Women’s Politics in La Galigo: A Bugis Manuscript

This study investigates the political roles of women and gender constructions in La Galigo, an epic central to Bugis culture. Contrary to contemporary gender norms, which often marginalize women’s political participation, La Galigo portrays women as influential decision-makers in governance and stat...

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Main Authors: Nurhamdah Zain, Rahmi Djafar, Nur Nahdiyah, Norhan Farouk, Nabilahumaida
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The International Academic Forum 2025-07-01
Series:IAFOR Journal of Cultural Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://iafor.org/journal/iafor-journal-of-cultural-studies/volume-10-issue-1/article-13/
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author Nurhamdah Zain
Rahmi Djafar
Nur Nahdiyah
Norhan Farouk
Nabilahumaida
author_facet Nurhamdah Zain
Rahmi Djafar
Nur Nahdiyah
Norhan Farouk
Nabilahumaida
author_sort Nurhamdah Zain
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates the political roles of women and gender constructions in La Galigo, an epic central to Bugis culture. Contrary to contemporary gender norms, which often marginalize women’s political participation, La Galigo portrays women as influential decision-makers in governance and state affairs. Employing a qualitative, textual analysis, the study focuses on key female figures in the manuscript, such as Datu’ Palingeq, We Nyili’ Timo, and We Adi Luwu, examining their roles in political leadership, diplomacy, and governance. The analysis highlights how these women challenged the male-dominated power structures typically seen in historical Bugis society. The findings suggest that women’s contributions were valued in political spheres, reflecting a cultural framework of gender balance that prefigures modern ideals of gender equality. By examining these representations, the study underscores the importance of literary narratives in shaping gender roles and proposes that revisiting historical portrayals of women in leadership can inform contemporary efforts toward more inclusive political systems.
format Article
id doaj-art-d5e6a37f753f4b51b1873d7d0fe7e1fd
institution Kabale University
issn 2187-4905
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher The International Academic Forum
record_format Article
series IAFOR Journal of Cultural Studies
spelling doaj-art-d5e6a37f753f4b51b1873d7d0fe7e1fd2025-08-20T03:27:29ZengThe International Academic ForumIAFOR Journal of Cultural Studies2187-49052025-07-0110132134710.22492/ijcs.10.1.13Women’s Politics in La Galigo: A Bugis ManuscriptNurhamdah Zain0Rahmi Djafar1Nur Nahdiyah2Norhan Farouk3Nabilahumaida4 IAIN Parepare, IndonesiaUniversity of Megarezky, IndonesiaIAIN Parepare, IndonesiaThe American University in Cairo, EgyptUniversity of Gadjah Mada, IndonesiaThis study investigates the political roles of women and gender constructions in La Galigo, an epic central to Bugis culture. Contrary to contemporary gender norms, which often marginalize women’s political participation, La Galigo portrays women as influential decision-makers in governance and state affairs. Employing a qualitative, textual analysis, the study focuses on key female figures in the manuscript, such as Datu’ Palingeq, We Nyili’ Timo, and We Adi Luwu, examining their roles in political leadership, diplomacy, and governance. The analysis highlights how these women challenged the male-dominated power structures typically seen in historical Bugis society. The findings suggest that women’s contributions were valued in political spheres, reflecting a cultural framework of gender balance that prefigures modern ideals of gender equality. By examining these representations, the study underscores the importance of literary narratives in shaping gender roles and proposes that revisiting historical portrayals of women in leadership can inform contemporary efforts toward more inclusive political systems.https://iafor.org/journal/iafor-journal-of-cultural-studies/volume-10-issue-1/article-13/bugis societygender equalityla galigowomen in politics
spellingShingle Nurhamdah Zain
Rahmi Djafar
Nur Nahdiyah
Norhan Farouk
Nabilahumaida
Women’s Politics in La Galigo: A Bugis Manuscript
IAFOR Journal of Cultural Studies
bugis society
gender equality
la galigo
women in politics
title Women’s Politics in La Galigo: A Bugis Manuscript
title_full Women’s Politics in La Galigo: A Bugis Manuscript
title_fullStr Women’s Politics in La Galigo: A Bugis Manuscript
title_full_unstemmed Women’s Politics in La Galigo: A Bugis Manuscript
title_short Women’s Politics in La Galigo: A Bugis Manuscript
title_sort women s politics in la galigo a bugis manuscript
topic bugis society
gender equality
la galigo
women in politics
url https://iafor.org/journal/iafor-journal-of-cultural-studies/volume-10-issue-1/article-13/
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AT rahmidjafar womenspoliticsinlagaligoabugismanuscript
AT nurnahdiyah womenspoliticsinlagaligoabugismanuscript
AT norhanfarouk womenspoliticsinlagaligoabugismanuscript
AT nabilahumaida womenspoliticsinlagaligoabugismanuscript