Life Survival Strategies of Women in Urban Poor Households

Abstract

. Pekanbaru as the capital of Riau Province is one of the rapidly progressing cities. However, the city still has the problem of urban poverty. Although the poverty rate of Pekanbaru City is relatively low, poverty is a complex development problem. Meranti Pandak, as one of the sub-districts in Rumbai Pesisir District, is also still experiencing the problem of urban poverty. Natural conditions of Siak Riverbanks often experience flooding due to environmental damage. To survive, the inhabitants of the region must be able to adapt. Women in poor households have a large role, both in terms of economic and social resilience. This study adds to the repertoire of thoughts for analyzing the role of women in survival in urban poor households. The purpose of this study was to analyze the characteristics of the poor in Meranti Pandak Sub-district, Rumbai Pesisir District, the role of women in poor households in the Life Survival Strategy, and the trend of gender equality in economic activity in poor households. The results show that the role of women in survival strategies in poor households is through debt and sufficiency, regulating the structure of consumption/dietary patterns, developing the economy/subsistence production, relying on government and generous assistance (especially during floods during the rainy season), and trade in the micro-scale informal sector. With regard to gender equality in urban poor households, the poorer the household, the wider the inequality and the smaller the role of women in family economic control.