River, Resistance and Women’s Resilience in Indonesian, Malaysian and Vietnamese Fictions

Abstract

<jats:p>This study looks at how rivers, resistance and women’s struggle intertwine with each other in 3 fictions set in, respectively, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. Not only has a river become life-giving forces, but it is also a locus of diverse social conflicts where women are often the most victimized yet survived. Making use of ecofeminism and related theoretical concepts such as Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato si’ on the environment and human ecology, this study examines the female characters and their ordeals in the three fictions discussed. This study reveals that first, ecological economy depends on water sustainability where women try very hard to protect nature against degradation. Secondly, abuse of women is seen in parallel with abuse of nature. In the end, this study concludes that the women’ resistance against patriarchy confirms the theoretical relevance of ecofeminism for the reading of Southeast Asian fictions.</jats:p>

Nature and People Connection in the Three Selected Indonesian Short Stories

“…The term water refers to a variety of types such as salt, fresh, brackish, landwater, and forms, for example, oceans, seas, straits, estuaries, rivers, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and canals. River as a form of water is perceived as a symbol of energy and a life-giving force to most people in Southeast Asia (Dewi, 2020). In her article, she says it is not unusual for Southeast Asian people typically live near the river banks for clean and fresh water, food sources like fish and shrimp, and building materials like sand and stones.…”

“…The river is inseparable from the human culture of Asia and represents Asian civilization. However, for the sake of development, rivers nowadays are no longer as appropriately useful as they are supposed to be, the rivers are polluted and causing natural resource damage as in the case of Balok River's metal pollution in Pahang, Malaysia, and a pollution crisis in Mekong Delta, Vietnam which impact on land degradation (Dewi, 2020). Depicting landscapes of Asia, the three selected Indonesian short stories take setting of place in Kahayan River in Borneo, in upstream Sumpara River, Kolaka City in Southwest Sulawesi, and in a forest where orangutans live in Rimba Raya Sebangau, Central Kalimantan.…”

Power Relations in the Design and Development of Karangwaru Riverside Yogyakarta-Indonesia – Women's Perspective

“…The only water sources they can access are the city's rivers, which are often polluted with industrial and household waste. (Dewi, 2020) The Buntung River, which flows through Karangwaru District, is one of the rivers that runs through the urban area of the special region of Yogyakarta. Before it was improved, the river was a source of environmental problems in the area.…”