From the Goddess of Rice Folktale to Civil Rights: Gender, Indigenous Belief, and Legal Recognition in Indonesia

This study investigates the marginalisation of Indonesian women who adhere to indigenous belief systems, juxtaposing pre-colonial traditions with contemporary circumstances. Whereas figures such as Dewi Sri, the Javanese rice goddess, historically embodied female agency and abundance, contemporary state structures continue to relegate indigenous beliefs to an inferior status, thereby engendering systemic discrimination in areas such as marriage registration, civil documentation, education, and legal protections. Despite the Constitutional Court’s official recognition of indigenous belief in 2017, insufficient awareness and inconsistent compliance among certain public bodies continue to perpetuate discriminatory practices against adherents. While both men and women are subjected to similar forms of discrimination, women experience its effects more due to the patriarchal norms that are still practised by some Indonesians. Although those who adhere to indigenous beliefs in Indonesia presently experience improvements relative to their historical vulnerabilities, some challenges remain.