Elsevier

Reproductive Health Matters (RHM)

Youth, Sexuality and Sex Education Messages in Indonesia: Issues of Desire and Control
Author(s): Brigitte M. Holzner and Dédé Oetomo
Source: Reproductive Health Matters, Vol. 12, No. 23, Sexuality, Rights and Social Justice (May,
2004), pp. 40-49
Published by: Reproductive Health Matters (RHM)
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 ? 2004 Reproductive HealthMatters.
REPRODUCTIVE
All rightsreserved.
HEALTH
ReproductiveHealthMatters2004;12(23):40-49 matters
ELSEVIER 0968-8080/04$ - see frontmatter
www.rhm-elsevier.com PII: S0968-8080(04)23122-6 www.rhmjoumal.org.uk

Youth, andSexEducation
Sexuality in
Messages
IssuesofDesireandControl
Indonesia:
M Holzner,a
Brigitte Dede Oetomob
a Senior ofSocialStudies,
Institute
Lecturer, TheHague,Netherlands.
E-mail:
Holzner@iss.nl
inSocialSciences,
b SpecialReader Programme,
Postgraduate ofSurabaya,
University EastJava,Indonesia

Abstract:Sincethe 1994 International Conference on Population and Development, theneedfor

sexualityeducationforyouthhas beenarticulated, and numerous in Indonesia,
activities especially
Java,havebeendirected at youngpeople.However, manyparents, teachersand religiousleaders
haveconsidered itessentialthatsucheducation shouldsuppress youthsexuality. This reflects
article
uponcurrent discourseson youthsexualityinJavaas againsttheactualsexualbehaviour ofyoung
people.Usingexamplesfrompopularmagazinesand educational publications,and focusgroup
discussionswithyoungmenand womenin Surabaya,EastJava,we arguethatthedominant
discourseinJavadenouncesyouthsexuality
prohibitive as unhealthy, reinforced through
intimidationaboutthedangersofsex.Incontrast, a discourse ofcompetence and citizenship would
moreadequatelyreflect theactualsexualbehaviour of youth, and raisesnewchallengesfor
sexualityeducation.Information shouldbe availableto youthconcerning different sexualities,
respectingthespectrum Popularyouthmediahavean especially
of diversity. important roleto
playin this.The means to stayhealthy and be -
responsible contraceptives and condoms - should
be availableat siteswhereyouthfeelcomfortable aboutaccessingthem.Meanwhile, young
Indonesiansare engagingin different forms ofsexualrelationships and finding theirown
sourcesof information,independent ofgovernment, religion and international organisations.
? 2004 Reproductive HealthMatters. Allrights reserved.

Keywords:youngpeople,sexualrelationships, sexualhealthservices,
education,
sexuality
media,Indonesia

A FTER
on and
tothefore.Promi-
Conference andtheneedsofadolescents
the 1994International
aca-
theneed nenthereareAIDS serviceorganisations,
Population Development,
forsexuality educationforyouthwas ar- demicresearch groups, progressive mediaand
andnumerous
ticulated, inJava,where somelesbian-gay-transgender
activities organisations.23
halfthepopulation ofIndonesialive,weredi- Foucaultidentifiedeffortsto makesexuality
rectedat adolescents.Since the fall of the intheyounga theme ofeducation becauseofits
Suharto regime in 1997,there havebeen shifts perceiveddangers,especially masturbation.4
in policyto addressreproductive healthand Sucheducational efforts relyuponmoraland
rights,andsexuality andsexualhealth.lAtthe medical principlesthatdescribe childandyouth
sametime,Indonesian civil as and
societyorganisa- sexuality unhealthy morally devastating.5
tions,especiallyhealthactivistsand feminist Regulatorymechanisms of society,
represented
groups,have succeededin bringinghuman by parents, teachers and religiousleaders,are
rights to sexuality
in relation andreproductionseenas essential to suppressjuvenilesexuality.

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 D Oetomo
BM Holzner, HealthMatters2004;12(23):40-49
/Reproductive

Thisarticlereflectsuponcurrent discourseson Centralto thisdiscourseis theidea of

rights.9'10
youthsexualityin Java as against the actual competenceof adolescents:to be able to make
sexual behaviourof adolescents.We arguethat decisionsaboutsex in a matureway.Thenotion
thedominant prohibitivediscourseinJavadenies of competentcitizenshipincludesparticipation,
and denouncesyouth sexualityas abnormal, access,equal and just treatment.6 The Conven-
unhealthy, illegalorcriminal,reinforcedthrough tionoftheRightsoftheChildas wellas theCairo
intimidation about the dangersof sex. In con- declarationaboutreproductive and sexualrights
trast,a discourseofcompetenceand citizenship6 ascribeto youthof bothsexes such competence
wouldmoreadequatelyreflecttheactualsexual whenfullyinformed and havinghad education
behaviourofyouth,and raisesnewchallengesto in thesematters.
sexualityeducationdifferent froma framework Differentlyfromthe prohibitive, regulatory
ofprohibition. framework, this discourse is permissiveand
Our data sourcesincludea youthmagazine buildson theenlightenment principleof ration-
that explicitlydeals with reproductive health; ality,in contrastto the idea of an irrational
the four most popular youth magazines in sexual drivein searchof satisfaction.A citizen-
2001-03, whichillustrate the imageryof youth ship discoursesupportsa beliefin self-control
sexuality; information from focus group dis- throughrationalchoice,not requiringoutside
cussions with young men and women in the controls.Nonetheless, thereis also ambivalence
East Javanese city of Surabaya; publications in thisdiscourse:adolescentsexualityis toler-
on reproductivehealth for youth fromthe ated,evenaccepted,yetframedwithconceptsof
past decade by international,governmental, rightsand responsibility. Thus, youth can be
and non-governmental organisations;and data sexually activebut have to show care fortheir
on sexual activityamong young Indonesians. own and theirpartner'shealth,consent and
We do not providea comprehensive overview pleasure,a positionsupportedby progressive
of publicationsand debatesabout youthsexu- Indonesiancivilsocietygroups.
ality in Java, but use a selectionto illustrate
our argument.
Discourses
ofprohibition
and intimidation
To illustratethe discourseof prohibitionand
Sexuality discourses intimidation,we use twoexamplesfroma youth
The regulation of youth sexuality occurs magazinepublishedby theNGO YayasanPelita
throughlegal-moral mechanismsthat allow Ilmu (<http://www.pelita-ilmu.or.id/>) a health
sexualityin marriagebut denysexual activity NGO set up in theearly1990s to workon HIV/
in non-married youth,as it poses a threatto the AIDS, includingforyoung people, who later
normswhichthestateand religionfeelrespon- developedworkon sexualityissuesmoregener-
sible for. The minimumage at marriagein ally.Thefoundation operatesseveralhealthclin-
Indonesiais 19 formen and 16 forwomen.7 ics in Jakarta,a buddy programmeforAIDS
Themedianage at firstmarriagehas beenrising patients,a drug abuse preventionand care
since 1994 (currently 20 in urbanareas and 18 programme and trainingon reproductivehealth
yearsrurally), and the age-specificfertility rate issues.It publishesa monthlymagazineWarta
has declined(from76 in 1991 to 62 in 1997 in Propas, with a circulationof 2,500, which is
15-17 yearolds) but is stillrelatively high.8 distributedto school-going youth and sold
It is a contradiction that a 16-year-oldgirl at kiosks.
can have sexual relationsand pleasurewithin
the confinesof marriage, whichgivesheradult Scene1
statusand allowsheraccess to familyplanning The back page of the January2002 issue of
and reproductive healthservices.Whereas,ifshe WartaPropas containsa drawingfroma cari-
is unmarried it is consideredsinful,pathological caturedrawingcompetition, run as partof the
or abuse and she has to face sanctions for StudentCreativityFestival among adolescent
violatingsocietalprohibitions. pupils in October2001. On a bench,outdoors,
A different discourseabout youthsexuality a girlis sittingin obviousdespair.Her school-
engages notions of citizenship and human bag lies besidesher(Figure1).The signforOSIS

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 BM Holzner,D Oetomo/ ReproductiveHealth Matters2004;12(23):40-49

(InternalSchool StudentOrganization)identi- horribleghost?Is abortiontheultimatesin?Is it

fies her as a schoolgirl.She is thinkingabout
studyand marriage,posed as alternatives. The
use of the words in English mightindicate
thatshe has followedWesternways by having
sex. The ghostwith a skull for a face draws
immediateattention,along with the black (or
bloody?)Indonesianword aborsi (abortion)on
its chest,holdinga knifefromwhichdropsof
blood are falling.
The alternatives of studyor marriageare not
picturedas horrendous. Thoughstudymay be
more desirablethan marriage,the only really
frightening idea is abortionforthis,we assume,
pregnant schoolgirl. Questionsarisingfromthe
drawingmightbe: Is abortionthe worstthing
that can happento a pregnantgirl?Abortion,
would it kill,with a knife?Or does the knife
suggesttheembryowouldbe killed?Wouldshe
be able to continueher studies?Would she be
able to marryafterhavingaborted?Wouldshe,
a pregnantteenager,have to marryif she did
not have an abortion?Why would an abor-
tion not be seen as relief?Why is it a bloody
so frightening?
Was the artist a girl, showing her own
problem?Or did theartistwantto warnothers?
Was it a he? Is thedrawingan cryof despairor
protestagainst the lack of accessible,afford-
able and safe abortionservices?Is the drawing
an accusation against the dangerous,painful
and illegal abortionsto whichyoung Indone-
sian girlshave recourse?Is the drawing,and
this is what we suspect, a warning against
sexual relationships duringschool years - sex
that forcesyou to give up your studies,your
hopes for a good marriage,sex threatening
your life? Is the message of this drawingan
appeal for abstinence,virginity, repressionof
sexual desires? And isn't the threat of an
unsafeabortionthe mostdrasticwarningpos-
sible against sexual relations for a young
adolescentstudent?
Thereis no youngmanin thisdrawing.Didn't
she love him, have pleasurewith him, desire
him? Is her pregnancythe resultof rape,vio-
lence, date rape, incest,all of which girlsare

Figure1.

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 BM Holzner,
D Oetomo HealthMatters2004;12(23):40-49
/Reproductive
madeafraidof? Is she a victimofherown or an
olderor youngman's desires?In thisscene of
fear,he is absent.Whatdoes thedrawingtellus
aboutthistimid,lonelygirl?"Grrl"power?Not
in thisscene. Genderrelations,sexual relations
are missing;we are confronted onlywithpreg-
nancy as consequenceand as nightmare. Sex-
ualityand horror.Sexualityas horror.
Scene2
In thesame issueofthe WartaPropasmagazine
there is a long article entitled "Chatting.
Berguna atau malah berbahaya?" (Chatting:
useful or dangerous?)1 This time,it is boys
who are in danger.The articlereportsthe story
of a 17-year-oldboywithhomosexualinterests
who was invitedaftera cyberchatto a Gayand
LesbianRoom,wherehe meta 25-year-oldman
who said he would introducehim to the gay
world.He was takento an apartment wherehe
was raped by two men,who tied his feetand
coveredhismouthwithtape.Theboysuffocated
and died.The perpetrators cut up his body,put
the partsin a suitcaseand leftit in frontof a
postoffice.Thepolicefoundthemurderers, who
insistedthattheboy's deathwas an accident.
The messageis to watch out forcybersex;
you startwithchattingand you end up being
raped and murdered.Don't trustmen in the
cyberworld,they can find you, your phone
numberand address,and kill you. Look for
safety,have positiveaims whichalso can bring
fun,look for healthyentertainment, distance
yourselffromthosewho intendto harmyou -
thatis theadvice at theend of thestory.Again
thereis a linkbetweensex and danger,sex and
death,and boysare not saferthangirls.Homo-
sexual encounters canbe as dangerousas hetero-
sexual ones. Be careful,awas! Gaul itu perlu,
tapijangankebablasan!You needto be cool,but
don'tgo too far!
This destructive image of sex as the termi-
natorof life,status,chancesand hopesis chan-
nelled into educationdiscourses,illustratedin
the publicationsof the threemost influential
familyplanning organisationsin Indonesia:
PKBI (Indonesianfamilyplanningassociation),
UNFPA (UN Population Fund), and BKKBN
(NationalFamilyPlanningCoordination Board).
A PKBI poster,forexample,uses a similar,
thoughless dramaticmessagethan the Warta
Propas article "Bergaulboleh,sex - no way"
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(Have fun,butno sex). PKBI has explainedthat
sucha strong"no" to adolescentsex is promoted
due to the absenceof contraceptives foryouth
and unmarriedpersonsand a law thatforbids
abortion.Sexualpermissiveness, theysay,would
have catastrophicconsequences - unwanted
pregnancies,sexuallytransmitted diseases,giv-
ingup ambitions, exposureto crimeand destruc-
tionofone'slife.PKBIusespragmatic reasonsof
harmprevention foritscampaign,notideologi-
cal ones. Yet, this pragmatismcoincideswith
religiousbeliefs(no sex beforemarriage)and
statepolicy(familyplanningand reproductive
healthservicesonly formarriedcouples),sup-
portingthesameprinciple.12
The websiteof PKBI of WestJava also pro-
videsa longlistofreasonswhysex beforemar-
riage shouldbe prevented. The main reason is
thattherisksaretoo high(unwantedpregnancy,
guilt feelings,STDs, HIV/AIDS).Furthermore,
religiousprohibitionis cited - sex is sacred
and meant for procreation,thereforesexual
relationshipsshould only be realisedin sanc-
tionedformsof commitment and responsibility.
Consequently,abstinenceis the best formof
pregnancyprevention,requiringcommitment,
motivationand self-control.Sex shouldnot be
the expressionof love either,the site says.
Rather,sex would preventthe couple getting
to knoweach other,because ofthesexual satis-
factionone achieves.So what shouldthe ado-
lescentdo? "Repressyoursexual desires!Don't
touch eroticbody zones, because the nerves
therewould increaseyoursexual drive,which
would weakenyourself-control! Do thingsto-
getherwithyourboy/girl friendthatare non-
sexual... Adolescentshave sexual relationships
forproofof love, separationfear,curiosity, the
beliefthatsex is common,pleasure,no fearof
STDs or pregnancy, money,trivialisation
ofsex,
lack ofself-controland demonstration ofsexual
prowess.What would preventan adolescent
fromhaving sex? Fear of the consequences,
obedienceto parents,fearof violence,friend-
ship, consciousnessof sinfulness,immaturity
and fearof loss of virginity...
To preventsex,
decide your boundaries,don't drinkalcohol,
don't take drugs,be firmin your resistance,
don't get dependenton someoneelse, be open
aboutyourrefusal,mistrust, don'tgo to isolated
places,don't meet yourfriend,and pray.Ifyou
followthisadvice,you will be a healthycouple
43
 D Oetomo
BMHolzner, Health
/Reproductive Matters
2004;12(23):40-49
(Pacaran Sehat),physically,mentallyand so-
ciallyhealthy."13
In this discourseof self-regulation,a new
moralprincipleof responsibility is asserted-
responsibleabstinence.13This assemblage of
warnings,advice and promisesculminatesin
theslogan"Bergaulboleh,sex - no way'"Thus,
youthshouldvanquishtheirsexualitythrough
self-restraint.
Nowadays,theperiodofadolescencehas been
extendedthroughfurther educationand train-
ing.The abstinencediscourseis supported by an
older familyplanningdiscourseof the desir-
abilityof greatereducationforgirlsbecause of
the correlationbetweenfemaleeducationand
latermarriage, whicheventuallyleads to lower
fertility.14'15
However,all these good reasons for absti-
nence in adolescence, appealing to rational
decision-making on issues of morality,
seemto
need to be complementedby not-so-rational
horrorstoriesand fear-mongering. These vast
effortsto inculcate behavioural change and
preventunacceptablesexual activityraise the
questionofwhatadolescentbehaviourin sexual
mattersactuallyis.
Data on adolescentsexual behaviour
in Indonesia
The BKKBNwebsitereportsthatin the 1990s,
20-30% ofyouthlivingin theJavanesecitiesof
Bandung,Bogor,Sukabumiand Yogyakartaen-
gaged in premarital sex. The biggestsurveyto
date,conductedin 1998 among4,106 men and
3,978 womenaged 15-24 in West,Centraland
East Java and Lampungin southernSumatra,
foundthat althoughmost respondentsdisap-
proved of sexual activitybefore or outside
marriage,12% approvedpremaritalsex if the
couplewereplanningto marry.l6
A much smallerstudyamong 210 students
(aged 15-24) who weresexuallyactiveand un-
marriedfoundthatmorethanhalfhad had sex
aftera year of acquaintancewitha partner.In
addition,some youthshad regularcommercial
sex encounters and othershomosexualencoun-
ters,and a few attended"orgies".This author
also pleads forcontrolof sexual urges(disiplin
hasrat).7
A studyin JavabyPKBIin 1994foundthatof
2,558abortions, 58% wereinyoungwomenaged
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15-24, of whom 62% were not married.Nine
cases were in girlsunderthe age of 15.18 A
qualitativestudyin2002 ofpremarital pregnancy
in 44 adolescentsinYogyakarta, foundthat11of
18 pregnantgirls(aged 15-20) had had an abor-
tionand 17 othershad givenbirth.Moreyoung
womenwithhighereducationchose abortion,
whereasthose withless educationgave birth.
The reasons given forunprotected intercourse
werelack ofknowledgeabouttheconsequences
ofsexual actsand impulsiveness.19
In manycases, marriageis forcedon young
peoplewho maynotbe economically or socially
prepared for it, often in
resulting earlydivorce.
In the survey already mentioned,13.1% of
young men and 23.1% of youngwomenwho
had marriedsaid theywereforcedto marryby
theirparents(reasonsnotstated),andtwo-thirds
ofthemfeltthattheyhad marriedtoo young.16
Hypocritically,the detrimentaleffectsof forced
marriageare rarelyacknowledged.
All these studiesindicatethat a substantial
minorityof adolescents are sexually active,
though"active"is notdefined.A studyin 1994
of sexual behaviourin urban,Jakartan, middle-
class youthby Utomoprovidesdetailson this
question. Of 344 high school studentsaged
15-19, 7% of boys and 2% of girlshad had
intercourse.Othersexualexpressions likekissing
on the lips (23%) and breast (18%) and genital
fondling(11%)werereported by moreboysthan
girls.80% of adolescentgirls felt
thatpremarital
sex wouldneverbe right,but otherswereposi-
tiveaboutpremarital sex if contraceptives
were
used (16%),therewas mutualagreement (5%),in
thecase oflove (20%),iftheparents-in-law had
already proposed (13%), if already engaged
(21%) or if a male prostitutewas involved (4/o).
The attitudesof the boys were quite similarto
thoseofthegirls,but 10%feltpremarital sexwas
all rightwithmutualagreementand 14% if it
was witha prostitute.In general,Muslimyouth
had less sexual experiencethan non-Muslims
moreconservative
and significantly beliefsthan
non-Muslims.20
Open discussionswithyoungpeople
on
In orderto gatherqualitativeinformation
sexual activity among universitystudents,
Oetomoconductedfocusgroupdiscussionswith
fiveyoung women and fouryoung men who
 BM Holzner,
D Oetomo HealthMatters2004;12(23):40-49
/Reproductive
were already analysingissues of genderand
sexualitywith him. Theywere aged 19 to 25
and fromboth rural and urban backgrounds.
Therewerethreesessions.Fourof the fivepar-
ticipantsin thefirstsessiontookpartin thethird
one as well,as did one ofthefourin thesecond
discussion.The firstand second sessionswere
based on scanningone issueeach ofthreepopu-
laryouthmagazines,chosenrandomly. Thekey-
words gender and sexuality were used to
provokediscussion.The thirddiscussionwas
based on a seriesof questionsaboutthepartici-
pants'sexualpracticesand thoseoftheirfriends,
andthemeaningofthesepractices.Oetomoand a
facilitator
led thediscussions.
For theseyoung people,partnerchoice was
veryimportant. Most of themsaid thatideally
theirpartnerwould resemblea youngsingeror
filmstar,witha lightskin colour,"baby face",
straighthair, tall body and muscular.Others
added criteriasuch as same religion,economic
security,competenceand responsibility. Some
girlswanted theirboyfriends to look like their
father.Boys wanted a girlfriend who looked
fresh,voluptuousor thoughtful. Mostwerecon-
scious thatthosecharacteristics were not easi-
ly found.
In this group,seven had engagedin sexual
witha partner
activities, or alone.On a ratingset
by the group fromone to ten, with one for
manual stimulationand ten for intercourse,
two-thirdsof the group ratedtheirbehaviour
betweenfiveand ten - withboysfromsevento
ten and girlsfiveto seven,whichmeantsexual
stimulationwithoutundressing.Girlssaid that
they engaged sexually because of feelingsof
love, desire for pleasure and curiosityto try
somethingtheyhad heardor read about.Most
girlsonlystoppedsexual activitiesfromconcern
about therisksof pregnancy, abortion,punish-
mentby parentsor social exclusion.Onlya few
thoughtthey should maintaintheirvirginity
untilmarriage.Onlyone refrained fromsex for
religiousreasons. The boys said theirsexual
activitiesweremotivatedby affection, physical
desire,curiosityand thesearchforcreativity in
tryingout something new.Religiondid notplay
a roleforthem.Boys said thattheyreducedthe
risksof pregnancyby coitus interruptus, anal
sex or use of contraceptives.
Theirsourcesof information on sexual activ-
ityand contraception werefriends, youthjour-
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nals, blue movies and mimeographederotic
magazines,and also parentsand thesex educa-
tion package at school. Interestingly,
none of
themhad read a publicationabout sexualityor
contraception fromofficialgovernment sources
or NGOs, nor was the Interet mentioned.In
educationalsessionsat school,theyhad learned
about the reproductiveorgans,menstruation,
hygieneand thedangersofintercourse, and also
about the contraceptivepill and condoms. One
participantsaid thatwarningshad not affected
him;on thecontrary, he wantedto havesex,but
safesex.
The youthin our sampledid not seem to be
impressed byproscriptionsbystateand religious
sources;theyreliedon theirownwill and found
the information they needed. They were not
activistsforsexual rights,but young citizens
livinga rightthatofficiallyis deniedto them.
Content
ofpopularyouthmagazines
Exposureto the media, especiallyto Western
musicon televisionand radio,radio news and
popularsciencereports, and scienceand health
programmes on televisionare "strongpredictors
ofthebehaviourand attitudes ofyoungpeople"
according to Utomo and McDonald.21 In a small
surveyoffourpopularyouthmagazines,* we did
notfindpreachyremarks oftheprohibitive kind
norpermissive remarks fromnanny-like parent-
figureswho treatyouthas objectsincapableof
taking care of themselves.Those magazines
are about celebritiesfromfilm,music,sports,
fashionand recreation,and invitereadersto
write in about theirlives, events in school,
problemswith familyand friends,and ask
questionsregarding (heterosexual)relationships.
A numberof lettersto the editorwere from
young people asking explicitquestionsabout
sexuality,e.g. same-sexpracticesand anal sex.
Our sense was that the magazines, being
commercial,had appraised the demands of
theirreadersand respondedto them(Interview
by Oetomowitheditorsof Hai, March2001).
*AnekaYess!(No.20, 25 Sept- 8 Oct2003),Gadis(Vol.
30,No. 26,26 Sept- 6 Oct2003),Kawanku(Vol.27,No.
37, 15-21 Sept 2003),and two issuesof Hai, one for
youngwomen(Vol.27 No.37, 15-21Sept2003)andone
foryoungmen(Vol.27 No. 38, 22-28 Sept2003).
45
 BM Holzner,
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/ Reproductive

Discourses
ofcitizenship,
competence cal processesofone's ownbodyand thebodyof
and rights a partner,fertility and contraception and the
Whenyouthare recognisedand respectedas a existence of and protection against sexually
social group,the issue of citizenshipcomes to transmitteddiseases. Interactiveknowledge
the fore.Citizenshipmeans firstand foremost wouldmeanrespectful communication and em-
rightsand entitlements as well as responsibility. pathy with a partner.Such knowledge cannot be
The Conventionon the Rights of the Child generated only by often under-informed peers
ascribes to childrenthe rightto freedomof orcommercial youthmagazines.It requiresedu-
expressionand information (Article13), while cation that includesdiscussionand reflection
the ICPD Programmeof Action 1994 says that and servicesthat provideaccess to condoms,
adolescentshave a rightto reproductive health contraceptives and safe abortion.
education,information and care, and calls on The Indonesian ConsumerAssociationhas
countriesto establishappropriateprogrammes publishedon thesemattersforthe NGO com-
to respondto theseneedsand to striveto reduce munityin Indonesia,24and elaborationof re-
STDs and pregnancyamongadolescents(Paras. productiveand sexual rightswas thesubjectof
7.46 and 7.47). exposuretoursfor22 representatives of Indo-
TheInternational PlannedParenthood Federa- nesian NGOs to the Netherlands in 2002.12 The
tion(IPPF)YouthManifesto, Lenterainitiativeof PKBI has the potentialto
developedbyyoung
services for adolescents in a non-
peoplefromall six IPPF worldregionsin 1998, provide
statesthreegoals: repressivemanner.The volunteerswho started
Lenterareachedoutto marginalised groupssuch
* Young people must have informationand as streetchildren, femalesex workersand gay-
educationon sexualityand the best possible identifiedand transvestitemen in a non-
sexual and reproductive healthservices(in- patronising way and workedwiththemto ad-
cludingcontraceptives). vocate sexual rights.25'26 a large
Interestingly,
* Young people must be able to be active numberof progressive NGO activistshave be-
citizensin theirsociety. gun standingfor electionto local, provincial
* Young people mustbe able to have pleasure andnationallegislatures, andthiswilleventually
and confidence in relationshipsand all affect policy, theyengagewithmoreconser-
as
of
aspects sexuality.22 vative sectors.
In September2003, a spokesman for the
On the basis of these rights,young people Indonesian Ministryof Justice and Human
could claim,forexample,the rightto contra- Rightsannounced on behalf of the Minister
ceptive services,irrespectiveof theirmarital that a new draft Criminal Code would be
status. This position is taken by Utamadi,a tabledin Parliament:
reproductive healthactivistwithPKBIin Yogya-
"The planned sexual behaviourlaws...include
karta,in an articlein Kompas,the biggestna-
tional newspaper.He pointsout the failureof prohibitions against adulteryand cohabitation
betweenadults, and oral sex and homosexual
the Indonesianstate to protectchildrenfrom
acts betweenyouths under the age of 18.
hazardouswork and trafficking, and the fact
thatpregnantteenagegirlsare forcedto marry
Punishment for these sexual crimeswould be
up to 12 yearsinjail."27
and leave school.He contendsthatadolescents
mustknow theirrightsin orderto be able to The reactionto thisby all but a fewultracon-
lobbyforthem.23 servativeIslamicmediawas refreshingly strong.
A non-prohibitivesexuality discourse for Human rightsactivistscriticisedthe Minister's
youth builds on a belief in their ability to attemptto bringsharia rulesinto nationalIn-
balance needswithrights.Yet,ascribingsexual donesianlaw. Journalists and theirinterviewees
and reproductive rightsto adolescentscannot be were outraged, and headlines suchas "We don't
separatedfromensuringtheyhave the compe- wantthe statein our bedrooms"weresplashed
tence to live out those rights.In our view, acrossthefrontpages of thenewspapers.28
competenceregardingsexuality has several Non-prohibition or allowance of sex is not
dimensions:factualknowledgeaboutthephysi- based on a concept of drives and instincts

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 D Oetomo
BM Holzner, HealthMatters2004;12(23):40-49
/Reproductive

determining behaviourbut ratheron a holistic independent of government, religionand inter-

concept of the capacityto be rationalabout nationalorganisations.
sexual interests.Non-prohibitiondoes not By providinginformation and the means to
mean "you musthave sex"; on the contrary, it sexual health,we actuallyreduce the risk of
means havinginformation and the acceptance young people inflictingharm on themselves.
of desire,dialogue, negotiationand pleasure. Theideal,in ouropinion,aresexuallystreet-wise
This is the meaning of empoweringyoung youthwhoknowwhennotto engagein sex,and
people in relationto sexuality. when theyare engaging,know how to protect
themselvesfromunwantedoutcomes,whether
pregnancy, STIs or HIV,and forgayyouthfrom
Conclusions futileexperimentation with heterosexualrela-
Untila politicalagenda is developedthatdares tionships. Popularyouthmediahavean especial-
to turnthe discourseof prohibition intoone of lyimportant roleto playin putting knowledgein
honesty and respect foradolescents' needs and the hands of to
youth, help them to be responsi-
rights,youngwomenand men,whetherhetero- ble. In addition,policy on adolescentsexual
sexual or homosexual,will be confronted with activity shouldconceptualise youthas a lifestage
expectationsthattheyshouldremaininnocent in whichmorethanjust sexualityis at issue.
and abstinent at a timewhentheyareseekingto In manyways,youngIndonesiansare fortu-
understand thesexual functions ofthebodyand nate to be livingin a countrywithone of the
act respectfully towardspartners. freestpressesin Asia and wherethefreedomto
In our studyof theliterature and discussions discusssexualityis growing,at least in urban
withyoungpeople,we foundthemto be rather areas.International donorshave also wokenup
activesexually.Theywerecurious,experiment- to the complexrealitiesof sexuality,and have
ingand unafraid, butalso careful.Youngpeople feltless constrainedto fund programmesfor
know quite a lot and want all the information educatingdifferent sectorsof society,including
theycan get- and theywantto be recognisedas government itself,about sexuality.By far the
responsiblebeings.The imagesofyoungpeople mostadvancedare the HIV/AIDSand STI pre-
we encounteredin discussions and popular ventionand careprogrammes now operatingin
magazines are contraryto those representing almost half the country'sprovinces.Young
youthas frightened oftheterrible consequences people are an importanttargetof these pro-
of sexualityand needingprotection. Rather,we grammes,not onlyheterosexual youthbut also
foundyoungpeople who are exploringan ex- young people who are sex workers (female,
perimentalfield of pleasure for themselves- male and transgender), homosexuals,transgen-
withsome cautionand withresponsibility - a ders and transexuals.In many instances,it is
fieldsegregatedfromadults.If prohibition does young people who are educatingprogramme
not preventyoungIndonesiansfromexperien- managersand fundersabout different sexuali-
cing their sexuality, what discourse about ado- ties. Otherorganisations, including those work-
lescentsexualityis ofvalue? ing on reproductive health and women's
If sexualityis a formof knowledge-seeking organisations,are not respondingas quickly
thatcreatesidentity and connectivity, thensex- to these new perspectives,but trendsin the
ualityis not something dangerous that should be mediaand amongstfunders are slowlyaffecting
suppressed.Young people can have a healthy, themas well.
informedand responsiblesexual life.Informa-
tion should be available concerningthe com- Acknowledgements
plexitiesof different sexualities,respectingthe This paper is a revised versionof a paper
spectrum ofdiversity. Themeansto stayhealthy presentedat theEuropeanSocial ScienceJava
and be responsible- contraceptives and con- NetworkConferenceon Youth and Identity,
doms - should be available at strategicsites Universitede Provence,Marseilles,2-5 May
whereyouthfeel comfortable about accessing 2002. Our thanksto DannyM Goenawanand
them.Meanwhile,young Indonesiansare en- Kholid Fathirius,who facilitatedfocus group
gagingin different formsof sexual relationship discussions.Translation oftextfrom Indonesian
and findingtheirown sourcesof information, to Englishwas bytheauthors.

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 BM Holzner,
D Oetomo
/Reproductive
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Resume Resumen
Depuis la Conferenceinternationale sur la Desde la CIPD de 1994, se ha expresado la
populationet le developpement en 1994, on a necesidad de impartireducaci6n sexual a la
articulele besoind'uneeducationsexuellepourles juventud y, con este fin, se han realizado
jeunesetbeaucoupd'activites a Java,Indonesie,
se numerosasactividadesen Java,Indonesia.Sin
sont adresseesaux adolescents.Neanmoins,de embargo,muchos padres, maestrosy lideres
nombreuxparents,enseignantset dirigeants religiosos piensan que esta educaci6n debe
religieuxont juge que cette education devait suprimirla sexualidadde la juventud.En este
supprimerla sexualite des jeunes. Cet article articulo se reflexiona sobre los discursos
reflechitaux discoursactuelssurla sexualitedes actualesque estanen contradelcomportamiento
jeunes a Java parrapport au comportement sexuel sexualde losjovenesde Java.Medianteejemplos
reeldesjeunes.A l'aide d'exemplesde magazines de revistaspopularesy publicacioneseducativas,
populaireset de publicationseducatives,et de asi como discusiones en grupos focales con
discussionsde groupeavec des jeunes gens et hombresy mujeresj6venes de Surabaya,Java
jeunes fillesa Surabaya,Java-Est, nousavancons Oriental, se argumenta que el discursoprohibitivo
que le discours dominant d'interdictiondecritla dominante en Javadenunciala sexualidadde la
sexualitedesjeunes commemalsaine,et pratique juventud como no saludable, reforzada
l'intimidation en citantles dangersdes rapports mediantela intimidacion en tornoa los peligros
sexuels.Pourtant, un discoursde competence et delsexo.En cambio,un discursode competencia y
de citoyennete est plus adapteau comportement ciudadania reflejariamas adecuadamente el
reeldesadolescents etfixedenouvelles tachespour verdadero comportamiento sexualde losjovenes,
l'educationsexuelle.Les jeunes doiventdisposer y plantearia nuevosretosparala educaci6nsexual.
d'informationssur diff6rentes sexualites, en La juventuddebe disponerde informaci6n sobre
respectantla diversitedes comportements. Les las diferentesmodalidadesde la sexualidad,que
mediaspopulairesparmiles jeunes ont un r6le respeteel espectrode diversidad. Los mediosde
particulierementimportanta jouer dans ce comunicacionpopularesdirigidosa los jovenes
domaine.Les moyensde demeureren bonne desempefian un papel de particular relevanciaal
sante et d'etreresponsables- contraceptifs et respecto.
Losmetodosparaconservar la saludy ser
preservatifs - devraient etredisponiblesdans des responsable (p. ej., anticonceptivoscomo el
endroitsoiules jeunes se sententa l'aise. Entre- condon)debenestardisponibles en lugaresdonde
temps, les jeunes Indonesiens pratiquent la juventud se sienta comoda accediendolos.
differentesformesde relations sexuelles et Mientrastanto, los j6venes indoneses estan
trouventleurs propressources d'information, participandoen diferentes tipos de relaciones
independantes des organisations etatiques, sexualesy encontrandosus propiasfuentes,de
religieuses et interationales. informaci6n,independientedel gobierno,la
y las organizaciones
religi6n intemacionales.

49

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