Permasalahan pokok penelitian ini meliputi tiga hal. Pertama, bagaimana keikutsertaan wanita dalam industri kerajinan batu aji. Kedua, bagaimana pembagian kerja antara pria dan wanita dalam rumah tangga dan pada pengolahan batu aji yang menyebabkan perubahan nilai gender tradisional. Ketiga, bagaimana perubahan peran wanita dalam industri kerajinan dapat menjelaskan kemandirian wanita. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif berperspektif wanita, khususnya studi kasus wanita pengrajin batu aji di Kelurahan Keraton, Kabupaten Banjar. Pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui wawancara terstruktur dengan 34 orang responden. Kemudian, tujuh di antaranya dipilih untuk wawancara mendalam. Selain itu, dilakukan juga pengamatan dan pengumpulan data sekunder dari dokumen yang ada di Kantor Dinas Perindustrian dan Kantor Kelurahan. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa kebanyakan wanita pengrajin batu aji hanya lulusan SD. Sebagian kecil lulusan SLTP dan SLTA. Yang terakhir ini bukan penduduk asli Kelurahan Keraton, namun merupakan pengrajin batu aji terbaik. Mengenai komposisi keluarga, kebanyakan berbentuk keluarga batih. Keikutsertaan wanita dalam industri batu aji disebabkan oleh beberapa hal. Pertama, mereka ingin dan memutuskan sendiri untuk menjadi pengrajin batu aji. Kedua, mereka memiliki keterampilan yang diperoleh dari orang tua karena usaha itu turun-temurun. Ketiga, mereka menikah dengan pengrajin batu aji lalu mengikuti langkah suami. Keempat, mereka diajak suami yang berasal dari keluarga pengrajin batu aji untuk pindah ke Kelurahan Keraton dan menjadi pengrajin batu aji. Kelima, adanya inisiatif wanita itu sendiri untuk mengajak suaminya menjadi pengrajin batu aji. Keterlibatan wanita dalam industri kerajinan batu aji tidak mengubah pembagian kerja antara pria dan wanita di sektor rumah tangga: pada umumnya hanya wanita yang mengerjakan tugas reproduktif. Sebaliknya, pada sektor industri kerajinan, wanita dan pria sama-sama terlibat. Dengan demikian, waktu yang dipergunakan untuk bekerja di rumah tangga dan industri kerajinan lebih banyak wanita dibanding pria. Meskipun demikian, peran mereka di sektor publik mempengaruhi kemandirian mereka, terutama dalam hal pengambilan keputusan di bidang ekonomi, kemasyarakatan, dan politik.

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The independence of Agate Craftswomen (Case Study in Keraton Village, Banjar Regency, South Kalimantan Province).This research discusses about three main topics. First, how women participation in agate handicraft industry. Second, how job allotment between men and women in the family and in the agate fabrication which can cause a change in traditional gender value. Third, how the change of women role in the handicraft industry can describe on women independence.

This research applies women perspective qualitative method, especially in the case study on agate craftswomen in Keraton Village of Banjar Regency. Data collection was carried out through structured interview on thirty four respondents. Subsequently, of thirty four respondents, seven were selected to carry out a more detailed interview. In addition, it was also performed an observation and secondary data collection based on the documents available at the Regional Office of Industry Department and Village Office.

The result of this research reveals that most of agate craftswomen graduate from elementary school. Some of them graduate from junior high school and senior high school. The latter are not the indigenous people of Keraton Village, but they belong to the best agate craftsmen. Regarding the family composition, most of them are nuclear families.

The women participation in the agate industry are motivated by some causes. First, they wish and decide by their own to become agate craftsmen. Second, they possess a competency obtained from their parents because the industry is hereditary in nature. Third, they follow the step taken by their husbands because they marry to agate craftsmen. Fourth, they are asked by their husbands who come from agate craftsmen families to move to Keraton Village and become agate craftsmen there.

The women involvement in agate handicraft industry does not change the job allotment between men and women in the family sector. Generally, the reproductive duties are only performed by women. On the contrary, in handicraft industry sector, both women and men are involved. Therefore, total time used by women for working in the family and in the industry is longer than men. Nevertheless, women's role in public sector can influence their independence, especially in decision making relating to the economy, community and politics.