Feminism in The Names of The Jalur (Racing Boat) in Kuantansigingi
Feminism in The Names of The Jalur (Racing Boat) in Kuantansigingi
Abstract
Abstract
The naming of paths (boats) in the Pacu Jalur tradition in Kuantan Singingi Regency is a cultural practice that not only serves as a marker of identity, but also represents the social, cultural, and ideological values of the community. One interesting phenomenon is the widespread use of names representing women, such as Putri, Ratu, Puti, Dewi, and Srikandi, which indicates the existence of symbolic constructions regarding women in local culture. This study aims to describe the forms of representation of women in the names of paths and analyze the social and cultural meanings behind the choice of these names. The study uses a descriptive qualitative approach with a socio-onomastic perspective combined with the theories of liberal feminism, cultural feminism, representational feminism by Judith Butler, existential feminism by Simone de Beauvoir, and postcolonial feminism by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak. The research data consists of 226 path names obtained from official documentation and observations of the Pacu Jalur tradition in Kuantan Singingi Regency. The data were analyzed using classification techniques, semantic interpretation, and socio-onomastic analysis of lexical elements that represent women's identity. The results of the study indicate that the representation of women in the names of the routes is divided into several categories, namely women as the main identity (Putri, Ratu, Puti, Dewi), symbols of beauty and nobility (Diamond, Pomegranate, Shawl, Crown), figures of leadership and heroism (Srikandi, Ratu, Putri), and symbols of traditional honor. The analysis also shows that some representations of women are still within a symbolic framework influenced by patriarchal values, while others show recognition of women as figures with agency, authority, and cultural legitimacy. These findings confirm that naming routes is a social practice that reflects the relationship between language, culture, collective identity, power, and gender in the Kuantan Singingi community. Thus, the names of the routes not only function as boat identities, but also as a medium for preserving cultural values and symbolic representations of women in the Pacu Jalur tradition.
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