfortunately, has allowed polygamy to happen. To change the tradition and custom is impossible, at least for now.

Now, Susan has been with PEKKA for 14 years. In PEKKA NTT, there are 1,500 odds members who share burdens of economy, dowry debts, the complexity of polygamy, and especially gender-based violence with a wide spectrum.

What is the happiest thing for you? Goe found a family in PEKKA.”

Any dreams to pursue? I want to take ina (mother) traveling outside of Flores.


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PUBLISHED BY Puan Indonesia
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