Subsistence Economy and The Papua Women Trader Marginalization in The Indonesia-Papua New Guinea Border Trade Region

Abstract

This research was conducted in the context of indigenous Papuans empowerment program, specifically focused on Papuan women traders in the border region Muara Tami District, Papua. This region represents one of Indonesia's borders providing an economic surplus for the state. It has triggered the important question, that is to what extent the economic surplus in the border region has brought benefits to indigenous Papuans, particularly to their women traders? What are the direct benefits that Papuan women traders specifically get from economic surpluses from border trades?To determine the research areas, this research examines statistical data related to border trades that has made the Papua-PNG border an area with an economic surplus. This research collected data by using qualitative methods which include in-depth observations and interviews with economic actors involved in border trades equipped with the documentation study of the regional and national level-statistical data. Source and method triangulation were used for data validity. The study's result illustrates that women Papuan traders face a greatly complex issue. The reality is that amidst the said surplus, the Papuan women traders are still dealing with the subsistence economy and being marginalized from productive economic sources which have implications for the emergence of the dimensions and types of marginalization. In other words, as the indigenous traders, these women have not become direct beneficiaries of the economic surplus. Sociocultural system and policy intervention lacking understanding of women's issues are the factors which contribute to the subsistence economy and marginalization. Without a positive discrimination policy, affirmative action, and social inclusion policy, it will be hard for these indigenous Papuan women traders to actively participate in the economic development process and to serve as direct beneficiaries of the current and future economic surpluses in the border region.

Keywords

• papuan women trader
• economy subsistence
• marginalization
• indigenous papuan
• border trade
• socialinclusion