About Us

This research cluster focuses on critical studies of the intersection between gender, cultural identity, and diaspora through an interdisciplinary approach.

The research group makes significant and sustainable contributions to both the institution and its academic community. For Universitas Indonesia, the existence of this research group contributes to strengthening UI’s position as a World Class Research University through increased international publications, expanded global collaborations, and tangible contributions to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In line with this mission, the research group serves as a platform for research-based academic development within the Faculty of Humanities. It also strengthens the role of the Faculty of Humanities at Universitas Indonesia as a center for the study of culture, gender, and diaspora, with a focus on human empowerment and sustainable development. Meanwhile, for faculty members and students, the research group provides opportunities for collaborative research, academic supervision, and scholarly dissemination, directly strengthening the integration of the pillars of education, research, and community engagement.

The research and innovation activities conducted by this group directly contribute to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Under SDG 4 (Quality Education), its contribution is realized through research-based learning and continuous efforts to strengthen academic capacity. Under SDG 5 (Gender Equality), the group focuses on structural analyses of systems of inequality, highlighting the dynamics of agency, resistance, and empowerment strategies employed by individuals and communities in addressing contemporary socio-cultural challenges. Furthermore, its contribution to SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) is pursued through critical analysis using an intersectional lens to examine how power relations, local values, and transnational cultural influences simultaneously shape the experiences of individuals and groups, particularly vulnerable groups such as women and third-gender communities.

The research group also supports SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by exploring the role of diaspora communities—particularly women—in reconstructing geographical, social, and cultural boundaries in the contemporary world. These processes are closely related to gender relations, identity affiliations, and socio-cultural transformations experienced by those who navigate across such boundaries. Finally, the group’s contribution to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) is realized through in-depth studies of the role of the state in formulating gender-equality policies, while also examining how local communities negotiate matriarchal traditions amid the dominance of modern patriarchal values. Within this pillar, issues of intergenerational social dynamics, such as relationships between older adults and Gen Z, are also examined as reflections of transformations in gender values in today’s digital and globally connected cultural landscape.