The Influence of Noblewomen on the Batik Knowledge Construction and Role of Women in Rural Batik Sector
Sarah Rum Handayani Pinta

Abstract
The purpose of this study was to analyze the historical background of artistic batik skill that had strong influence on the construction of batik knowledge and role of women in rural batik sector. A case study of qualitative strategy involving 40 rural batik entrepreneurs and batik workers indicated that the collective action of community outside the palace to meet the batik needs of noblewomen became the first settler of batik entrepreneurs, batik firms and batik workers. Most of the noblewomen took part in delivering personal capability building of village women to have better understanding of the aesthetic subtleties of hand drawn batik than men.. The majority of rural women play important roles in rural batik sector, such as seeking regular jobs to keep village women to do batik work, active in creating new batik motif and quality controlling that were key to determining batik price in a competitive market.

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