Local Wisdom as the Media to Prevent the Activity of Violence toward Women in Minangkabau Society

Abstract

Minangkabau is identical with the system of matrilineal in which the kinship is from maternal line. This matrilineal system brings about the welfare of women in Minangkabau due to heirloom property is handed down to the female children. Thus, women will not be lack of material. This phenomena is contradictory with the activity of violence toward women in Minangkabau. Many Minangkabau women become the victim of violence, even though these women have adequate material inherited from their mother. This writing then tries to describe the local wisdom that can be revitalized to reduce the activity of violence toward women in Minangkabau society. The aim of the research is to identify the local wisdoms in Minangkabau that can prevent the violence toward women. The research is conducted in three areas in West Sumatera, they are Padang, Payakumbuh, and Tanah Datar. The data are collected by having interview, focus group discussion, and observation. The analysis is done by relating it to the concept of local wisdom in Minangkabau and Violence toward women proposed by Idriss and Abbs and also Revita, Wekke and Trioclarise. The result of analysis is descriptively presented. Having analyzed the data, there are at least three local wisdom. They are 1) Adat Basandi Syarak, Syarak Basandi Kitabullah, 2) Bundo Kanduang), and 3) Alam takambang jadi guru.