CONTESTING PATRIARCHY: DJENAR MAESA AYU’S 'THEY SAY I AM A MONKEY' (Pages 132-145) by Dr. Liss Marie Das in THE ENGLISH RESEARCH EXPRESS / ISSN:2321-1164 (Online); 2347-2642 (Print)

Women writers explore the multilayered problems faced by women in patriarchal societies. Their themes become intensely emotional as they are interconnected with many issues ranging from the lack of personal freedom to everything related to humanity. The Indonesian women writers of the 1990s write about a number of themes which are considered taboo in their culture. The present generation of writers who are dismissed by the mainstream Indonesian literary world as “sastra wangi” or fragrant literature contests the local tradition and patriarchy through explicit descriptions of sexuality. These writings have to be read against the backdrop of turbulent political history of Indonesia, a nation struggling to come of the shackles of conservative religious outlook even after gaining political independence. The present paper takes into account the short stories of Djenar Maesa Ayu whose stories under the title They Say I’m A Monkey is a vehement protest against the political and sexual violence against women. The stories are told from the perspective of girl children who are largely ignored by their parents. It highlights the trauma they face in the patriarchal society which tries to confine them within the accepted norms. The stories translated into English opens up overarching themes and ranging from religious freedom to sexuality. Key words: Indonesian Women’s Writing, patriarchy, sexuality, stereotyping and resistance.