Kasongan village region outside of Yogyakarta in Java became nationally famous for their pottery once it was designated an official Tourism Village by government planners in 1988. Subsequently, the increase in both production and tourism radically altered the local economy and domestic life. Based on oral history, architectural survey, and documentary sources, this paper will examine the impact  tourism had on production, architectural traditions, notions of domestic privacy, and the concept of women's work.

The change of the role of women changed the function of space in making pottery. Women traditionally used a public space like terraces and house gallery while men as external workers were more likely to use a workshop (brak) to making the pottery.

The different spaces that men and women used to make pottery also had an impact on the architectural traditions in Kasongan village. This transformation of spaces is in line with Lefebvre’s concept of the production of spaces, which works under a system of interconnected-relations (engagement).

 

The impact of the different spaces are because women making pottery likely used their time to share stories (ngobrol) with other workers or neighbours, look after children  and take on other domestic chores etc. It was different with men working in a non-domestic space when they made pottery using workshops (brak). They were more like to reach the target of their job. Although the increase of tourism industry that appeared to be architectural testaments to a growing prosperity of the region, in fact, they should more accurately be seen as artefacts of the decline of culture and public spaces for women.

 

Key Words:  Women and Handicrafts; Tourism Impact on Village Architecture; Women and Public Space.