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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.
List 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
About the author
SASKIA E. WIERINGA is Associate Professor of Women's Studies at the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague. She has published widely on these themes and is co-editor of the award-winning anthology Female Desires: Same-Sex Relations and Transgender Practices Across Cultures.
Summary
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.
Additional text
'....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
Report
'....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
