- Author/Institution: Stefanus Mahuze, Sanata Dharma University
- Archive Type: Article
- Date Published/Inaugurated: 2022
- Publisher: Jurnal Teologi, Sanata Dharma University
- Language: Bahasa Indonesia
- Available File(s): pdf.
- Keywords: History, Papua, woman, womanist, theology of land
- Link: https://doi.org/10.24071/jt.v11i01.4595
Curated by Abel K. Aruan (August 12, 2024); Edited by Abel K. Aruan (August 13, 2024).
“There are two common things being destroyed by corporations and the state in the name of tourism: the womb of the Papuan earth or nature, and the womb of Papuan women, both of which provide life for the Papuan people” – Stefanus Mahuze
Mahuze discusses how deforestation has gone hand in hand with women’s subjugation in Papua in the last 40 years (1962-2022). Papuan men often project a tough image, espousing the idea that “The land is Mother (Mama),” yet they frequently overlook their own male-centric expectations of women and their role in domestic violence. In addition, he shortly discusses the well-known critique of the common Indonesian word for “woman,” wanita, which derives from Sanskrit vanita, which means “that is wanted [by man],” and later was adopted in Javanese, wani ditata, which means “willing to be styled/organized.” Like many women’s movements in Indonesia, Mahuze prefers the other word, perempuan, derived from the word ampu, which means “governing,” “supporting pillar,” or “ruling.” As a Catholic deacon, Mahuze questions the depiction of God’s will for women in this conflicting territory through the lens of Delores S. William’s womanist theology, taking a closer look at Williams’ focus on “black women’s re/productive history” (p. 158).
This short article not only exemplifies the intersectional theological discourses of women and land exploitation in Indonesia. He himself also enacts the participation of men in women and land exploitation within Papua’s long history of self-determination. As reported by The Papua Journal, Mahuze has been featured in Papuan students’ gatherings at St. Ignatius College, Yogyakarta (10/08/22), exposing how the violence history in Papua has been “patriarchal and systemic.” “Behind these secret [governmental] agreements,” he concludes, “there are two common things being destroyed by corporations and the state in the name of tourism: the womb of the Papuan earth or nature, and the womb of Papuan women, both of which provide life for the Papuan people. At the same time, Papuan women continue to experience violence, both directly and indirectly” (The Papua Journal 2022). Taking up Mahuze’s emphasis on reclaiming Mama as the identity of Papua’s land and forest, others have rightly framed that addressing Papua’s autonomy can only be done by engaging with the issues of “gender, generations, and deforestation” (Manoby, Siscawati, & Dewi 2023).
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