Gender 7 - Indonesia at Melbourne

Constitutional Court ruling a reminder that the state is not uniform

Last week, the Constitutional Court rejected a controversial challenge to the Criminal Code that sought to outlaw same sex sexual relations. Hendri Yulius writes that the decision is a reminder that the state is far from uniform in its response to issues of gender and sexuality.

Online polygamy: commodifying the fear of sex?

Analysis, Gender, Law

Two new online applications, AyoPoligami and Nikahsirri, have caused controversy for promoting polygamy. Hendri Yulius writes that the rise of such applications is a result of a shame and fear of sex in Indonesia, as well as competing religious and secular definitions of marriage.

Talking Indonesia: migrant workers

Gender, Migration, Talking Indonesia

The Joko Widodo government has expressed a desire to stop sending Indonesian domestic workers abroad. But how has it tried to manage the flow of citizens seeking employment overseas? What effect do bans and moratoriums have on the flow of migrant workers? Dr Dave McRae explores these issues and more with Dr Wayne Palmer in the latest Talking Indonesia podcast.

Talking Indonesia: online feminism

Gender, Talking Indonesia

How has digital media created spaces for a diversity of views on issues important to Indonesian women, including sexuality and religion? What does an Indonesian ‘feminist’ publication look like? In Talking Indonesia this week, Dr Jemma Purdey explores these issues and more with Devi Asmarani, chief editor of online magazine Magdalene.

Locating the historical Kartini

Analysis, Gender, History

Over the past century, Kartini has been mythologised, misused and misread. Dr Joost Coté, a researcher and adviser on the recent film bearing her name, writes that despite her status as a national feminist icon, there is actually little factual historical information about Kartini.

Moral panic and the reinvention of LGBT

Analysis, Gender, Human Rights

Over the past month, a number of dramatic arrests have brought LGBT Indonesians back into the spotlight. Hendri Yulius writes that the publication of these "extreme" episodes is necessary to perpetuate the idea of a moral panic, and to serve a justification for the wars against LGBT people to continue.

Talking Indonesia: women, gender and activism

Gender, Talking Indonesia

Following Kartini Day, on 21 April, Talking Indonesia looks at the state of the women’s movement in Indonesia. Dr Jemma Purdey speaks to Dr Intan Paramaditha about why sexuality and the female body continue to be sites for contestation and national anxiety, and how the movement is responding to the "conservative turn" in mainstream Islam.

What does the Jakarta election result mean for the women's movement?

Analysis, Gender, Politics, Religion

Many observers have suggested that the win of Anies Baswedan in the Jakarta gubernatorial election last week has set the stage for the ongoing exploitation of religious and ethnic sentiment in Indonesian politics. According to Dr Dina Afrianty, however, most post-election analyses have failed to consider what the election result means for Indonesian women.

Why divorce doesn't work for Indonesian women