Implikasi Propaganda Politik Seksual dalam Gerakan Wanita Indonesia (GERWANI) Terhadap Perkembangan Feminisme di Indonesia

The Implications of Sexual Political Propaganda in the Indonesian Women’s Movement (GERWANI) on the Development of Feminism in Indonesia

Abstract

ABSTRAK
Kajian ini meneliti kesan propaganda politik berasaskan seksual terhadap Gerakan Wanita Indonesia (GERWANI) selepas peristiwa 30 September 1965 serta implikasinya terhadap perkembangan feminisme di Indonesia. GERWANI merupakan antara organisasi wanita paling progresif pada era pasca-kolonial yang memperjuangkan hak wanita dalam aspek sosial, ekonomi dan politik. Namun, selepas insiden pembunuhan jeneral-jeneral Tentera Nasional Indonesia (TNI) yang dikaitkan dengan Parti Komunis Indonesia (PKI), GERWANI menjadi sasaran utama propaganda Orde Baru. Mereka dituduh terlibat dalam aksi seksual yang kejam meskipun dakwaan tersebut tidak berasaskan bukti sahih. Hal ini membuktikan bagaimana naratif propaganda berasaskan seksual dimanipulasi untuk melemahkan gerakan wanita dan menyekat perkembangan feminisme. Kajian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif melalui kajian literatur, analisis dokumen sejarah serta temu bual mendalam dengan tiga informan utama iaitu Saskia E. Wieringa, Theresia Iswarini dan Lies Marcoes. Analisis tematik dilaksanakan secara sistematik dengan proses coding, pengelompokan tema dan triangulasi data. Penemuan menunjukkan bahawa propaganda ini bukan sahaja menghancurkan GERWANI, tetapi turut memadam sejarah perjuangan wanita serta mencipta trauma kolektif jangka panjang. Kajian mencadangkan agar pendekatan sejarah yang inklusif, trauma-sensitive dan berasaskan teori feminisme digunakan bagi membina semula naratif feminisme yang adil serta berani.
Kata kunci: GERWANI, feminisme, propaganda politik seksual, Orde Baru, naratif sejarah

ABSTRACT
This study examines the impact of sexual-based political propaganda on the Indonesian Women’s Movement (GERWANI) following the events of September 30, 1965 and its implications for the development of feminism in Indonesia. GERWANI was among the most progressive women’s organizations in the post-colonial era, advocating for women’s rights in the social, economic and political spheres. However, after the assassination of Indonesian Army generals allegedly linked to the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), GERWANI became the primary target of New Order propaganda. They were accused of engaging in brutal sexual acts, despite the absence of credible evidence. This demonstrates how sexual-based political propaganda was manipulated to weaken women’s movements and obstruct feminist progress. The study adopts a qualitative approach through literature review, historical document analysis, and in-depth interviews with three key informants: Saskia E. Wieringa, Theresia Iswarini and Lies Marcoes. Thematic analysis was systematically conducted through coding, theme clustering and data triangulation. Findings reveal that the propaganda not only destroyed GERWANI but also erased women’s historical struggles and created long-term collective trauma. The study recommends an inclusive, trauma-sensitive and feminist theory-based historical approach in reconstructing a fair and courageous feminist narrative.
Keywords: GERWANI, feminism, sexual-based political propaganda, New Order, historical narrative