KE ARAH MENCAPAI KESAKSAMAAN GENDER: ANALISIS PEMERKASAAN WANITA MELALUI SEKTOR EKOPELANCONGAN DI KADAMAIAN, KOTA BELUD, SABAH: ACHIEVING GENDER EQUALITY: AN ANALYSIS OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENT THROUGH ECOTOURISM IN KADAMAIAN, KOTA BELUD, SABAH

DAYANG SURIA MULIA; KARTINA  NARWAN

doi:10.51200/ejk.v26i1.2463

Authors

DAYANG SURIA MULIA Program Antropologi & Sosiologi, Fakulti Sains Sosial dan Kemanusiaan, 88400 Universiti Malaysia Sabah
KARTINA NARWAN Program Antropologi & Sosiologi, Fakulti Sains Sosial dan Kemanusiaan, 88400 Universiti Malaysia Sabah

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51200/ejk.v26i1.2463

Keywords:

Pemerkasaan wanita, jurang gender, kesaksamaan gender, pembangunan komuniti, luar bandar, ekopelancongan, Women empowerment, gender gap, gender equality, community development, rural, ecotourism

Abstract

Pemerkasaan wanita merupakan aspek penting dalam mencapai kesaksamaan gender. Kesaksamaan gender merujuk kepada keadaan, iaitu wanita dan lelaki menikmati peluang, akses, hak dan tanggungjawab yang sama dalam semua aspek kehidupan. Dalam konteks perbincangan artikel ini, ekopelancongan dianggap sebagai satu ‘alat’ yang mampu memperkasa wanita dari aspek ekonomi, sosial dan politik. Penglibatan aktif wanita dalam aktiviti ekopelancongan membolehkan mereka terlibat dalam proses membuat keputusan, meningkatkan akses, kawalan dan pemilikan terhadap sumber alam semula jadi. Antara isu utama yang dibincangkan dalam artikel ini ialah kepelbagaian peranan wanita yang terlibat aktif dalam ekopelancongan di Kadamaian, Kota Belud. Kepelbagaian peranan dan penglibatan wanita dalam sektor ini memberi petunjuk kepada tahap pemerkasaan mereka yang terlibat. Indikator untuk menilai elemen pemerkasaan wanita antaranya ialah akses kepada pemilikan dan kawalan sumber, penglibatan dalam proses membuat keputusan, peningkatan kemahiran, keyakinan diri dan pengembangan jaringan sosial. Penilaian tahap pemerkasaan wanita juga diteliti dari aspek keupayaan mengurus sumber dan bagaimana mereka mampu menyaingi lelaki dalam mengendalikan aktiviti lasak dalam sektor ekopelancongan. Kaedah kualitatif yang digunakan untuk mendapatkan data termasuklah temu bual secara mendalam, focus group discussion (FGD), pemerhatian di samping menyertai aktiviti ekopelancongan yang menampilkan wanita sebagai pengendali aktiviti. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan terdapat elemen pemerkasaan wanita dalam sektor ekopelancongan di Kadamaian. Seramai 44 orang responden wanita yang ditemu bual dalam kajian ini. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan terdapat 22 peratus wanita yang memiliki dan mengurus homestay, 15 peratus wanita mengetuai projek ekopelancongan berasaskan komuniti, dan 15 peratus wanita menjadi pengendali pendaki dan pengembaraan hutan. Namun, masih ramai wanita yang terlibat dalam kerja pembersihan dan keceriaan di camping site dan homestay, iaitu sebanyak 42 peratus dan selebihnya wanita menjadi
pengendali penunggang kuda, pertukangan, landskap, pengendali aktiviti seperti rakit dan aktiviti perkhemahan. Dapatan kajian ini boleh dijadikan input kepada agensi berkaitan dalam merangka dasar dan strategi untuk memperkasa wanita di luar bandar.

Women empowerment is a critical aspect in achieving gender equality. Gender equality refers to the situation in which women and men enjoy equal opportunities, access, rights and responsibilities in all aspects of life. In the context of this article, ecotourism is considered as a ‘tool’ that can empower women economically, socially and politically. Active participation of women in ecotourism activities enables them to be involved in decision-making, increasing their access, control and ownership of natural resources. The main objective of this research is to identify the roles of women involved in ecotourism in Kadamaian, Kota Belud. The second objective is to assess the level of women empowerment involved in ecotourism activities. Indicators used to assess women empowerment elements are the level of their access to ownership and control of resources, their involvement in decision-making, skills development, self-confidence and social networks development. The assessment of the level of women empowerment is also examined in terms of resource management capabilities and the ability to compete with males in the management of extreme activities in the ecotourism sector. Qualitative methods which are used in this research include in-depth interviews, focus group discussion (FGD), observations as well as participatory in ecotourism activities that featured women as facilitators of activities. The findings show that there is an element of women empowerment in ecotourism activities. A total of 44 female respondents were interviewed in this study. The findings indicate that 22 per cent of women own and operate a homestay, 15 per cent of women lead community-based ecotourism projects, and 15 per cent of women are skilled hikers and jungle-trekking guides. However, there are still more women involved in cleaning and maintenance tasks at the camping sites and homestays, which accounts for 42 per cent and the rest of the women are horse handlers, carpenters, involved in landscapes, handlers for activities such as rafting, and camping activities. The findings of this study can serve as an input to relevant agencies in formulating policies and strategies for empowering rural women.

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