Sexual Politics in Indonesia

by S. Wieringa

Overview

This book analyzes the interaction between nationalism, feminism and socialism in Indonesia since the beginning of the twentieth century until the New Order State of President Suharto. The focus is on the communist women's organization Gerwani, which was by 1965 the largest communist women's organization in the non-communist world. Gerwani members combined feminist demands such as a reform of the marriage law with an insistence upon a political role for women. The organization was destroyed in a campaign of sexual slander orchestrated by the military under General Suharto. Hundreds of thousands of people were killed. President Sukarno lost his power and General Suharto took over.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781349431229
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan UK
Publication date:	05/22/2002
Series:	Institute of Social Studies, The Hague Series
Edition description:	1st ed. 2002
Pages:	390
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.03(d)

About the Author

Saskia E. Wieringa is Associate Professor of Women's Studies, The Hague, The Netherlands.

Table of Contents

Note on Spelling Glossary Acknowledgements Introduction: Unravelling Hidden Histories A Triple Loyalty: Feminism, Socialism and Nationalism The Garuda Takes Flight: From the Colonial Period to Independence The Old Order: Nationalism, Communism and Feminism Gerwani: Towards the Vanguard of the Women's Movement Gerwani: Between the PKI and Sukarno Militant Mothers: Gerwani's Ideology Gerwani Defamed, Sukarno Overthrown Epilogue References

Editorial Reviews

'....provides an original and important gender analysis of the events of 1965-66, an analysis that has previously been neglected or suppressed. In so doing, it offers new and important details on a critial event in Indonesia's history as well as fascinating insight into the political history of Indonesian women's organization.' - Nancy J. Smith-Hefner, The Journal of Asian Studies

From the Publisher