Women, Bodies, and Medicine: The Tradition of Drinking Jamu among Indonesian Transmigrant Women

• Published in: Journal of international women's studies Vol. 24; no. 8; pp. 1 - 10
• Main Authors: Sanubari, Theresia Pratiwi Elingsetyo, Rayanti, Rosiana Eva, Arindita, Priskilla Sindi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bridgewater Bridgewater State College 30.12.2022
• Subjects: Assimilation; Childbirth & labor; Community; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Culture; Daughters; Displaced persons; Economic conditions; Elderly women; Ethnography; Families & family life; Health aspects; Health services; Herbal medicine; Herbalism; Immunity; Indonesian culture; Influence; Information sharing; Interviews; Javanese; Knowledge; Local culture; Local knowledge; Medical research; Medicine; Medicine, Botanic; Medicine, Herbal; Menstruation; Mothers; Older people; Pregnancy; Qualitative research; Social aspects; Social interaction; Traditional birth attendants; Traditional medicine; Traditions; Women; Womens health; Indonesia; Jakarta Indonesia
• ISSN: 1539-8706; 1539-8706

Jamu (traditional herbal medicine of Indonesia) emerges from Javanese culture that is passed down through generations. The tradition was brought by Javanese transmigrants in Lampung, Indonesia. Social interaction between transmigrants and locals led to the cultural assimilation of Javanese culture within local culture. The combination of two cultures brings a different meaning to Jamu consumption among the transmigrants. This study aims to explore the significance of traditional medical practices in transmigrant communities. This research uses a descriptive, qualitative method with an ethnographic approach. Participants were three first-generation transmigrant, elderly women, who consume herbal medicine and live in Dwi Mulyo Village, Penawartama District, Tulang Bawang Regency, Lampung. Although the participants were few, in-depth interviews and participatory observation were done to collect data. The results show that the Javanese tradition of drinking herbal medicine is a manifestation of the interaction between culture and women. Javanese women use herbal medicine in their daily lives, such as during menstruation and childbirth. Javanese women also use Jamu to maintain their family's health and to boost their immunity during COVID-19. The ability to produce herbal medicine is inherited by daughters from their mothers or traditional birth attendants during pregnancy. However, in Lampung, women face obstacles to using herbal medicine as their main choice due to the lack of availability of some herbal ingredients. These changes indicate that the local knowledge transfer process is a dynamic process. Furthermore, this continuing process can create a sustainable local knowledge.