The Made-Up State: Technology, Trans Femininity, and Citizenship in Indonesia

Warias, a trans feminine population in Indonesia, have developed a unique way of captivating the affective, material, and spatial experiences of belonging to a modern public sphere. Benjamin Hegarty's research combines historical and ethnographic research to trace their participation in visual and bodily technologies, shaping the contours of modern selfhood and challenging the binary of male and female.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 198 pages
Publication date: 15 December 2022
Publisher: Cornell University Press

In his captivating book, "The Made-Up State," Benjamin Hegarty delves into the fascinating world of warias, who are a significant part of Indonesia's trans feminine population. Through a meticulous blend of historical and ethnographic research, Hegarty explores the intricate ways in which warias have cultivated a distinctive sense of belonging to the modern public sphere. By examining their participation in various visual and bodily technologies, ranging from psychiatry and medical transsexuality to photography and feminine beauty, Hegarty sheds light on the complex ways in which warias have shaped the contours of modern selfhood.

The concept of development employed by the modern Indonesian state is predicated on naturalizing the binary of male and female. Warias, as historical brokers between gender as a technological system of classifying human difference and state citizenship, played a pivotal role in shaping the very fabric of modern selfhood. Despite being positioned as nonconforming within this system, warias have exerted a profound influence on the development of state rule.

"The Made-Up State" offers a profound insight into warias as part of the social and technological framework of state rule, which has opened up new avenues for individuals to perceive and be perceived as citizens in postcolonial Indonesia. Through their unique experiences and contributions, warias have challenged traditional notions of gender and identity, paving the way for a more inclusive and diverse society. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the complex intersections of gender, technology, and state power in contemporary Indonesia.

Weight: 310g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501766657