Article
Research Article
SDGs 5
SDGs 8
Kampus Berdampak
Diktisaintek Berdampak
Breaking Through Patriarchal Barriers: The Struggle of Batak Toba Women to Defend Their Rights to Customary Land
A collaborative study led by an interdisciplinary research team from Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) examines the resilience of Batak Toba women in managing and defending their rights to customary land (pauseang) under the dominance of patriarchal culture. Through a qualitative approach involving 180 informants across six regencies in North Sumatra, the study reveals the existence of a “safety valve” mechanism within customary law, while also highlighting vulnerabilities within state legal systems (land certificate legality) and the growing threat of modern agrarian conflicts caused by the rising economic value of land in the Lake Toba region. This article serves as an important reflection on strengthening the role of customary institutions and formulating gender-equitable spatial planning policies.
26 May 2026