Out of the Shadows: Reclaiming Religious Space for Marginalised Communities

Panel Convenor(s)

• DG

  Diego Garcia Rodriguez

  University of Nottingham, United Kingdom

Panel Chair(s)

• DG

  Diego Garcia Rodriguez

  University of Nottingham, United Kingdom

Presenter(s)

• DG

  Diego Garcia Rodriguez

  University of Nottingham, United Kingdom
• KS

  Khanis Suvianita

  Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia
• AI

  Alicia Izharuddin

  National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore

Situated within the rich cultural mosaic of Southeast Asia, where religious landscapes span from Buddhism to Islam, Hinduism to Christianity, and indigenous faiths, this panel aims to uncover the narratives often hidden in mainstream religious discourse. The focus will be on how minority communities in the region interact with and influence religious spaces, particularly when mainstream interpretations often present religion in conflict with their own identities.

Our panel seeks to unravel the complexities of religious experiences in Southeast Asia from the perspectives of those on the margins, whether defined by their gender, ethnicity, race, sexuality, or other social markers. While religious spaces can be sites of exclusion or even persecution, they can also be places where minority and marginalised groups find a sense of community, identity, and agentic power.

The panel will employ a multi-disciplinary approach, drawing insights from anthropology, sociology, and religious studies. It aims to explore the multifaceted ways these communities reclaim, negotiate, or transform religious spaces to reflect their own experiences and values. Real-world case studies will be discussed to underline how religious symbols, rituals, and spaces are successfully repurposed to serve as sources of empowerment and resistance.

In exploring these intersections, the panel aims not only to give voices to minority groups themselves but also to challenge and enrich prevailing narratives about religion and social inclusion in Southeast Asia. The ultimate goal is to illuminate pathways toward a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive religious landscape.

Presentations:

• 11:15 – 13:00 (GMT+7)

  Agency as Submission: Faith, Spirituality and Religion in Contemporary Indonesia
  

  Presenter: Diego Garcia Rodriguez – University of Nottingham
• 11:15 – 13:00 (GMT+7)

  Waria Engagement in Local Development: A Political Perspective
  

  Presenter: Khanis Suvianita – Gadjah Mada University
• 11:15 – 13:00 (GMT+7)

  Trans-motherhood on the edge: Competing necro and biopolitics in the lives of transgender mothers living with HIV
  

  Presenter: Alicia Izharuddin – National University of Singapore (NUS)