UNAIR NEWS – There are limited researches focusing on masculinity studies. It was stated by the gender expert of Faculty of Humanities Universitas Airlangga, Nur Wulan, Ph.D. Wulan has experienced the difficulties to find references about it when she was finishing her dissertation.
“I was interested in masculinity studies because there are not many researches are conducted. Most researchers prefer women’s studies, feminism or femininity. Men’s studies is rarely presented,” said the lecturer of English Literature.
“In the 1980s, the femininity and feminism movement were often discussed in the West. It was started in the 1960s. It made more people preferred the women’s studies than the men’s studies. At that time, people started to be aware that women should be empowered. It was the moment for women to advance. That spirit incited the researchers to study about it,” she added.
Even there were not many people studied about it, she took on the challenge and chose the topic when she was in her doctoral program in University of Sydney, Australia. The woman born in Malang focused on masculinity since then.
Wulan said that some people are not aware of men and women equality. Gender equality will never be achieved if only the women are empowered.
“It is futile to discuss it as up to now only men make the policy. Women condition can be improved if it is supported with policy amendment,” stated the South East Asian studies lecturer.
Regarding the limited references, researchers of masculinity studies must be pioneers for the future researchers as there are not many of them in Indonesia.
“This is what we call babat alas. We are the pioneers and we must provide direction for the next researches,” said Wulan who is currently studying the masculinity representation in children’s literature from the colonialism to the reformation era.
Being asked about the objectives of her study, the master graduate of Auckland University said that it is to make the men aware and support the women’s welfare.
In the process, Wulan also collaborated with other masculinity researchers and supported by her students.
Author: Ainul Fitriyah
Editor: Defrina Sukma S
