Indonesia Migrant Worker: Modern Representation of Women As Javanese Villagers in East Java, Indonesia

Abstract

Modernization in various sectors in Indonesia, has made women more flexible and open-minded in doing their activities. For a long time, Indonesian women have often been perceived as being weak and backward, unable to show their quality in the many fields. Addressing this issue, there are many Javanese women who left their villages or small towns of east Java Province to bigger cities of Indonesia to work as domestic worker or employer on manufacture sector. This article points to Javanese women coming from East Java who took part in domestic worker in Hong Kong. This study was conducted among Javanese domestic workers coming from Tulungagung, Malang, Blitar, Madiun and Banyuwangi Regency at East Java province, Indonesia using qualitative perspective. The research was conducted based on non-random sampling using snowball technique. By observing at least 30 Javanese Women followed by in-depth interview, this research was processed. This research concluded that participation of women in the labor market, especially Javanese women who become Indonesian migrant workers, is increasing. They represent modern women by doing transnational migration as Indonesian Migrant workers for social remittances rather than economic remittances. Keywords— Indonesian Migrant Worker, Modern, Representation, Women, Javanese Villagers