Gender, Islam and Sexuality in Contemporary Indonesia
- Open Access
- 2024
- Open Access
- Book
- Editors
- Monika Arnez
- Melani Budianta
- Book Series
- Engaging Indonesia
- Publisher
- Springer Nature Singapore
About this book
This Open Access book explores the complex interplay between gender, Islam and sexuality in Indonesia, the country with the world's largest Muslim population. The authors offer a fresh look at the tensions between the local and the global through a wide range of cultural expressions and productions, including fashion, Islamic dating, popular literature, and videos on YouTube. The book is grouped around three core themes: sexuality and violence, halal lifestyle, and shame and self-determination. The first section unpacks how activists and progressive religious scholars have argued for the need for the Sexual Violence Bill and it examines the ambivalence between criminalisation and care towards LGBTQ+ people. In the second, the authors bring new insights into how local expressions of Islam, gender and sexuality are negotiated in an increasingly globalised world. The contributions on the third theme tackle gender roles and mobility in culturally diverse regions such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, the US, and Indonesia.
"The volume is a must-read for anyone wanting to get up to speed on changes in Indonesia's gender, sexuality and Islamic landscape." - Professor Sharyn Graham Davies, Director of the Herb Feith Indonesia Engagement Centre, Monash University, Australia
"A showcase of excellent research, this book is of appeal to Indonesian studies scholars, and to readers in the field of Asian cultural studies. It is also of relevance to the field of Asian gender and sexuality studies, and to scholars in Islamic studies." - Professor Pamela Nilan, University of Newcastle, Australia
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Table of Contents
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Chapter 1. Gender, Islam and Sexuality in Contemporary Indonesia: An Overview
- Open Access
Download PDF-versionThe chapter delves into the intricate dynamics of gender, Islam, and sexuality in contemporary Indonesia, highlighting the impact of regulatory zeal on societal norms and individual rights. It discusses the growing influence of conservative forces and the resulting legislation that has led to increased restrictions on women's rights and the criminalization of LGBTQ+ individuals. The analysis covers the 2022 revisions to the Criminal Code and the Sexual Violence Bill, which have sparked controversy and protests. The chapter also explores the intersection of these issues with broader societal debates about morality, freedom of expression, and social inequalities. By examining case studies and the responses of various stakeholders, the chapter offers a nuanced understanding of the complex challenges faced by marginalized communities in Indonesia.AI Generated
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AbstractThis chapter introduces the aim of this book, which is to explore how gender, Islam, and sexuality are navigated in contemporary Indonesia. Taking the regulatory zeal that has manifested in legal interventions since the era reformasi (era of reforms) as the point of departure, it proceeds to present the book’s three main thematic parts: Sexuality and Violence, Halal lifestyle, and Shame and Self-determination. Moreover, it provides the theoretical framework for the contributions to this book in three domains: Criminalisation and Care, Modesty and Commodification, and the Janda and Shame. It introduces the chapters of this volume that mainly draw on various cultural productions, narratives, films, online apps, commercials, and YouTube videos as research material. -
Sexuality and Violence
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Frontmatter
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Chapter 2. Advocating for Change: Cultural and Institutional Factors of Sexual Violence in Indonesia
- Open Access
Download PDF-versionThe chapter 'Advocating for Change: Cultural and Institutional Factors of Sexual Violence in Indonesia' delves into the complex issue of sexual violence in Indonesia, focusing on the advocacy for the Sexual Violence Bill. It begins with the high-profile case of Herry Wirawan, a teacher who raped 13 girls, and the subsequent passage of the Sexual Violence Bill. The text highlights the cultural taboos surrounding sexual violence, the role of gender justice activists and progressive religious scholars in advocating for the bill, and the expected impact of the new law on protecting victims. It provides a nuanced understanding of the cultural and institutional factors that perpetuate sexual violence and the efforts to address them through legal and social changes.AI Generated
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AbstractRecent years have seen a disturbing surge in media reports of sexual violence in Indonesia. Notably, in June 2021, news emerged of Herry Wirawan, a teacher and owner of the Madani religious boarding school in Bandung, West Java, who had perpetrated heinous acts of sexual violence. This chapter examines how cultural and institutional factors in Indonesia have reinforced sexual violence from the perspective of advocates and supporters of the Sexual Violence Bill (UU TPKS) and how they advocate for change. The activists and ulama we zoom in on are from Komnas Perempuan (Komisi Nasional Anti Kekerasan terhadap Perempuan) National Commission on Violence against Women), KPAI (Komisi Perlindungan Anak Indonesia; Indonesian Child Protection Commission), the Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet), KPI (Koalisi Perempuan Indonesia, Indonesian Women’s Coalition) and KUPI (Kongres Ulama Perempuan Indonesia, Congress of Indonesian Gender-Just Ulama). Within the broader global discourse on this issue, we introduce the concept of ‘the opacity of secluded spaces’ to capture the tendency of some institutions to facilitate and sustain spatially and ideologically closed systems to which the outside world has minimal access. This concept encapsulates the lack of transparency and the tangible nature of events within physically segregated spaces, particularly in religious schools, where unequal gender and asymmetrical power relations can fuel sexual violence. We argue that the interplay of violence and gender, the opacity of secluded spaces, unequal gender dynamics, asymmetrical power relations, and a lack of oversight all significantly contribute to the perpetuation of sexual violence in such institutions. Methodologically, our analysis draws from discussions with ten activists and ulama, as well as an examination of documents coded using the qualitative data analysis software MAXQDA, including legal documents, news articles, and reports. -
Chapter 3. Criminalisation and Care: Indonesian Muslim Mass Organisations’ Perspectives on LGBT People
- Open Access
Download PDF-versionThe chapter delves into the dual attitudes of Indonesia’s prominent Muslim organisations, Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama, towards LGBT individuals. It examines how these organisations navigate the tension between criminalisation and care, influenced by religious norms and societal pressures. The study highlights regional leaders' more compassionate approach, contrasting with the central leadership's harsher stance. The chapter also discusses the historical context, the influence of Islamic teachings, and the impact of the 2016 moral panic on LGBT communities in Indonesia. By exploring these dynamics, the chapter offers a unique perspective on the intersection of religion, politics, and human rights in contemporary Indonesia.AI Generated
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AbstractThis chapter examines the attitudes of Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama toward LGBT people who have been facing growing hostility from the country’s predominantly Muslim society since 2016. My analysis draws on insights from the discourse of criminalisation and care that has characterized the debate over sexual and gender minorities in Indonesia. This chapter, drawing on interviews and desktop research, demonstrates that the Muslim mass organisations Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama display ambivalent attitudes between criminalisation and care towards LGBT people. Focusing on Muhammadiyah and their autonomous women’s organisation Aisyiyah it argues that the organisations` leaders at the national level are more inclined to criminalise sexual and gender minorities, while at the regional level they are more likely to practice care for minorities, through equal cooperation and interpersonal relations. One reason for this difference is the distance or proximity to the people concerned. Those in charge at the national level are far away from the grassroots, while those at the regional level work more closely with the people.
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Halal Lifestyle
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Frontmatter
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Chapter 4. Fraught Relations: Indonesian Modest Fashion, New York Catwalks, and the Spectacle of Travel
- Open Access
Download PDF-versionThis chapter delves into the rise of Indonesian modest fashion and its transnational contexts, focusing on the role of New York City catwalks in propelling its popularity. It explores how the promise of global success and travel has been used as a tool for capitalist gain, examining the case of Wardah cosmetics and designer Anniesa Hasibuan. The chapter also discusses the political statements made by Indonesian designers at New York Fashion Week, highlighting the complex dynamics between fashion, travel, and human rights discourse. Additionally, it critically examines the cooptation of minority identities in the fashion industry, using the example of the Hijabers Community and the commodification of Islamic fashion. The chapter concludes by highlighting the fraught relations between faith, commerce, and the false promises of travel, offering a nuanced perspective on the global fashion industry.AI Generated
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AbstractThis chapter examines the rise of Indonesian Muslim fashion, or “modest fashion,” and its connection to the New York catwalks. It seeks to uncover the interplay between the narratives of freedom and travel in creating the global capitalist pull for modest fashion in Indonesia. Thus, it contributes to one of the aims of this volume to “explore the different ways in which modesty and commodification interact” (see Arnez 2023, this volume, Chap. 1). Contributing to studies examining political statements of designers of Islamic clothing for women, this chapter discusses the popularity of Indonesian modest fashion on the New York catwalks in the context of the Western world’s feelings of guilt towards Muslims, prompted by anti-Muslim sentiment. Displays of fashion by Indonesian designers on catwalks and the designers trotting New York City were used as political statements and marketing tools. Particular attention will be paid to Indonesian designers’ engagement with the New York Fashion Week and the Couture Fashion Week, and the images of travel displayed. This article sheds light on the problematic relationship between Indonesian Muslim fashion and narratives of travel, specifically considering the highly politically contentious moment when refugees from Islamic countries were denied entry into the U.S. This created a platform for Indonesians to promote equality and stand against the racist travel ban posed upon Muslims, yet it also produced the myth that the freedom to travel is guaranteed. -
Chapter 5. On Certification and Beauty: Representations of Halal Cosmetics on YouTube in Indonesia
- Open Access
Download PDF-versionThe chapter delves into the growing halal cosmetics market in Indonesia, driven by the increasing demand for products that align with Islamic values. It focuses on three YouTube commercials that promote halal cosmetics, highlighting the representation of hijab-wearing women and the use of halal certification. The analysis explores how these commercials shape a gendered halal lifestyle, emphasizing the beauty and independence of Muslim women. Additionally, the chapter examines the perspectives of Islamic male preachers on halal cosmetics, providing insights into the legal and ethical considerations surrounding these products. The chapter concludes by discussing the broader implications of the halal cosmetics market on consumer culture and Islamic identity in Indonesia.AI Generated
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AbstractWith the world’s largest Muslim population, Indonesia is one of the world’s most prospering Islamic economies, with a leading role in many halal market sectors. Since 2018, food and cosmetics have been certified by the Indonesia Ulama Council (Majelis Ulama Indonesia; MUI), which is the body for issuing fatwas (religious edicts) in Indonesia. This has opened more opportunities for the sales market of halal-certified (permitted, legal) cosmetics. The potential of halal products has prompted Incumbent Indonesian Vice President K.H. Ma’ruf Amin to announce in June 2021 that Indonesia aims to become the largest producer and exporter of halal goods globally. This paper examines the interplay between certification and beauty, using the example of halal-labelled cosmetics on YouTube. The first objective of this chapter is to analyze how commercials on halal cosmetics combine notions of Islamic identity and beauty, and thus set new standards for a gendered Indonesian halal lifestyle. The second objective is to strengthen an understanding of how Islamic male preachers discuss halal cosmetics on YouTube. The analysis reveals how halal commercials, on the one hand, and Islamic male preachers, on the other, pursue the same objective to funnel the halal label into concrete instructions. -
Chapter 6. Online Halal Dating: AyoPoligami and the Contestations of Polygamy as the “New Normal” in Indonesia
- Open Access
Download PDF-versionThis chapter examines the AyoPoligami app, a platform designed to facilitate polygamous marriages in Indonesia. It explores the historical and contemporary contestations around polygamy in the country, highlighting the app's role in commodifying polygamous relationships. The chapter also delves into the app's impact on gender dynamics and the societal pressures that drove users to seek polygamous marriages. Through interviews with users and an experiment by the online magazine Magdalene.co, the chapter offers a nuanced understanding of the app's implications and the broader debates surrounding polygamy in Indonesia.AI Generated
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AbstractThis chapter explores how the online dating app AyoPoligami expresses a halal lifestyle that has become increasingly popular in Indonesia in recent years. While it is desirable for many middle-class Muslims, both women and men, to live a Sharia-compliant life and to document this in public, it is questionable to what extent corresponding online services want to be associated with the halal label that delivers on this promise. It compares AyoPoligami with other dating apps, particularly Salams (previously Minder), a popular dating app for Muslims whose slogan is to “find love or friends the halal way.” While scholars have explored Islamic branding and halal products as well as online dating in Indonesia, an analysis of online dating in the context of polygamy in Indonesia is under explored. We break new ground with this research by using interviews with users and an analysis of app features to explore how the online app AyoPoligami uses the halal label to make polygamy socially acceptable, to make it the “new normal,” the more visible popular polygamous marriage.
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Shame and Self-Determination
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Frontmatter
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Chapter 7. Fate, Desire, and Shame: Janda in Indonesian Pop Culture
- Open Access
Download PDF-versionThe chapter 'Fate, Desire, and Shame: Janda in Indonesian Pop Culture' delves into the multifaceted image of the janda (widow/divorcee) in Indonesian popular culture. It explores the conflicting aspects of the janda stereotype, which encompasses shame for her marital status, heightened sexual desire, and the assumption of promiscuity. The chapter analyzes various media representations, such as films, novels, and dangdut music, to illustrate how the janda image has evolved over time. It also discusses the janda's portrayal in relation to other female symbols like the ibu (wife/mother) and the gadis (girl/virgin), and how these images reflect societal attitudes towards women. The chapter highlights the tension between desire and fate, and how the janda symbol challenges traditional gender roles and expectations. Additionally, it examines the janda image in the context of globalization and cosmopolitanism, showcasing how it has adapted to contemporary urban lifestyles. The chapter offers a nuanced understanding of the janda stereotype and its significance in Indonesian pop culture, making it a fascinating read for those interested in gender studies and cultural anthropology.AI Generated
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AbstractResearch on images of femininity in Indonesia has largely focused on either the image of femininity produced by the state or, relatively, high-brow cultural forms of femininity. However, popular culture produces images of females that often stand in contrast to such symbolism. This article contends that the janda, the divorcee or widow, one of the foremost images of femininity in popular music, drama, and literature, has been, for the most part, overlooked. Seen as sexually available and lascivious, the janda represents the “fallen woman”; an object of both fascination and pity. This article analyses the janda image as one of the foremost symbols in Indonesian popular culture. It is argued that the janda image must be analysed in relation to maiden and mother images. Furthermore, culturally specific ideas of desire, fate, and shame contextualise the janda image. As will become apparent, Indonesian popular culture is patriarchal, and a heterosexual male perspective frames much of the symbolism. This means that actual women live with the very real stigma of being a divorcee or a widow in Indonesia. In this study, we focus on the janda image and include discussion of how its representation has evolved to include a cosmopolitan ideal. -
Chapter 8. Sexuality, Shame and Subversions in Indonesian Migrant Women’s Fiction
- Open Access
Download PDF-versionThis chapter examines the intricate relationship between gender, sexuality, and migration through the lens of Indonesian migrant women’s fiction. It delves into the lives of Indonesian domestic workers in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan, who often face stigmatization and moral judgments in their home country. The author explores how these women use literature as a means of resistance and self-expression, challenging traditional gender roles and societal expectations. The chapter analyzes selected short stories from anthologies written by these women, highlighting their experiences with shame, morality, and sexuality. It also discusses the emergence of Sastra Buruh Migran Indonesia (Sastra BMI), a genre of literature written by Indonesian migrant workers, and its significance in providing a platform for these women to share their stories. The chapter concludes by emphasizing the complexity of these women’s experiences and the importance of their literary works in challenging dominant narratives about their lives.AI Generated
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AbstractThis contribution examines malu (shame) as an effect of Indonesian women’s migration, illustrating how gendered moral discourses shape the problematic politics of labour migration in the country. It argues that shame not only reinforces several problematic gender and moral discourses imposed on Indonesian migrant women but also heightens their precarious role and place in their home and host countries.This essay probes into the possibilities opened by Indonesian migrant domestic workers themselves as they write, publish and circulate their own stories in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan as part of the emerging cultural production of Sastra Buruh Migran Indonesia, Indonesian Migrant Workers’ Literature. It makes an innovative contribution to this collection by analysing how, in five short fiction anthologies of Indonesian migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan, instances of shame and shaming matter in the representation of their daily lives and how they narrate their encounters and practices of queer sexual identities and interracial intimacies in transnational spaces. Through migrant women’s understanding of what counts as malu, I argue that their stories present a more complex negotiation of their precariousness, as they exhibit instances of agency and mobility that go beyond traditional gender discourses upheld back home. -
Chapter 9. Can Kartini Be Lesbian? Identity, Gender, and Sexual Orientation in a Post-Suharto Pop Novel
- Open Access
Download PDF-versionThe chapter delves into the novel 'Kembang Kertas—Ijinkan Aku Menjadi Lesbian' by Eni Martini, which reimagines the iconic figure of Kartini as a lesbian in a post-Suharto context. It examines the societal pressures and internal struggles faced by the protagonist, highlighting the clash between modernity and tradition in contemporary Indonesia. The narrative is set against the backdrop of the real-life Kartini's legacy, offering a nuanced exploration of identity, gender, and sexual orientation within a culturally rich and complex framework.AI Generated
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AbstractThe British author Martin Amis once remarked that “the way a writer names his characters provides a good index to the way he sees the world—to his reality-level, his responsiveness to the accidental humour and freakish poetry of life” (Amis Amis, The moronic inferno and other visits to America, Penguin, London, 1987, p. 13). If this is so, what, then, does the choice of the name Kartini for the protagonist in the 2007 pop novel Kembang Kertas (Paper Flowers) by the Indonesian woman writer Eni Martini with the provocative subtitle Ijinkan aku menjadi lesbian (Allow me to be lesbian) tell us about the way she appropriates the iconic feminist figure of Kartini who lived from 1879 to 1904? This essay explores how the Kartini image as a model of the ideal Indonesian woman is creatively refigured in this 21st-century expression of Indonesian popular culture and how the new post-colonial avatar is deployed to address problematics of gender, shame, and sexual orientation. The question arises as to the analogy between the emblematic Kartini, revered in Indonesia as the epitome of perfect heterosexual femininity, and the new-fangled Kartini figure in fictional form. -
Chapter 10. Satukangeun Lalangsé: Sundanese Sexuality From Behind the Curtain
- Open Access
Download PDF-versionThe chapter delves into the intricacies of Sundanese sexuality and family dynamics through the lens of 'Satukangeun Lalangsé', a popular newspaper column that publishes true stories submitted by readers. The column, initiated by the prolific Sundanese writer Aam Amilia, offers a glimpse into the trials and tribulations of married couples and families, often described from a first-person perspective. The stories, which are rewritten for linguistic standards and to soften crude elements, provide a window into the societal norms and expectations of Sundanese people. The chapter also explores the role of Aam Amilia in shaping these narratives and the impact of the column on contemporary Sundanese society. Additionally, it discusses the structural and thematic aspects of the stories, highlighting recurring themes such as polygamy, adultery, and unexpected family misfortunes. The chapter concludes by emphasizing the significance of these stories as a reflection of contemporary Sundanese society and the ways in which they shape the perceptions and values of their readers.AI Generated
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AbstractThe weekly popular tabloid newspaper Galura is published in Sundanese in Bandung and has a circulation of 9,000. It is part of the Pikiran Rakyat, the daily Bandung Indonesian language newspaper group. It contains news items and features about West Javanese society past and present and is clearly designed to stimulate a sense of local pride in Sundanese achievements and Sundanese cultural artefacts and performances. One regular feature of the newspaper since 2008 is a page entitled Satukangeun Lalangsé (Behind the Curtain). This page relates what are said to be true stories about the trials and tribulations of married couples and families, always described from a first-person perspective. The aim of this contribution is twofold. First, it aims at shedding light on how the stories endorse the opinion that Sundanese women are often deceived in their hopes of what marriage will bring and that their hopes are frustrated by the hand of fate, the arbitrariness of their husband’s behaviour, or the ingratitude of their children. Second, it adds to our understanding of how the description of polygamy, adultery, and unexpected family misfortunes correspond to what people would understand to be plausible and possible within the institutions of the family and marriage. -
Chapter 11. Afterthought: Vulnerability and Tenacity
- Open Access
Download PDF-versionThe chapter delves into the intricate relationship between gender, Islam, and sexuality in Indonesia, particularly focusing on the post-1999 reformasi era. It examines how Islamic dress codes, such as the hijab and burqa, are navigated and contested by artists and activists. The chapter also explores the impact of global capitalism and digital media on these dynamics, highlighting the diverse strategies employed by women and sexual minorities to deal with rising conservativism. Notably, it showcases the activism of Islamic women's groups and the complex web of power that shapes gender and sexual identities in contemporary Indonesia.AI Generated
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AbstractThis closing chapter reflects on the global-local context for the conservative rise in Indonesia, examining artists’ and women activists’ creative strategies in dealing with the return of patriarchies in public and private spheres. The chapter argues that the interface between gender, sexuality, and Islam occurs in a terrain mediated by digital transformation, affected by complicated legal battles and global markets, which can both enlarge and limit women’s space for expression. The battleground is filled with ambiguities and complexities, with no linear direction. Referencing, among others, the activism of KUPI (Congress of Indonesian Female Ulama), the chapter captures the core theme of this edited volume: the tenacity of the collectives and individuals in continuously transcending women’s vulnerability in Indonesia.
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- Title
- Gender, Islam and Sexuality in Contemporary Indonesia
- Editors
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Monika Arnez
Melani Budianta
- Copyright Year
- 2024
- Publisher
- Springer Nature Singapore
- Electronic ISBN
- 978-981-9956-59-3
- Print ISBN
- 978-981-9956-58-6
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-5659-3
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