Navigating School to Work Transitions in an Indonesian Industrial Town: Young Women in Cilegon

Abstract

This article explores how young Muslim women make the transition from school to work in the industrial town of Cilegon, in Banten, Indonesia. As Cilegon's economy is shifting from manufacturing industries towards trade and services, job opportunities for young men in heavy industries is stagnant, but new job opportunities have opened up for young women. Young women's involvement in education and work offers new levels of autonomy and the opportunity to engage with modern, urban lifestyles. Their involvement in work continues to be bound by religious values and a gender ideology which sets age boundaries for marriage and emphasises girls’ responsibilities as future wives and mothers, in ways that differ from male peers. How do young women navigate Cilegon's changing economy? What are their aspirations and strategies in pursuing certain kinds of desired employment?