ABSTRACT

This book has covered women’s struggles in the New Democratic era under three governors in four administrations: Sutiyoso I (1999–2002), Sutiyoso II (2002– 2007), Fauzi Bowo (2007–2012) and Joko Widodo (mid 2012–mid-September 2014). It has aimed to investigate how and whether women in the informal settlement of Kampung Rawa are being empowered or disempowered through their struggles. As a small case study, my research was not intended to give rise to generalisations; rather, it has provided an in-depth analysis of the different ways whereby women in one particular site expand their agency through their struggle in preventing house evictions, whether and how government policy has any impact on their empowerment, whether NGOs can assist them and how their leaders significantly shape their strategies. I present how a micro-study can provide a valuable contribution to research on women’s empowerment and urban politics.