Strong Women at Beringharjo Market

Beringharjo Market in Yogyakarta is full of stories of strong women who earn money becoming buruh gendong (porters). Even though they have to do strenuous physical work until old age, they survive to support their family

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Several female porters slept in front of a bank opposite Beringharjo Market, Yogyakarta, Tuesday (7/3/2023) early morning. Porters in the market each earn around IDR 50,000 per day from helping move goods belonging to traders or buyers.

Midnight had just passed. The atmosphere around Beringharjo Market was quiet. Only the bright street lights and the cold night breeze remained. In the shophouse opposite the market, dozens of women lay asleep.

They slept on thin mattresses or used sacks of rice. A number of T-shirts tucked into a tote bag turning into a pillow to support their heads. The night breeze was only held back by blankets and umbrellas arranged for protect.