Shifting collective values: the role of rural women and gotong royong in village fund policy

Abstract This article analyzes the role of women in the village fund incentive policy in Indonesia, focusing on how fiscal stimulation for villages influences traditional gotong royong practices and leads to a transition toward procedural gotong royong . This shift not only alters community mindsets but also affects the status and involvement of women in village development. The study mixed an ethnographic approach with quantitative methods to examine the impact of village funds on socio-cultural values in five villages in Blora Regency, Central Java, mainly focusing on the role of women. This research is based on the social capital (SC) theory approach, where SC benefits individuals and communities involved in social interactions. Through this approach, the study aims to observe how the meaning of gotong royong has shifted for women in the village. The findings indicate that women play a crucial role in adapting global development schemes at the local level. In the planning and implementation processes of village development, women actively participate, contributing to procedural gotong royong mechanisms that align with national policies. Their participation strengthens their dual role, where women act not only as development agents but also as pillars in ensuring the implementation and accountability of village fund programs. The social value shift from domestic calculative orientation to public engagement occurs alongside the changing roles of women within the gotong royong system. Despite challenges, such as limited stimulation of women’s participation in this process, they continue to dynamically balance their domestic and public roles.