Faculty of Humanities at Diponegoro University (FIB Undip) once again brought an intellectually rich atmosphere through its Visiting Professor program, featuring Dr. Soe Tjen Marching from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. Held on Tuesday, April 23, 2025, the event took place at 10:00 AM WIB, both offline in the Main Meeting Room of Building A, FIB Undip, and online via Zoom Meeting, allowing a wider academic audience to participate.
Carrying the theme “Literature and Feminism: Why Do Hegemony and Discrimination Still Prevail?”, the forum invited participants to explore the intricate relationship between literature and feminist issues, which remain highly relevant in today’s society.
Inequality Persists, Even When Equality Seems Visible
In her opening remarks, Eta Farmacelia Nurulhady, S.S., M.Hum., M.A., Ph.D., Vice Dean of Academic and Student Affairs at FIB Undip, emphasized that gender inequality is still very much present in everyday life, despite the growing visibility of women in various public spheres.
“Even in the smallest aspects of life, we can still feel the lingering presence of patriarchal dominance. Today is an important moment for us to learn and reflect on the forms of hegemony and discrimination that persist,” said Eta.
She also expressed her gratitude that FIB Undip was able to host a speaker like Dr. Soe Tjen Marching, who offers fresh perspectives on feminism from both local and global lenses.
Visiting Professor bersama Dr. Soe Tjen Marching dari The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.
Books, Literature, and Social Media: New Arenas for Women to Speak Out
Dr. Soe Tjen Marching delivered a critical and reflective presentation on the realities of contemporary feminism.
She explained that discrimination against women continues to exist, even in an era rich with alternative media platforms such as books, novels, and social media.
“Alternative media can serve as a space for women to raise their voices. When public oration becomes too cruel, writing can be both an escape and a form of resistance,” said Soe Tjen.
She also reminded the audience of the importance of appreciating the work itself, not just the creator. A piece of literature may hold lasting aesthetic and social value, while its creator, as a human, may be flawed.
Encouraging Students to Be More Critical and Progressive
Through this forum, FIB Undip not only showed its concern for gender and literary issues but also aimed to encourage students to become more critical, reflective, and courageous in expressing themselves through various mediums.
Dr. Soe Tjen hopes that the younger generation, especially students, will not merely be consumers of literature but also revive the spirit of critical thought within their own creative works.
This Visiting Professor session stands as a tangible effort by FIB Undip to build a campus that is inclusive and committed to knowledge, equality, and humanity. It is hoped that programs like this will continue and become a space for liberating and enlightening dialogue.