In Indonesia's only province under Islamic law, a woman-run cafe is breaking barriers in a typically male-dominated space.
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00:0028-year-old Curata Ayuni makes a drink at her cafe in Bandar Aceh, Indonesia.
00:05In a city known for its coffee shops, hers stands out, because Morning Mama is run by
00:10women.
00:11It's a rarity in the conservative province, which is the only one in the Muslim-majority
00:15country that imposes Islamic law, also known as Sharia law.
00:20There are strict rules about how men and women can interact in public, and coffee shops are
00:25considered male-dominated spaces.
00:27It's something the 28-year-old owner wanted to address by opening a cafe of her own.
00:57In the past, many coffee shops in the province were open 24 hours, as a rare form of nightlife.
01:03But since late 2023, new restrictions mean they must close at midnight, and Bandar Aceh
01:08imposed rules forbidding women from public areas after 11 p.m.
01:12But the owner says, despite the rules, society has changed.
01:27A year after opening, Curata's cafe has become a warm space for female customers to gather
01:46with friends.
01:47I just think that I feel more connection if I ask something with the women barista, or
01:55I don't feel any nervousness if I ask, what about this menu?
02:00What does this consist of?
02:03It's more like talking with your sister.
02:06And with each cup of coffee, she hopes to inspire other women in the province to step
02:10out of their comfort zone and create the spaces they want to see in their community.
02:14Kama Sri and Tiffany Wong for Taiwan Plus.