The Role of Religious Public Spaces in Transforming Private Issues into Community Issues
Author:
Dini Anitasari, Fatimah Hasan,
Lely Nurohmah,
Sri Wiyanti Eddyono
Research Report April 2010
Written by SCN-CREST and RAHIMA for research program WEMC, 2010.
An Abstract
Women community Islamic prayer group of Majelis Ta’lim often used by certain political interests to mobilize votes during elections. However, this study shows that at the village Mulyasari, Cianjur regency in Indonesia, the limited space for women to access knowledge places the Majelis Ta’lim as very vital in women lives.
This paper shows that religious institution built by people at the micro level is possible to empower women. Through research program on Women Empowerment in Muslim Context (WEMC), Majelis Ta’lim in Mulyasari village does not only gives benefit to gain religious knowledge. Through a two-way learning process and design of special materials related to various real problems faced by women, Majelis Ta’lim may encourages women to empower themselves and to challenge public authorities and religious leaders.
CONTENTS
I. Introduction
National Recognition of Majelis Ta‟lim
The Political Function of Majelis Ta‟lim in Indonesia
Majlis Ta‟lim and Salafi Culture in Mulyasari Village
II. Majlis Ta‟lim Al-Bidayah
III Majelis Ta‟lim as a Public Arena for Women; Religion and Religious Institutions as a Medium for Women‟s Empowerment
Majlis Ta‟lim as a Place for Women to Obtain Knowledge
IV. Action Research That Brings About Change: Majelis Ta‟lim That Empower Women
V. The Result of Changes at the Majelis Ta‟lim for Women
Transforming Private Issues Into Community Issues
LIST OF TABLES
Table1: Changes in the material taught in Majelis Ta‟lim Al-Bidayah before and after interacting with WEMC
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VI. Conclusions
This research proves that religious spaces can be used and redefined for the interests of women. Majelis ta‟lim, although vulnerable to political co-optation and often internalize traditional gender roles, can be used for the purpose of women‟s empowerment.
Before the WEMC action research program, majelis ta‟lim had some benefits for women. Majelis ta‟lim provided a safe space for women to study religion, an important element of their lives. Yet through the WEMC, majelis ta‟lim were not only used for the development of religion, but also for the development of knowledge that benefits the whole congregation, particularly the female congregation.
Introducing the perspectives of women‟s rights and justice to the majelis ta‟lim empowered women to gain additional bargaining power with those in a position of authority; the men in their homes, local government, religious leaders. They were even able to take a problem from the private sphere and transform it into a public issue that deserved attention from a variety of actors.