RATIONAL
ACTIONS OF WIDOWS POST EARTHQUAKE DISASTER IN PALU CITY
Sitti Chaeriah Ahsan, Haslinda B. Anriani, Moh. Nutfa,
Krisdaryadi Ponco Nugroho,
Nurul Chudawiah Sidin, Akbar
Faculty of Social and Political
Sciences, Universitas Tadulako, Indonesia
Email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
|
KEYWORDS earthquakes; rational actions;
post disaster |
ABSTRACT Earthquakes not only affect material losses, but also affect the
socioeconomic lives of widowed women forcing them to act rationally to
survive and avoid the threat of poverty. The study aims to analyze the impact
of earthquake natural disasters with rational actions of widowed women after
the earthquake disaster in Palu City. The research method uses a qualitative
descriptive approach. Data collection was carried out through limited
observation, in-depth interviews, FGDs and document studies so as to obtain
primary and secondary data. Informants were purposively selected as many as 6
people. The data is analyzed interpretively. The validity of the data is done
through triangulation. The results showed that in the face of poor
post-disaster socioeconomic conditions, there are five models of strategies
or rational survival actions carried out by widowed women, namely, borrowing
business capital, building an entrepreneurial career, finding a new job,
becoming a daily freelancer, and getting married. The forms of rational
action carried out by widows are instrumental rational actions, value
rationality actions and effective rational actions. It suggested the
importance of socio-economic empowerment of widowed women appropriately and
sustainably. |
INTRODUCTION
Indonesia
is one of the countries in the world that is vulnerable to natural disasters.
One of the natural disasters that poses a big risk is earthquakes (Maarif, 2015; Pramono, 2016). On September 28
2018, Palu City, Donggala Regency, Sigi Regency and Parigi Moutong Regency in
Central Sulawesi and the surrounding area were shaken by an earthquake with a
magnitude of 7.4 on the Richter Scale. This earthquake caused a tsunami and
soil melting (liquefaction) (Central Sulawesi Provincial Government, 2018).
Based on
BNPB calculations on 26 October 2018, as a result of this disaster, Central
Sulawesi Province experienced damage and losses reaching IDR 18.48 trillion,
especially in the four affected districts/cities. The greatest loss and damage
came from settlements, followed by the economic sector (Central Sulawesi Provincial Government, 2018). After the
natural disaster, one of the groups most affected was widowed women, namely
widows in Palu City, Central Sulawesi Province, Indonesia.
Disasters
not only impact the economic sector, but also impact the socio-economic lives
of women, especially widowed women who lost their husbands as a result of the
2018 earthquake disaster (Ministry of Empowerment and Protection of Girls of
the Republic of Indonesia, 2011). This research
highlights the impact of the natural disaster of an earthquake on widowed women
in Palu City.
Widowhood
is a social label attached to women who are not married either because of
divorce or because of the death of their husband. After the disaster, widowed
women in Palu City tried to survive by earning additional income. Research
observations show that after a disaster, widowed women are forced to bear the
burden of life because they lost their family breadwinner (husband) during a
disaster situation. Some research (Mazid et al., 2023; ParamithaIda & Susilawati,
2016) revealed
that having dependent family members requires widowed women to look for
alternative sources of livelihood.
This
observation is in line with research which finds that the domestic needs of
families are very dependent on the economic role of the informal sector of
housewives(Himawati & Taftazani, 2022; Mazid et al., 2023). This role is to
prioritize children's educational needs, means of transportation and savings(Wazin, 2018). Another role
played by widows is not only as sole provider but also as protector or shield
for family members. Negative social stigma against widowed women can affect the
psychology of their children.
The fate
of widows not only faces economic pressure but also social pressure such as bad
social stigma received from their social environment (Suhan et al., 2020). Other research
reveals that widow status is obtained due to low education and young marriage (Foilyani et al., 2009). Several studies
reveal that widowed women act as heads of families who take on a new role as
backbone after being left by their spouse (husband) (Kasim et al., 2022; Nurgina et al., 2023). Similar research
shows that the lives of widowed women who have been left behind by their
husbands or divorced have tried to survive by setting up businesses and
providing additional income from their children (Nurhaini, 2022). Apart from that,
for widowed women's economic resilience, the ideal is economic empowerment
through skills training (Wulandari & Rini, 2021).
Acting as
head of a single family is not just about carrying out functions, but this is
driven by decisions regarding the rational actions chosen by widowed women.
According to Max Weber (Ritzer, 2012), everyone has the
freedom to make their choices rationally. This choice can become a spirit in
carrying out other social actions, including work ethic (Weber, 2006). Like research (Kasim et al., 2022) found that widows
have a work ethic and economic independence. Work ethic is influenced by type
of work and family conditions. Meanwhile, economic independence is determined
by the ability to meet primary and secondary needs and the amount of income.
This
article aims to reveal the decisions or actions taken by widowed women due to
the worsening economic situation of their families after the natural disaster
in Palu City. The existence of economic vulnerability requires widowed women
who are victims of natural disasters to use various means of survival. There is
research which reveals that widowed women's survival strategies are carried out
through active strategies, passive strategies and network strategies (Himawati & Taftazani, 2022). Meanwhile, the
results of this research found that there were various efforts by widows to
determine ways to survive as a rational action including instrumental actions,
valuable actions and affective actions. Thus, whatever widowed women do as an
effort to survive, it is a rational decision or action.
RESEARCH
METHOD
This
research uses a descriptive qualitative approach to describe the research
phenomenon thoroughly and in depth (Bungin, 2015; Moleong, 2013). The survival
strategies of widowed women are explored through a case study in Palu City. The
unit of research analysis is women with the status of widows who were victims
of the 2018 earthquake in Palu City, totaling 6 people. Data collection was
carried out through observations on the living conditions of widowed women,
face-to-face in-depth interviews and conducting focus group discussions (FGD) with
widowed women. Data were analyzed qualitatively through data interpretation.
The validity of the data is obtained through source triangulation (Satori, Djaman, 2011; Sugiyono, 2018; Suyanto &
Sutinah (ed.), 2010).
RESULTS AND
DISCUSSION
Socioeconomic
Problems of Post-Disaster Widow Groups
A widow
means a woman who no longer has a husband, either because of divorce or because
her husband died. The results of the research show that after the earthquake
natural disaster, widows in Palu City live in economic vulnerability with all the
limitations they face in their lives. This condition is exacerbated by their
lack of access to improve their conditions both economically and socially. As
stated by informant Hartini (50 years old), the earthquake caused her to lose
her business (shop) selling clothes. "My shop was lost in the earthquake,
including my savings, my condition ended up being worse than before"
(interview 23 June 2023).
After the
disaster, widowed women face financial pressures such as difficulty obtaining
sufficient finances, obtaining decent work, paying children's education costs,
and other needs. It can even be said that widows are more likely to live in
poverty compared to complete (dual) parents.
The
research results found that after the natural disaster in Palu City, the lives
of widowed women left by their husbands had socio-economic problems such as:
(1) financial difficulties; (2) difficulty obtaining permanent and decent work;
(3) difficulties in financing children's education; (4) loss of residence; (5)
experiencing health problems; (6) limited business capital; (7) debt bondage;
and (8) the presence of negative reactions from the social environment
(stereotypes, negative stigma or prejudice).
These
eight socio-economic problems are fundamental problems experienced by widows
after the Palu earthquake disaster. Such conditions make widowed women live
vulnerable to poverty. The results of this research also found that after the
disaster on 28 September 2018, women who lost their husbands either through
death due to the disaster or because of their way of life experienced economic
pressure. This includes losing her job and feeling highly dependent on her
husband.
Indah and Pious (2021) explain that
widows have four problems, namely economics, education, consumption and health.
Similar research found that the condition of household economic decline due to
external factors (such as disasters) causes widowed women to experience
difficulties in determining the direction of their lives and are even vulnerable
to poverty, especially those who have dependent children (Kurniasih, 2020; Nurhaini, 2022).
Up to five
years after the disaster (2023) their average monthly income will be below IDR.
1.500.000. Except for widowed women who work as civil servants (PNS) and those
who work in the private sector and BUMN. At the time of the disaster, some of
the widows admitted that they were very short of property, especially in the
form of money, and some even had nothing at all because their property was lost
as a result of the natural disaster.
Especially
after the disaster (reconstruction and rehabilitation period), work is very
difficult for women to obtain. Their widowed status due to separation from
their husbands makes them think hard about continuing their lives and
supporting themselves and their children. Most of these women admitted to
experiencing psychological disorders (stress) due to the pressure of losing
family members (life partners), losing jobs and losing property. In this
condition, they admit to experiencing sociopsychological helplessness,
especially women who have been completely dependent on their husband's income
for their entire lives.
After the
disaster, women who were widows depended on their livelihoods (economically)
from several jobs, both jobs they had previously and new jobs. Old jobs such as
civil servants, private workers and farmers and/or selling salt. Meanwhile,
some of them have to depend on new jobs such as vegetable traders, food sellers
and casual workers. The following presents the types of work and income of
widowed women after the earthquake disaster in Palu City.
Source: Primary
Data (2023)
Figure
1. Types of Employment and Income of Widows After the 2018 Earthquake Disaster
Based on
the picture above, it is known that there are six types of work and the average
monthly income earned by widows after the earthquake disaster in Palu City,
namely, civil servants (PNS), private employees, freelancers, vegetable
traders, food sellers, and salt seller. Of all the types of work, widows who
work in the private sector have the highest average income, namely IDR.
2.700.000. Meanwhile, widows who work as freelancers or daily workers earn the
lowest income, namely IDR. 1.000.000.
Among the
many jobs that widowed women took up after the earthquake disaster, jobs as
civil servants (PNS) and private sector jobs were jobs that contributed quite a
large amount of economic income. Meanwhile, work as a laborer or freelance
worker is the job that provides the least income for widows after a natural
disaster. This means that the lives of widows after natural disasters
experience economic difficulties, especially women who do not have permanent
jobs.
Apart from
income problems, the education problem of family members is also a problem
experienced by widows. Losing the breadwinner of the family - their husband -
forces widows to look for other alternatives so that they can still afford
their children's education. Informant Jamilah (38 years) said that to fulfill
her child's desire to go to school, she became a daily freelance worker, namely
as a clothes washer. "My three children go to school, everything costs
money, since I was a widow five years ago, I have been working as a clothes
washer and get paid every time I come to work" (interview, 27 August
2023).
Meanwhile,
widowed women who work as private employees and civil servants (PNS) admit that
they feel less burdened by their children's education because they have a fixed
income every month. Roslina (64 years old), an old informant, said: "I am
grateful to have survived this far, because I am a civil servant even though I
am a widow. My children can go to school and even college from my salary”
(interview, 29 August 2023). Apart from that, some of them have side businesses
(kiosks and shops) that support the educational, health and other needs of
family members.
Meanwhile,
for widowed women who do not have position or material things, living life as a
widow is considered a very difficult thing to live alone. Moreover, the costs
of supporting children's educational needs are increasing. Likewise, with
health needs, some informants, Marlina (43 years old), who works as a food
seller, said that she and her children do not yet have a health insurance card
(BPJS) so they still have difficulty meeting their health needs. Moreover, in
the early post-disaster period (reconstruction and rehabilitation period) they
were forced to bear their own health costs. Many widows are forced to go into
debt with family, friends or savings and loan institutions, which ultimately
complicates their economic situation. In fact, quite a few of them admit that
they are in debt.
When
carrying out family functions, widows in Palu City raise their children independently.
This spirit of independence then spreads to children when they enter
adolescence or adulthood. Children who are raised with an independent spirit
are aware of their parents' living conditions so they join in earning a living
to ease the burden on single parents.
According
to Indah and Pious, (2021) the condition of
women who are widows is that they care for and raise their children alone
without help from their partners, such as husbands. Apart from caring for them
alone, widows are resilient by working to meet the economic and educational
needs of their children as well as ensuring the health of their families. Even
widows are willing to suppress primary and secondary needs for the sake of
their children's future needs (Gusnita & Syafrini, 2021; Wazin, 2018).
Families
headed by women are most likely to be poor when compared to families headed by
men. If women head the household, on average they only earn 70% of the income
compared to men who head the household (Henslin, 2007).
Widows
care for and raise their children alone without help from their partners. This
is certainly not easy to do because socially women without husbands (widows)
are looked down upon. After a disaster, widows experience a series of special
problems. The widow's family is increasingly poor because they were previously
accustomed to being economically dependent on their husband. As head of the
family, widows should have an independent spirit and be able to support their
families.
Widowhood
Survival Strategies
After the
earthquake, widows had economic problems, where widowed women only worked alone
while they had to meet their daily needs, not to mention the educational needs
of their children that had to be met and also the debts, loans and credit that
had to be paid. As a result, widowed women often face difficulties in meeting
their economic needs.
Another
problem faced by widowed women is social problems. They said they were often
viewed or received negative labels socially (Suhan et al., 2020). After the
disaster, society reacted in the form of stereotypes, negative stigma and
prejudice towards widowed women who worked to earn a living. Psychologically,
it requires having a strong mentality so as not to drag on in sadness due to
strong social reactions.
Widowed
women ultimately have to face these various problems alone without the presence
of their partners. After the natural disaster, widowed women who act as heads
of families in Palu City are quite capable of overcoming various problems and
challenges in life by turning these problems into positive energy and still
being able to carry out their daily lives by taking rational actions.
The
results of the research show that there are five models of rational action as a
survival strategy used by widowed women after the earthquake disaster in Palu
City, namely:
1) Borrowing Business Capital
The 2018
earthquake natural disaster caused widowed women to lose their property and
even lose family members. Apart from that, they lost their main source of
livelihood, such as trading businesses, both small scale and large scale, such
as shops. Some of these widowed women have a strong entrepreneurial spirit in
order to survive after the disaster. However, efforts to build an
entrepreneurial spirit will not necessarily run smoothly without the assistance
of business capital.
Some of
those who have small businesses such as kiosks or mobile cake sales businesses
admit that they still lack capital to develop their type of business. Often
income from business and fixed income is considered insufficient to meet
various needs, so widowed women have to borrow capital to develop their
business. Business capital is obtained from various sources such as
cooperatives, savings and loan institutions, neighbors' loans, family loans,
and so on which they use for business development.
According
to widowed woman Mirnawati (48 years), some of the widowed women succeeded in
developing their businesses and some failed in managing the finances of the
loan proceeds. Those who succeed in managing capital loans because they can
manage their finances wisely and are able to differentiate between business
needs and personal needs. Meanwhile, for those who fail to develop business
capital because they cannot manage it properly, such as consumer habits, so
they cannot differentiate between business capital and personal interests.
2) Continuing and Building Entrepreneurship
The results
of the research show that some widowed women who previously owned their
businesses chose to continue entrepreneurship with the capital they owned or
with new capital obtained. There are also those who build businesses with
savings. According to them, savings are very important for a married woman so
that she is not completely dependent on her husband/life partner.
A widowed
woman named Ibu Murni (64 years old) who works as a seller of "Talise
Salt" in Talise Village said that the habit of selling salt is a job she
has done for many years that she cannot just leave. Meanwhile, her eldest child
works as a salt farmer, inherited from her deceased husband. So he chose to
continue his business selling salt on the side of the road with enough income a
month.
Some
widowed women also admit that the business they are running is a legacy left by
their husband that they must continue. For them there is no other choice but to
continue the business. There are also those who claim to build new types of
businesses with the capital they have, such as businesses selling cakes and
selling vegetables at the market.
3) Looking for new job
The
earthquake caused infrastructure damage which resulted in many married women
losing their jobs. Several widowed women who were met said that previously they
worked as Roa Roa hotel workers, shopping center (mall) workers, restaurant and
shop workers. However, due to the earthquake, their place of work collapsed,
causing them to lose their jobs. So that requires them to look for a new job
that suits their passion.
Currently
they are working in new places such as shopkeepers, shop cashiers,
restaurant/restaurant waiters and selling clothes. For them, getting a new job
is a rational choice to survive because day by day the necessities of life are
considered to be increasing. Therefore, material needs must be accompanied by
the ability to work. Widowed women admit that from the post-disaster period
until now, looking for a new job or alternative job is a life choice that must
be made, especially since their physical needs as young widowed women are
considered primary.
4) Become a Daily Freelancer
Becoming a
daily worker is a choice that is considered reasonable by some widowed women
today. They are willing to wash clothes, deliver ordered goods, or clean
people's homes to make ends meet. This type of widowed woman is those who do
not have valuable assets and who are over 40 years old. Apart from that, having
dependents (children) is a responsibility that must be fulfilled, requiring
them to do whatever they want as long as they earn money.
There are
also widows who are disaster survivors who are willing to become their
neighbors' mobile cake sellers. According to him, he did this because he did
not have the skills to work elsewhere, such as working as a shopkeeper.
Moreover, they have children who always need attention. Apart from that,
according to them, working as daily freelance workers does not involve special
demands such as appearance, age and certain skills. As long as they have
courage (confidence) and are honest, they are able to play their profession.
5) Marriage
Apart from
the four strategies for surviving widowed women after a disaster, another
strategy they use is getting married or looking for a new life partner. Getting
married or looking for a new life partner is considered to be the final
rational choice made by widows for the following basic reasons:
a)
There is a
backbone that can finance children's education
b) Someone can take care of the family's basic needs
c) There are feelings of love and wanting to be loved or because of
attraction to men (affective reasons).
Some old
women admit that getting married is the last option because there is no other
way to survive in the city nowadays other than getting married. The affective
reason is that they need support in life, namely love from other people.
Because peace is not only obtained from income or earnings (economic), or from
kinship and kinship relations (social), but also obtained from personal feelings
of affection (affective). Thus marriage is considered the last resort to obtain
the desired prosperity.
CONCLUSION
After
natural disasters, widowed women feel the socio-economic impact the most.
Financial difficulties, difficulty obtaining permanent and decent work,
difficulty financing children's education, loss of housing, health problems,
limited business capital, debt burdens, and negative reactions from the social
environment are factors that can cause widowed women to live in the
shadow/threat of poverty.
In order
to struggle in the midst of poor post-disaster socio-economic conditions, there
are five models of strategies or rational survival actions carried out by
widowed women, namely, borrowing business capital, building an entrepreneurial
career, looking for a new job, becoming a daily freelance worker, and getting
married. Of the five survival strategy models, marriage was the final rational
choice made by widowed women after the earthquake disaster in Palu City.
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Copyright holders:
Sitti Chaeriah Ahsan, Haslinda
B. Anriani, Moh. Nutfa, Krisdaryadi Ponco Nugroho, Nurul Chudawiah Sidin, Akbar
(2023)
First publication right:
Devotion - Journal of Research and Community
Service
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