Women's Higher Education in Rural Areas

Family Perceptions, Socio-Cultural and Economic Barriers, and Access Support

Abstract

Higher education is a vital instrument for women’s empowerment and independence; however, access for rural women remains constrained by complex structural and cultural barriers. This study aims to analyze how the community of Tamansari Village, Banyuwangi, perceives the importance of higher education for women; examine the interplay among social norms, economic limitations, and family backgrounds in shaping educational aspirations and access opportunities; and evaluate the role of scholarship support as an enabling factor. Employing a descriptive qualitative approach, data were gathered through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation involving parents, rural women, and community figures. The findings reveal an ambivalent community perception. On the one hand, a positive perspective views educated women as the primary educators (madrasah utama) within the family and agents of economic self-reliance. On the other hand, skepticism persists due to patriarchal norms, gender-biased family resource allocation, and the perceived high cost of higher education. Nevertheless, low parental educational attainment does not dampen aspirations but rather acts as a catalyst for intergenerational mobility. The availability of scholarships serves as a critical game-changer that not only alleviates financial burdens but also actively reconstructs collective social norms. This study concludes that targeted financial interventions combined with familial support can effectively bridge the gap between educational aspirations and actual access for women in rural communities.

Pendidikan tinggi merupakan instrumen penting bagi pembebasan dan kemandirian perempuan, namun akses perempuan di pedesaan masih menghadapi hambatan struktural dan kultural yang kompleks. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis bagaimana masyarakat Desa Tamansari, Banyuwangi, memaknai pentingnya pendidikan tinggi bagi perempuan; mengurai interaksi antara norma sosial, keterbatasan ekonomi, dan latar belakang keluarga dalam membentuk aspirasi serta peluang akses; serta mengevaluasi peran dukungan beasiswa sebagai faktor pemungkin (enabler). Menggunakan pendekatan deskriptif kualitatif, data dikumpulkan melalui wawancara mendalam, observasi, dan dokumentasi terhadap orang tua, perempuan desa, dan tokoh masyarakat. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pemaknaan masyarakat bersifat ambivalen. Di satu sisi, timbul persepsi positif yang memandang perempuan terdidik sebagai madrasah utama dan agen kemandirian ekonomi; di sisi lain, muncul keraguan akibat norma patriarki, bias gender alokasi keluarga, dan anggapan biaya perkuliahan yang mahal. Meskipun demikian, latar belakang pendidikan orang tua yang rendah tidak memadamkan aspirasi, melainkan menjadi pemicu dorongan antargenerasi. Hadirnya program beasiswa terbukti menjadi pengubah pandangan (game changer) yang tidak hanya mereduksi beban finansial keluarga, tetapi juga merekonstruksi norma sosial kolektif. Penelitian ini menyimpulkan bahwa intervensi finansial yang terarah dan dukungan moral keluarga mampu menjembatani celah antara aspirasi pendidikan dan realisasi akses nyata bagi perempuan di pedesaan.