Malaysia, 7/12/2024 – Two students of the Arabic literature study program successfully presented their essays related to women’s empowerment in the Asean Muslimah Exposure 2024 (AME 2024) event in Malaysia. The program organized by the Qurthubiyah Institute organization was held from December 6 to 8, 2024. As an organization, Qurthubiyah Institute aims to be a forum for empowering Muslim women with character, knowledge, and skilled personality by internalizing Islamic values in life. Thus, the Asean Muslimah Exposure program is designed to increase Indonesian Muslimah’s understanding of social issues through hands-on learning experiences in Asean countries.

In the AME 2024 program, there are three main activities held on Saturday, December 7, 2024. The three activities are Essay Presentation, Panel Discussion, and Campus Tour which took place at the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) and University Malaya (UM). Essay Presentation and Panel Discussion activities held at IIUM were not only attended by AME 2024 participants, but also attended by IIUM students who are members of the Islamic Studies Forum Indonesia (ISFI) organization.

In this activity, there were several delegates who presented their papers, and two of them were students of the Arabic Literature Study Program, Faculty of Humanities, Universitas Gadjah Mada. The first student was Vanisa Putri Andarista with her essay entitled The Trend of Delaying Marriage “Waithood” In Indonesian Women and How Islam Views It. The essay was awarded The Best Analytical Perspective. While the second student, Ragil Samas Khofifatunnur conveyed ideas in his essay entitled The relevance of “Risalah Perempuan Berkemajuan” to Increasing The Inclusiveness of Women’s Empowerment In Village, and won The Best Delegates Paper award.

From the series of AME 2024 activities, students not only gain experience in making and presenting their essays, but also gain abundant knowledge through the discussions that have been held. In addition, students are also more familiar with the dynamics of lectures in Malaysia, the socio-cultural conditions of the local community, and how Islamic values are implemented there. With the many experiences and insights that have been gained, students are expected to play an active role in disseminating these insights so that the benefits are received by more people, as is the goal of the Qurthubiyah Institute.

[Public Relations of Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, Sandya Kirani]

Friday, March 8, 2024 – Institut Français Indonésie (IFI-LIP) Yogyakarta held a round table discussion entitled Gender-based violence in a digital society as a form of international women’s day celebration. IFI invited Wening Udasmoro (lecturer of bachelor of french language and literature) and Ratna Noviani (lecturer of master of cultural and media studies) from Universitas Gadjah Mada. In addition, IFI also invited Marie Nastorg (PhD student in droit de la non-discrimination) from the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers online. The discussion was held in the IFI auditorium, with François Dabin as the moderator. The round table discussion was attended by around 105 participants. The number of participants was certainly influenced by the interesting and important theme of the discussion, namely online gender-based violence or online GBV. 

This discussion was spoken in English, and it was an action to support the Sustainable Development Goals, the goal of quality education and gender equality. What was conveyed by all the speakers proved the action. First, according to Nastorg, as the first speaker to present her argument, she stated that online GBV often occurs in higher education and labor environments, and most forms of violence are discrimination of women’s roles in these two spheres. Wening went on to say that cases of online GBV in higher education tend to be underreported because of the difficulty of reporting the case, even though regulations related to it already exist. Finally, Ratna expressed her opinion that the prevention and handling of online GBV requires collective awareness from the victim’s environment and the digital environment. 

This round table discussion concluded that it is important for the community to raise awareness of the vulnerability of online GBV in an era which is dominated by social media users. The hope of all speakers is that the discussion can inspire the audience to become wise while using social media, and be able to teach the same thing to others. 

[Public Relation Faculty of Cultural Science, Penulis: Jasmine Nabila D
Editor: Rifal Fadlurrahman, Sandya Kirani]

Sunday, 10th March 2024 – Students of the Faculty of Cultural Science, currently in an internship program at Buku Mojok publishing company, became the moderator for Festival Penulis Perempuan to celebrate International Women’s day. The event, initiated by Buku Mojok, was held in three days on the 8th, 9th, and 10th of March at Akademi Bahagia. On the lasy day of the event, Buku Mojok invited Ranting Mangga to lead the journaling workshop and Isnaniar to lead the meditation workshop. This event is in line with the 5th SDGs, gender equality.

The event started at 1PM with the journaling workshop by Ranting Mangga. The participants was encouraged to write and paste scraps paper pieces in their journal as they like. After that, the event was followed with the meditation workshop. Isnaniar invited the participants to meditate by walking on the grass around their meeting area. On this event, student interns also participated in the workshop and helped the staff from Buku Mojok to prepare the event.

[Humas FIB UGM, Author: Catharina Maida Muhamartha, Editor: Rifal Fadlurrahman]

Yogyakarta, Tuesday, November 26, 2024. The Faculty of Cultural Sciences of Universitas Gadjah Mada is organizing an introductory gender class exhibition that presents Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro, SS, M.Hum., DEA and Dr. Wulan Tri Astuti, SS, MA, as resource persons for this activity. The event will take place on November 26 and 28, 2024, from 09.00 to 16.00 at Selasar Soegondo. The exhibition aims to empower individuals by providing equal access to artistic expression that raises important issues such as gender equality, justice, and stereotypes.

The exhibition features interactive installations and artworks created by various voices that have finally found the courage to speak up. It becomes a platform for empowerment, with a special focus on empowering women and marginalized communities. By showcasing these powerful narratives, the exhibition seeks to promote equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of gender or background.

“Hacking Silence” is not just an exhibition; it is a call to action. The show invites visitors to engage in discussions about the importance of equality and the need for equal access to resources and opportunities. The artworks displayed will challenge social norms and encourage viewers to reflect on their own perceptions of justice and equality.

The event is designed to inspire and educate. Visitors will have the opportunity to participate in workshops and discussions led by artists and activists concerned with these issues. This interactive approach aims to empower individuals to become advocates for change in their respective communities.

In addition to visual art, the exhibition will also feature performances and poetry sessions that amplify the voices of those who have been historically marginalized. These performances will highlight the importance of storytelling in the struggle for justice and equality, emphasizing that every voice matters.

The Faculty of Cultural Sciences believes that art has the power to transform society. By providing a space for these important conversations, the exhibition aims to build a sense of community and solidarity among visitors. It is an opportunity for individuals to come together, share experiences, and support each other in the pursuit of justice.

Yogyakarta, Saturday, 2nd of November 2024. The Korean Language Student Association organised an event entitled, ‘Women’s Film Festival: The Voices from South Korea and Indonesia’ as one of the 19th Korean Day series on 2 November and 3 November. This activity aims to explore the issue of women’s careers through films directed by women from both countries. Both Indonesia and South Korea share many similarities on this issue, including women’s opportunities to access education, employment, and politics. Typical cultural challenges still pose barriers, such as the normalisation of double burden, discrimination, and the threat of violence. The event was held at Soegondo Auditorium, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, and was divided into two sessions on the first day, starting in the morning and afternoon.

In the morning, the event started with the screening of Kim Ji-Yong’s film: Born 1982, which is an adaptation of the novel by Cho Nam-joo, following the life of Kim Ji-young, an ordinary South Korean woman who faces the pressures and gender biases that permeate a patriarchal society. The story delves into the sensitive issue of Ji-young’s gradual struggle with societal expectations placed on women, especially in terms of career, family, and identity. Participants watched Cho Nam-joo’s adaptation of the novel, at the two-hour film screening. After the film screening session, participants were given the opportunity to ask questions guided by a moderator and presented by film director Kim Ji-Yong: Born 1982, Kim Do Young, via Zoom.

In the Q&A session, various participants asked director Kim Do Young a number of questions, such as the challenges and difficulties in making the film, the film’s contribution to feminism, criticism that arose, and others. The participants then ended the Q&A session with a group photo with Kim Do Young.