MONASH UNIVERSITY FACULTY HANDBOOKS

Arts Graduate Handbook 1996

Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996

INS4410

Gender and its representation in Indonesian societies

Barbara Hatley

Synopsis This subject looks at representations of women and gender in Indonesian cultural forms - literature, performing arts, films - in the light of studies in gender relations in Indonesian societies, as well as feminist theories of representation. It seeks to establish links between the gender practices and ideologies of particular periods and social groups and the representation of gender in corresponding cultural forms. Acknowledging but seeking to avoid the danger of distorting Indonesian voices by imposing Western models, the subject seeks to make use of the findings of Western feminist criticism to explore the particular nature of Indonesian gender experience and its representation. The subject is available both to students of Indonesian language and to those without Indonesian. Texts without published English translations will be suplemented with photocopied material.

Assessment Written (7000 words): 75% + Seminar participation: 25%

Prescribed texts

• Chudori L Malam Terakhir Grafiti
• Dini N H Jalan Bandungan Penerbitan Djambatan
• Kartini Letters of a Javanese princess Norton
• Pane A Shackles Ohio U P/Belenggu P T Dian Rakyat
• Pramudya Ananta Tur Girl from the coast Select Books
• Pramudya Ananta Tur This earth of mankind Penguin
• Umar Kayam Sri Sumarah dan Bawuk (Sri Sumarah and other stories) tr. H Aveling, Heinemann

Recommended texts

• Atkinson J and Errington S (eds) Power and difference: Gender in island Southeast Asia Stanford U P, 1991
• Berninghausen J and Kerstan B (ed.) Forging new paths: Feminist social methodology and rural women in Java Zed Books
• Jayawardena K Feminism and nationalism in the third world Zed Books
• Gilbert S and Gubar S The madwoman in the attic Yale U P
• Moi T Sexual/textual politics Methuen
• Radway J Reading the romance: Women, patriarchy and popular literature University of North Carolina
• Showalter E The new feminist criticism Virago