Perempuan Pengukir Kayu Tradisional Toraja di Kete’kesu
Authors: Salam Sofyan , Tangsi Tangsi , Husain Muh. Saleh 
Published: December 2022

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan berbagai aspek tentang perempuan pengukir kayu tradisional Toraja yang bermukim di Kete’Kesu. Penelitian ini tergolong penelitian kualitatif yang dilaksanakan di lapangan, yakni di Kete’Kesu, Toraja Utara. Sumber data penelitian ini adalah: (1) perempuan pengukir kayu tradisional Toraja yang bermukim di Kete’Kesu yang berjumlah 33 orang; (2) tokoh dan warga masyarakat Kete’ Kesu yang berjumlah 12 orang; dan (3) artefak berupa ukiran kayu yang dihasilkan oleh para perempuan pengukir tersebut. Teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah observasi, wawancara mendalam, dan dokumentasi. Data yang terkumpul dianalisis dengan model analisis interaktif dari Miles dan Huberman. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa: (1) perempuan pengukir kayu tradisional yang bermukim di Kete’Kesu memiliki latar belakang yang beragam dari segi usia, pendidikan formal, serta status sosial; (2) Karya ukiran kayu yang dihasilkan oleh perempuan pengukir tersebut bersifat ukiran non sakral berupa benda fungsional untuk cinderamata; (3) Hal yang melatarbelakangi eksistensi perempuan pengukir kayu tradisional Toraja adalah kebutuhan finansial dan adanya dukungan masyarakat; (4) Perempuan pengukir mengawali pengalamannya dalam mengukir atas dasar ajakan dari orang tua atau teman yang sekaligus mengajarkan pembuatan ukiran kayu secara informal. Dalam menjalani karier mengukir perempuan pengukir umunya memandang bahwa kegiatan mengukir merupakan pengalaman yang menyenangkan karena mereka mendapatkan dukungan dan apresiasi dari masyarakat.Kata kunci: Perempuan pengukir, ukiran kayu tradisional Toraja, dan Kete’Kesu. WOMEN WORKING AS TORAJA TRADITIONAL WOODCARVERS IN KETE’KESUABSTRACTThis research is aimed at describing several aspects of women working as Toraja traditional woodcarvers in Kete’Kesu. This research is classified as qualitative research carried out in the field, namely Kete’Kesu of North Toraja Regency. The data sources of this research are (1) women carvers who live in Kete Kesu totaling 33 persons; (2) community members of Kete’Kesu totaling 12 persons; and (3) artifacts in the form of Toraja traditional wood carvings produced by the women carvers. Data collection techniques used area: observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation. The collected data were analyzed using the interactive model of Miles and Huberman. The results showed that; (1) women carvers who live in Kete Kesu have a very diverse background in terms of age, formal education, and social status; (2) woodcarvings produced by women carvers in Kete Kesu are nonsacred carvings in the form of functional objects for souvenirs; (3) The reasons for the existence of women carvers in Kete’ Kesu are financial needs and community support; (4) Women carvers started their experience in wood carving because they were invited by their parents or friend who also taught them carving informally. In their careers, women carvers generally view carving as a pleasant experience because they get support and appreciation from society. Keywords: Women carver, Toraja traditional wood carving, Kete’Kesu.