Compulsory Heterosexuality in Indonesia: A Literary Exploration of the Work of Ayu Utami

The fall of Suharto from the presidency in Reformation 1998 created space for greater freedom expression, including women, world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, Indonesia. Ayu Utami is an Indonesian writer whose first novel, Saman, was published at time to critical and commercial acclaim. Other women writers followed her lead, expressing their work on sexuality. Through writing, challenges a patriarchal culture which continues marginalise women. This paper focuses two Utami’s literary works, Si Parasit Lajang: Seks, Sketsa dan Cerita (The Single Parasite: Sex, Sketches Stories) (2003) Pengakuan Eks Lajang (Confessions Former Parasite) (2013). These books have parallel themes, representing dominant discourses marriage. In book, shows that face discrimination if they remain single. Her political stance unmarried way show can choose alternative ways life, rather than submit valorised option: get married. shift position, as elaborated second book through story autobiographical character A, who Catholic, has do with developing tendency Islamic conservatism Indonesia silence expression minority groups, religious communities. argues understand position marriage, we must member and, sometimes endangered, community shapes position.