Polarization occurs across multiple facets of life, including politics, economy, the environment, religion, gender, and other identities. Gender issues hold significant importance as gender equity and gender rights are essential for establishing a just society. In this regard, religious narratives may foster a biased understanding of women, consequently contributing to gender divides. 

This cluster focuses on how polarization may be grounded in gender inequality, affects gender issues, and becomes an obstacle to justice. The Indonesian experience presents a compelling example, as women activists from various religious and political backgrounds share significant common concerns regarding gender issues, which carries the potential for collaboration to mitigate polarization. An additional instance from Malaysia illustrates the influence of increasing polarization on gender rights and human rights, highlighting how Islamist narratives contribute to deepening societal divisions.

We will commence our cluster with a screening of the documentary film “Three Voices” (2023), which raises the voices of three Indonesian Muslim women from three different religious organizations representing various perspectives on women’s issues.  It will stimulate conversation on gender, polarization, and social justice by facilitating the exchange of participants’ experiences from various countries. Participants, which include policymakers, grassroots activists, and human rights organizations, are anticipated to share examples from their work or experiences. This will highlight essential elements of polarization and examine possible strategies for depolarization, while also offering numerous opportunities to share insights and establish networks with others addressing similar issues in the Global South.

Programs:

1. Film Screening “Three Voices” and discussion

2. FGD and sharing session

3. Potential collaboration to mitigate polarization