Kaili Women's Empowerment in Indonesia

The focus of the study is to illustrate the cultural values which guide society to enhance human resources (HR), especially for women. The research is essential to demonstrate the diversity, wealth, and power of Indonesian culture in terms of women's position from society's perspectives. This research studies Kaili women, a native ethnic in Palu, Central Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. It aims to show the meaning, structure, and essence of Kaili women based on cultural values as their possessed resources. Furthermore, it applies the qualitative method and phenomenology approach. Based on the research findings obtained by examining the cultural values of the Kaili, they uphold a myth which perceives women (mombine) as creatures descending from the sky to the Earth (to manuru) as partners of strong men (tomalanggai) who have settled on Earth; thus, it makes Kaili women hold a respectable position in Palu society. In the daily life of Kaili families, women are assigned some tasks to preserve and guard family properties and heirlooms (tina nu mbara-mbara). Finally, based on the research findings, there are two aspects to draw the conclusion from: (1) human resources' quality that can be enhanced through the comprehension of culture and society; (2) and through cultural value comprehension, gender balance can be solidly made within a broader field.