Navigating Tradition: A Phenomenological Study on the Empowerment of Hindu Women as Sarathi in Bali's Ngaben Rituals

Abstract

Deepening women involvement through empowerment have changed the social life and structures. Factors such as masculinism and patriarchy are evident in hindering the empowerment of women across context. This present study is in a form of phenomenological study that focuses on redefining Hindu woman position as Sarathi within traditional society and the kind of empowerment they receive. There are six primary informants who are involved in this study and currently working as Sarathi through purposive sampling. The data are collected through in-depth interview and observation. There will also be supporting data from informants working around the Sarathi who work as priests. This study reveals that even though in many occasions Sarathi is descendant of a priest, the professionalism from practicing to become Sarathi make them labelled as achieved status instead of ascribed status. Furthermore, among four aspects of empowerment (power of decision making, control over resources, freedom of mobility, and self-esteem), control over resources is considered as the weakest empowerment received by the Sarathi while others are experienced well by the Hindu women working as Sarathi.