Reporter: Ahmad Hadid
Umah Ramah with Komunitas Literasi Senja (Senja literacy community), Kopi Satu Visi, and Forum Taman Baca Masyarakat Kota Cirebon (FTBM KOCI; a Reading Park Forum for Cirebon City Community) held a discussion on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at the Coffee Shop Satu Visi, Kesambi, Cirebon City. The way the topic of sexuality is discussed deviates from the research findings in the book of Pesantren, Seksualitas dan Kekerasan Seksual (Islamic Boarding Schools, Sexuality, and Sexual Violence).
To attain the complexity of the discussion material, this time around the discussion was conducted in series, in contrast to the prior book discussion activities.
“The book discussion will be held in series because the contents of this big book are heavy. The first book discussion will start with a discussion about sexuality,” said the discussion moderator, Mahirotus Shofa.
The two presenters shared their different points of view in a conversation that was witnessed by numerous young people from various groups in Cirebon. They are Asih Widyowati, the founder of Umah Ramah and Ayuning Dharma Malik, an activist in Senja literacy community.
Asih Widyowati expressed concern that society frequently interprets the terms “sex” “sexual”, “sensual” and “sexuality” incorrectly. Often the words are generalized and interpreted as sexual intercourse. Such a false perspective eventually distorts perceptions of sexual violence and attempts to address it.
“Understanding sexuality is essential to comprehending what sexual violence is. Sexuality is still widely associated with sex. When sexuality is viewed in that way, sexual violence is viewed with bias which only seen as major incidents like rape and sexual assault,” she said.
She stated that understanding sexuality is an endeavor to understand oneself. People rarely understand sexuality, which has to do with how they change, develop, and feel comfortable.
Another resource person, Ayuning Dharma Malik, explained that the book Pesantren, Seksualitas dan Kekerasan Seksual included a very thorough examination of sexuality. She acknowledged that she had learned a great deal from the book and felt that new awareness had emerged.
“I just found a very detailed book discussing sexuality. This book opens my awareness that sexuality is not only about sex but includes many things in life,” she said.
She asserts that the book explains sexuality in a way that goes beyond physical characteristics and biological elements.
“Understanding our body and surroundings is a component of sexuality. Additionally, sexuality is not present after aqil baligh; rather, it develops from the moment of birth until death. Such an understanding needs to be communicated to the broader public in order to end the ongoing misunderstanding,” she said. []
This article was translated by Napol Riel.
Purchase the book HERE.