We have been researching the experience of domestic violence in Indonesia the past few weeks, in preparation for a livestream discussion that will take place just before the close of our monthlong placement here at Mitra Wacana. It has been interesting, reading both research papers conducted by local researchers and published in Bahasa Indonesia, as well as those written by their Western counterparts. I feel incredibly privileged to have a measure of proficiency with the local language, and have a great appreciation for the insight it has provided me to the nuances of the people and their culture.

Despite always knowing of the power of language and its influence on how it shapes one’s perspective of the world, I have never really truly lived this experience. I grew up speaking three languages that are rarely spoken in parts of the world outside of Southeast Asia, and never have felt the need to fast-track learning German in Berlin as everyone speaks English. Here in Jogja however, I am acutely aware of how this has allowed me to access their community, and am reminded how important it is for development efforts of any kind to be informed from the roots of the community out. As a culture that is comparatively reserved, where opinions and strong point of views are never voiced in a forthright manner, I can see how the wants and needs of the people could be overlooked, or never even known by us, the well-meaning bules.

One of the things that stood out to me in reading these articles surrounding domestic violence in Indonesia, were the words used to describe the women–’korban’ and ‘tawanan’. Respectively, they translate to victim or sacrifice, and hostage. I am acutely aware of the importance we place on language as a tool to empower and change the narrative of victimhood amongst our women who experience gendered violence, women whom we speak of as survivors. The articulation of violence is known to have a significant impact on its interpretation by the very person experiencing it, having an impact on the story following the abuse, through the process of seeking justice, recovery, and identity, and I am extremely interested in learning more regarding this. I have also noticed that almost all research papers surrounding domestic violence by local researchers dedicate a significant proportion in their introduction to feminine dialectics that understands violence as a byproduct of the biological differences between men and women. Men being bigger, stronger, and prone to sexual urges and acts of aggression. This is something I had not noticed prior to coming here, with most research papers I have read and frameworks I have used emphasising the innate patriarchal structure of society as the cause of violence against women.

I wonder if this is a product of the cultural perceptions surrounding gendered violence, as researchers are also not exempt from the socio-cultural space they inhibit. This is a topic that I have been thinking a lot about, and one that I feel holds a great significance for the field of development particularly with regards to the rights of women– that violence is a concept with a meaning and construct entirely dependent on the normative understanding and acceptance within a particular society. How is it then that there are frameworks and theories that not only dominate this dialogue but inform the work not only in developing countries but also in Australia where a large proportion of our community is comprised of immigrants and refugees?