Stereotypes of Javanese Women in Films: Roles as Domestic Worker, Poor, and Plebeian

Let’s discuss gender representation in film, especially Javanese women’s roles in cinema until telemovie. If we reflect on Indonesian cinema, there are always Javanese names, such as Mbok Iyem, Mbok Iyah, Mbok Yun, etc, who have a role as domestic workers. If it is male, we will be familiar with Kang Mamat, Kang Paijo, and Kang Ujang, who is a driver or gardener.

The movie “layangan putus” becomes one representative of Javanese stereotyping from the character of Mbok Tun as a domestic worker. Movie “Surga yang tak dirindukan” by Asma Nadia, the name of Mbok Tun is used as domestic worker in serial one until three. The same name is also used in the movie “Air Mata di Ujung Sajadah,” which became popular with the main characters, Fedi Nuril and Citra Kirana. Is it only by accident that the same name is used, or is it a template to picture Javanese women as domestic workers?

In addition, Javanese women are also pictured in their Javanese dialect as innocent plebeians or those who move to the capital city from Kampongs. It has made Jakarta the story’s center, which has fast modernization. So, Jakarta has become a standard in language and dialect today. It is also in political and cultural situations, including in Indonesian films.

Jakarta’s lifestyles, such as clothes, dialect, and styles, have also become standard for people living outside Jakarta. In dialect, Jakarta has become superior in language and ethnicity. This makes Javanese always more supreme than other ethnicities. For example, celebrities always use the Jakarta dialect on television. Although it is simple, it can oppress others’ identities.

Read more: Five Reasons for the Problematic of the Draft Law on the Welfare of Mothers and Children

Next, while many people have moved to Jakarta, why do they mention that the city outside Jakarta is Java but not Jakarta itself? Isn’t Jakarta also part of Java?

In my opinion, it is because of the trend of urbanization. The movement of societies makes them spend their senior age in a city of migration. According to mikopedia, the most considerable urbanization is in East Java, Central Java, and Special Region of Yogyakarta.

The second reason is the annual factor. Homecoming tradition is always called mudik ke Jawa (homecoming to Java). The third reason is the position of Jakarta as a multicultural city. Other ethnicities displace Betawi’s indigenous ethic because of cultural acculturation.

Marginalization of Javanese Ethnic

The Age of Marginality by Rutledge M Dennis  talks about the concept of marginalization attached to identity. The reason is that both genders consider their daily lives part of their identity. In this phenomenon, marginalization refers to social domination between centralization and marginalization.

Social domination is the position of Jakarta where other ethnicities cannot exist. It shows from Jakarta’s dominant dialect. People who do not use the Jakarta dialect are labeled as ndeso– plebeian, poor, and stupid. Yet, Javanese people are mostly representative as wealthy people and have a position, but its only for Javanese people with royal lineage or a close relationship with them.

It was pushed by the Javanese kingdom, which had been led by royal lineage in the past. Javanese is a feudal society, which means giving different attitudes toward people of different ages and positions.

This habit is copied by the media in Indonesia. Sadly, many stereotypes emerge because the media has a role in leading and creating public opinion. Societies tend to believe in media. So, although the stereotype is only in film, societies normalize it in daily life.

Photo: mdentertainment.com