Developing women laborers' understanding about their public role through civic education training: Study on cigarette industry in Malang, Indonesia

Based on our previous findings, it is known that women laborers have weak position both individual and industrial relations. The weakness is caused by the lack of both knowledge and understanding of their rights and also obligations as laborers, gender, society member, and citizen. This study aims to increase civic knowledge (cognitive) and understanding (effective) of women laborer, especially those related to political knowledge. This study uses qualitative experimental approach. Data were obtained through interviews with women laborers after the implementation of civic education training. The results show that after training, there is a slight increase in knowledge and understanding of the politics in women laborers. It is also found qualitatively that the improvement of knowledge and understanding is influenced by the quality of education of women laborers and patriarchal cultures adopted in the family of women laborers. In conclusion, the training increases women laborers' knowledge slightly about their public role.