Gender dan Culture: Studi Non-Diferensiasi terhadap Peran Perempuan Bugis dalam Perspektif Sejarah

Abstract

This study examines the role of women in Bugis society through a historical approach using a literature review method, with a focus on the concept of gender non-differentiation within the Bugis social structure. The spatial scope of this research is South Sulawesi, where the majority of the Bugis people reside. The study concludes that in certain areas, Bugis women have historically held positions equal to men. This is reflected in their involvement in public spaces, decision-making processes, and even in their roles as rulers (Datu’). This non-differentiation or equality did not emerge as a result of external coercion, but rather from a collective awareness of the importance of women’s roles as part of society. As such, Bugis women are not only seen as members of society but also as symbols or indicators of fortune and as representations of their family's social status. The findings of this study show that the values of women's emancipation in Indonesia are diverse and context-dependent. In the case of Bugis women, gender non-differentiation has existed even since the emergence of the epic I La Galigo. Therefore, this study reinforces the understanding that women’s roles in social life are part of a cultural heritage, not merely a demand of modernity.