SEARC Public Seminars: Migration and Family Relationships: The case of “Gay Indonesia” in Paris

SEARC will organize an seminar in coming Firday (8th Aug) which is about migration and family relationships in Indonesia.

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Here is the information:

Seminar

Migration and Family Relationships:
The case of “Gay Indonesia” in Paris

Mr Wisnu Adihartono
PhD candidate in Sociology,
Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) – Marseille, France

Date: 8 August 2014 (Friday)
Time: 2 pm – 3:30 pm
Venue: B4-702 (note change of room) , AC1, City University of Hong Kong

Abstract
The state and national identity are formed on the basis of mutual unification of thoughts and ideas through the process of representation and social imagination. Through these two processes, people determine what is good and not good, including the issues of homosexuality. According to Gagnon and Simon this is a “Sexual Script” in which sexuality is produced, shared, and enforced as a social norm and made a blueprint for correct behavior. Many Indonesians consider homosexuality abnormal and against religion. Homosexuals in Indonesia have little or no power and limited legal access to fight for their rights. In the end, in order to survive, they are forced to hide their sexual orientation, or in extreme cases, they move to other countries. As long as these push factors do not change, migration will become the “natural way” for them to avoid being mistreated. Because the Indonesian state has been unwilling or unable to ensure and protect the basic human rights of its citizens, I consider the migration of Indonesian gays a state failure. Drawing on face-to- face interviews with Indonesian gays who live in Paris, this talk examines why and when they decided to migrate to Paris. It also looks into whether they maintain relationships with their family members in Indonesia and what are the main features of such family relationships. Using qualitative methodology, the talk will introduce some of their narratives.

Short BioWisnu Adihartono is a PhD Candidate in Sociology in Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) – Marseille, France. His research interests include the Sociology of Gender (in particular the Sociology of Gay, Gay and Lesbian Studies), the Sociology of Migration, and the Sociology of the Family. His publications include articles about homosexuality in Indonesia in the Huffington Post (French edition, in French), La Gazette de Bali (in French), The Jakarta Post, Amsterdam Social Science's website, and many Indonesian online media. He obtained a diploma in Chinese Language and Political Science and a M.A. in European Studies at the University of Indonesia. He has received the scholarships from the French and the Indonesian Government, and research funds from the Ford Foundation Indonesia. He expects to complete his PhD thesis by early 2015.

All are welcome.
Language: English

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