Cultural Expectations of the Ideal Western and Indonesian Manliness in Romantic and Family Relationships through Literary Works

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-587-4_21How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Comparative Literature; Indonesia; Masculinity; Western

Abstract

This study explores differences in the construction of masculinity between Western and Indonesian cultures as reflected in literary works. This study aims to analyze the comparative representation of male characters within the dynamics of romantic and family relationships in three selected novels: Best of Me, which represents Western values (modern Western), and Nyai Gowok and Zakar Celeng, which represent local patriarchal culture (Javanese/Indonesian). Using a descriptive qualitative research method with a comparative literary approach, the focus of this study is on comparing cross-cultural constructions of masculinity within romantic and family relationships. The research findings reveal sharp cultural differences across the three novels. First, as protectors, Western masculinity is demonstrated through an egalitarian and non-dominating affective presence, whereas Indonesian masculinity is strongly tied to material provision (sandang, pangan, papan) and hierarchical authority as expressions of care. Second, regarding relationships with partners, Western male characters prioritize emotional labor—specifically the ability to listen and empathize—in contrast to local culture, which often glorifies stoicism (silence) as a sign of authority or uses emotional subjugation to control women. Third, in the realm of masculinity and inner fulfilment, Western literature places male strength in dedication and affective loyalty without an obsession with physical dominance, while Indonesian literature positions physical strength as the primary expectations that determine a man’s self-worth in private spaces. This study concludes that the portrayal of the modern Western man has shifted significantly toward the paradigm of caring masculinities, which facilitates relational equality, whereas the portrayal of the Indonesian man still grapples with the complexities of demands for hierarchical authority and the burden of proving traditional hegemony.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Tri Pramesti
AU  - Muizzu Nurhadi
AU  - Aprilia Pramudhita
AU  - Naufal Dherryl Maulana Suwanto
AU  - Muhammad Loverio Aribawan
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/06/12
TI  - Cultural Expectations of the Ideal Western and Indonesian Manliness in Romantic and Family Relationships through Literary Works
BT  - Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on English Studies in Indonesia (ICONESIA 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 252
EP  - 267
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-587-4_21
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-587-4_21
ID  - Pramesti2026
ER  -