The Power Of The Senses: Ethnicity, History and Embodiment in East Java, Indonesia

The Sorcery of Gender: Sex, Death and Difference in East Java, Indonesia

“…These demographic movements were the result of the political and economic transformation of the area during colonial times, and have continued into the post-colonial period, though at a much slower pace. Today the inhabitants of Alas Niser identify themselves as neither Javanese nor Madurese, but as 'mixed people' [orang campuran] (Retsikas, 2007a). This identification is largely the outcome of spatial patterns of intermingled living and a series of transactions carried out over several successive generations that involve transfers of food, children as spouses, ancestors and prayers.…”

“…The interaction of the body-person with social others is deemed to be inherently dangerous and in need of careful regulation. The body orifices mark these sensitive areas where exteriorizations and interiorizations take place, actions that can affect and alter one's identity (Retsikas, 2007a). Potency [kesaktian] and high status are inherent in the mastery of such flows and interactions, in the sense that through disciplined observance of social norms and the performance of ascetic exercises (fasting, prayer and meditation, often carried out in isolation), one achieves and/or enhances one's control over the outings and the comings into the body.…”

“…It may be worth noting that across Java, ethnic Javanese stereotypically associate Madurese with physical violence, while at the same time ethnic Madurese accuse Javanese of being more prone to and adept in employing the mystical arts in exacting revenge. The distinction between physical and mystical violence is itself part of the pervasive halus-kasar distinction I have discussed elsewhere with special reference to regional ethnic distinctions (Retsikas, 2007a).…”

Forgotten People: Poverty, Risk and Social Security in Indonesia

“…Although they are officially the fourth largest ethnic group, after the Javanese, Sundanese and Malay, they are a kind of forgotten people of Indonesia, often Nowadays, very few scholars work on this ethnic group and they are seldom studied in Indonesian academia except for a wave of attention during the outbreaks of violence following the fall of Suharto. Notable exceptions are: De Jonge and Nooteboom 2006;Retsikas 2007;Smith 2011;Stenross 2011. During the process of regime change and decentralisation, the Madurese have disappeared from the larger picture and have received only negative attention during the outbreaks of violence in West andCentral Kalimantan between 1999 and invisible, poorly represented at higher governmental levels and squeezed between Java and the rest.…”

“…The Madurese, as an ethnic group, are socially, culturally and economically excluded from mainstream developments in Indonesia. The Madurese belong to the poorest ethnic groups in Indonesia; they are underrepresented in the government bureaucracy and the higher ranks of the army and the police, they are relatively poorly educated and often referred to in negative terms such as unrefined, unreliable and uncivilized and are to be found in low-paid, dirty and manual jobs (De Jonge 1995, Niehof et al 2005, Retsikas 2007:187, Smith 2011, Stenross 2011. Investigating Madurese making a living in modern Indonesia largely means looking at Indonesia from its fringes.…”