Penglibatan wanita Melayu dalam memperkasa sosioekonomi dan kesejahteraan hidup menerusi penanaman padi di Terengganu pada awal abad 20 (The involvement of Malay women in empowering socio-economics and well-being through paddy cultivation in Terengganu in the early 20th century)

Abstract

Dasawarsa ini, banyak kajian berkaitan green imperialisme masih lagi terikat dengan kepentingan terhadap sektor ekonomi di Tanah Melayu.  Malah stereotaip ini telah membuatkan penyelidikan sejarah berkaitan tema yang dinyatakan tidak dinamik dan masih terikat dengan naratif lapuk yang ketinggalan zaman. Malah penyelidikan berkaitan penglibatan wanita dalam aktiviti penanaman padi yang boleh dianalisis melalui kesan sosioekonomi yang merujuk kepada aspek kesejahteraan hidup masih kurang mendapat perhatian oleh para pengkaji. Sebelum ini, banyak kajian memfokuskan tentang isu kekeluargaan, domestik, pengaruh, adat dan agama atau lebih jelas sebagai female-friendly sahaja.  Jarang sekali dikaji bentuk perubahan sosioekonomi dan faktor pendorong yang dialami oleh wanita Melayu walaupun mereka hanya memfokuskan kegiatan penanaman padi sebagai sumber ekonomi utama.  Maka dengan itu, penyelidikan ini bertujuan untuk melihat sejauh mana kegiatan penanaman padi memberi perubahan terhadap sosioekonomi dalam kalangan wanita Melayu di Terengganu pada awal abad ke-20. Kajian ini menggunakan kaedah kualitatif yang melibatkan pengumpulan dan analisis data daripada sumber-sumber primer yang diperoleh daripada Arkib Negara Malaysia seperti CO 840/1 (Terengganu Administration Report, 1910-1930), CO 840/2 (Terengganu Administration Report 1931-1940), Fail Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Terengganu dan Fail British Adviser Terengganu. Selain itu, sumber sekunder turut digunakan seperti jurnal, buku, bab buku dan majalah bagi mengukuhkan lagi kajian yang dijalankan. Hasil kajian membuktikan bahawa, melalui kegiatan penanaman padi yang dijalankan oleh wanita Melayu di Terengganu pada awal abad ke-20, ia memberi perubahan sosioekonomi terhadap golongan wanita di Terengganu. Hal ini dapat dilihat melalui aspek kesejahteraan hidup yang diperoleh oleh mereka melalui perolehan pendapatan, pemilikan tanah, peningkatan taraf kesihatan dan lain-lain lagi.

Kata kunci: Padi;Kesejahteraan Hidup;Terengganu; Wanita Melayu; Tanah Melayu

Abstract

Nowadays, many studies about green imperialism were still limited to the importance of the economic sector in Malaya. Due to this stereotype, most of the historical research related to the theme was not dynamic and still tied to outdated narratives. It was discovered that research regarding women's involvement in paddy cultivation activities that can be analyzed through socio-economic effects which refer to aspects of well-being still had not been paid attention to by researchers. Most of the previous studies focused on family issues, domesticity, influence, customs and religion, which could be categorized as female-friendly themes only. Studies that had focused on paddy cultivation activities as the main economic source rarely discussed the form of socio-economic changes and the driving factors experienced by Malay women in this industry. Therefore, this research aimed to see the extent to which paddy cultivation activities impact the socio-economy of Malay women in Terengganu in the early 20th century. This study used a qualitative method that involved the collection and analysis of data from primary sources obtained from the National Archives of Malaysia such as CO 840/1 (Terengganu Administration Report, 1910-1930), CO 840/2 (Terengganu Administration Report 1931-1940), Terengganu State Secretary File and Terengganu British Adviser File. In addition, secondary sources were also used such as journals, books, book chapters and magazines to further strengthen the study conducted. The results of the study proved that paddy cultivation activities carried out by Malay women in Terengganu in the early 20th century had made socio-economic changes among women in Terengganu. This can be seen in terms of better well-being through income generation, land ownership, improvement of health standards and many more.

Keywords: Paddy; Well-Being; Terengganu; Malay Women; Malaya