The Center for Law, Gender, and Society (LGS) at the UGM Faculty of Law recently held a basic training session for LGS researchers at the UGM Faculty of Law. The event, which took place on Saturday (November 16, 2024), was attended by a limited group of 24 participants and 3 speakers.
This basic training was organized to equip LGS volunteers with foundational knowledge and understanding of the concepts of gender, masculinity, and sexuality. The aim is to address biases, provide new perspectives, and increase LGS volunteers’ sensitivity to related issues. The focus of this training is to introduce these three concepts. However, it is hoped that advanced training can be conducted in the future so that LGS volunteers can apply concepts of gender, masculinity, and/or sexuality in legal research.
The session began by identifying the participants’ expectations, as well as potential challenges that might arise during the training and strategies for addressing them. Participants were also asked to agree on several points, including creating an open, safe space to facilitate critical and productive discussion. The training continued with an interactive discussion on gender concepts led by Sri Wiyanti Eddyono, S.H., LL.M.(HR), Ph.D. (Director of LGS); a presentation on the concepts and perspectives of masculinity by Saeroni, S.Ag., M.H. (National Coordinator of the New Men’s Alliance (ALB)); and a presentation on sexuality by Rr. Sri Agustine, S.H., M.H. (Attorney at LBH APIK).
To begin the training session, Sri Wiyanti Eddyono invited participants to understand and reflect on how rigid gender role distinctions between men and women can lead to gender-based domination. These distinctions also need to be viewed through an intersectional lens. There are aspects of identity beyond gender that create multiple layers of vulnerability for an individual. For example, economic status, social status, marital status, age, ability/disability, physical appearance, ethnicity, race, religion, and other social statuses.
Saeroni went on to explain that, for men, the construction of masculine gender norms also gives rise to social hierarchies and forms of discrimination similar to those experienced by women. There are concepts of masculinity that foster dominance even among men. The participants were then encouraged to recognize that each identity has its own vulnerabilities in different situations.
In the final session, Sr. Sri Augustine explained that sexuality is not merely about sexual practices, relationships, and behaviors. Sexuality is a comprehensive aspect of a person’s life, encompassing sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, sexual characteristics, intimacy, and reproduction. Participants were invited to reflect on the diversity of human experiences related to sexuality in its broadest sense.
The training concluded with a group discussion to draft the declaration titled “New Men for Gender Equality, Justice, and Social Inclusion.” The discussion was held to incorporate the perspectives of all participants, who would later take part in the reading of the declaration.
Following the group discussion, the declaration was read by Dr. Arvie Johan, S.H., M.Hum. (Researcher and Lecturer at LGS) and Saeroni, S.Ag., M.H. (National Coordinator of the New Men’s Alliance (ALB)), with the following statement:
1) We recognize that social and gender constructs in society have different consequences and create different vulnerabilities for each person based on their biological sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, socioeconomic status, and other social identities;
2) We believe and are committed to the principle that every person has equal status and standing, and therefore each of us bears the same and equal responsibility to create a better life for all—one that is just and equitable—and we fully support all affirmative action strategies aimed at achieving this;
3) We are committed to contributing to the collection, mapping, analysis, and dissemination of critical legal thought on gender justice, human rights, diversity, and environmental sustainability;
4) We are committed to bridging the gap between the lawmaking process and the needs of a society that upholds gender equality, human rights, diversity, and environmental sustainability;
5) We are committed to maintaining a unified perspective, attitude, and behavior that is fair and equitable, and to rejecting all forms of discrimination based on sex, gender, disability, sexual orientation, and diversity by promoting anti-discrimination efforts that respect everyone’s diversity;
6) We reject all forms of gender-based violence against everyone, especially women;
7) We are committed to fostering behavioral change among men by deconstructing the construction of masculinity to achieve gender justice.
The full text of the “New Men’s Declaration in Support of Equality, Gender Justice, and Social Inclusion” can be downloaded via the following link: https://bit.ly/LakilakibaruLGS.
LGS extends its gratitude to the speakers and participants who actively contributed. LGS remains committed to enhancing the research capacity of its researchers to conduct critical research, particularly on gender issues and vulnerable communities. In this context, LGS contributes to the realization of UN Sustainable Development Goals 5 (Gender Equality), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).
Authors: Annisa Ayuningtyas, Arimbi Fajari Furqon (LGS Researchers)
