The Significance of Pauseang in the Batak Toba Community

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 105 views

The Status of Land Ownership: A Study on the Batak Toba Community's Tradition of Giving Land to Girls through Pauseang

Introduction

The Batak Toba community, located in the Kec. Dolok Sanggul Kab. Humbang Hasundutan, has a unique tradition of giving land to girls through a gift known as pauseang. This tradition is deeply rooted in the community's patrilineal kinship system, where boys are considered the main heirs. However, girls are still recognized to have certain rights to the property of their parents through this gift. In this study, we aim to explore the reasons and status of land ownership given to girls through pauseang.

The Significance of Pauseang in the Batak Toba Community

The practice of giving land through pauseang is not just a material object; it also reflects emotional bonds and social responsibility. In the context of Toba Batak Customary Law, land is a symbol of kinship and family honor. The Batak Toba community believes that giving land to girls can strengthen family ties and guarantee their social status, although legally the land does not give full ownership rights to girls.

Motivations Behind the Practice of Pauseang

Based on the results of the study, there are several factors that motivate parents to provide land through pauseang: love, economic considerations, and land as a symbol of kinship and family honor. The Batak Toba community believes that giving land to girls can strengthen family ties and guarantee their social status. This shows that the practice of pauseang is not just a legal transaction, but also a social and cultural phenomenon that reflects the community's values and traditions.

The Legal Status of Land Ownership

Although the development of the position of girls as heirs nationally shows progress, the legal status of land given to them remains limited. Girls only have the right to use, not property rights to the land. This shows the ambivalence in the application of customary inheritance law, where girls are still considered to have a lower position compared to boys in terms of heritage.

The Importance of This Research

The importance of this research is to understand the dynamics in the Toba Batak society, especially related to changes in perception and values towards the role of women in the context of inheritance and land ownership. This study not only highlighted the legal aspects, but also the social and cultural aspects that affect the practice of pauseang and their impact on women in the community.

The Role of Pauseang in Empowering Women

The provision of land through pauseang becomes a means for parents to express affection and provide protection to girls, even though the rights to land are limited. This shows that although traditions and customary law are still strong, there is a need to continue to evaluate and consider the position of women in a broader and more modern context.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the practice of giving land through pauseang is a unique tradition in the Batak Toba community that reflects the community's values and social responsibility. Although the legal status of land ownership remains limited, the practice of pauseang has a significant impact on the social and cultural dynamics of the community. This study highlights the importance of understanding the complexities of customary law and its impact on women's rights and empowerment.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Reform of Customary Law: The customary law of the Batak Toba community should be reformed to provide equal rights to girls in terms of land ownership.
Education and Awareness: Education and awareness programs should be implemented to promote the importance of women's rights and empowerment in the community.
Support for Women's Empowerment: Support should be provided to women in the community to empower them to take control of their lives and make informed decisions about their property and inheritance.

Limitations of the Study

This study has several limitations, including:

Limited Sample Size: The sample size of this study is limited to the Batak Toba community in the Kec. Dolok Sanggul Kab. Humbang Hasundutan.
Cultural Bias: The study may be biased towards the cultural values and traditions of the Batak Toba community.
Limited Generalizability: The findings of this study may not be generalizable to other communities with similar cultural and social dynamics.

Future Research Directions

Future research should focus on:

Comparative Study: A comparative study should be conducted to compare the practice of pauseang in different communities with similar cultural and social dynamics.
Longitudinal Study: A longitudinal study should be conducted to track the changes in the practice of pauseang over time.
Qualitative Study: A qualitative study should be conducted to explore the experiences and perceptions of women in the community regarding the practice of pauseang.
Q&A: Understanding the Status of Land Ownership in the Batak Toba Community

Q: What is pauseang and how does it relate to land ownership in the Batak Toba community?

A: Pauseang is a gift given by parents to their daughters in the Batak Toba community, which can include land, gold, household furniture, jewelry, and other valuable objects. This gift is a symbol of love, social responsibility, and kinship, and is an important part of the community's customary law.

Q: Why is pauseang an important tradition in the Batak Toba community?

A: Pauseang is an important tradition in the Batak Toba community because it reflects the community's values of love, social responsibility, and kinship. It also provides a means for parents to express affection and provide protection to their daughters, even though the rights to land are limited.

Q: What are the motivations behind the practice of pauseang?

A: The motivations behind the practice of pauseang include love, economic considerations, and land as a symbol of kinship and family honor. Parents believe that giving land to their daughters can strengthen family ties and guarantee their social status.

Q: What is the legal status of land ownership in the Batak Toba community?

A: Although the development of the position of girls as heirs nationally shows progress, the legal status of land given to them remains limited. Girls only have the right to use, not property rights to the land.

Q: Why is the practice of pauseang still relevant in the Batak Toba community?

A: The practice of pauseang is still relevant in the Batak Toba community because it reflects the community's values and social responsibility. It also provides a means for parents to express affection and provide protection to their daughters, even though the rights to land are limited.

Q: What are the implications of the practice of pauseang for women's empowerment in the Batak Toba community?

A: The practice of pauseang has a significant impact on the social and cultural dynamics of the community, and can be seen as a means of empowering women. However, the limited rights to land ownership for girls also highlights the need for further reform of customary law to provide equal rights to women.

Q: What are the recommendations for reforming customary law in the Batak Toba community?

A: The recommendations for reforming customary law in the Batak Toba community include:

Reform of Customary Law: The customary law of the Batak Toba community should be reformed to provide equal rights to girls in terms of land ownership.
Education and Awareness: Education and awareness programs should be implemented to promote the importance of women's rights and empowerment in the community.
Support for Women's Empowerment: Support should be provided to women in the community to empower them to take control of their lives and make informed decisions about their property and inheritance.

Q: What are the limitations of this study?

A: The limitations of this study include:

Limited Sample Size: The sample size of this study is limited to the Batak Toba community in the Kec. Dolok Sanggul Kab. Humbang Hasundutan.
Cultural Bias: The study may be biased towards the cultural values and traditions of the Batak Toba community.
Limited Generalizability: The findings of this study may not be generalizable to other communities with similar cultural and social dynamics.

Q: What are the future research directions for this study?

A: The future research directions for this study include:

Comparative Study: A comparative study should be conducted to compare the practice of pauseang in different communities with similar cultural and social dynamics.
Longitudinal Study: A longitudinal study should be conducted to track the changes in the practice of pauseang over time.
Qualitative Study: A qualitative study should be conducted to explore the experiences and perceptions of women in the community regarding the practice of pauseang.