Professor Ayu Saraswati
Professor Ayu Saraswati
USA & Indonesia
“I strive to create a better world for girls and women, and eventually a world without gender limitations.”
Dr Saraswati is an immigrant woman of color, award-winning author, and Associate Professor of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa.
Ayu is an advocate for the wellbeing of girls and women of Southeast Asia, and attributes her lived experience as a beauty pageant winner as the catalyst for pursuing a research career in body image, media representation, and women’s issues. She is an esteemed author, with numerous publications spanning academia and mainstream media on the sociocultural pressures faced by Southeast Asian women.
How did you come to be a Dr in Women’s Studies?
I was born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia and while growing up within the Javanese culture, I noticed that my brother and I were often treated differently. I was always told by family and friends to watch what I ate, whereas my brother could eat and do whatever he pleased. I knew that there was something inherently wrong with this, but it wasn’t until I attended a “Sociology of Gender” class in college that I was able to name and understand my experiences. While living in Jakarta, I attended the most prestigious university in Indonesia, Universitas Indonesia. It was here that I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and obtained the highest GPA in my college and broke the record for graduating in the shortest amount of time (3.5 years)! You could say, I’ve always had a competitive streak. I then went on to complete two master’s degrees, the first in Political Science from the University of Illinois, Chicago and the second in Women’s Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park. You could also say that I love to learn and discover new things and in time pursued a PhD in Women’s Studies.
Tell us about a distinctive memory of how body image affected you?
I grew up being told that I was ugly. Friends and family members would tease me about my flat nose, my thick lips, or my dark skin. Even when I won first place for a Cover Girl contest in a teenage magazine, I was classified as “exotic”, in other words “different” from other contestants. I was never cast as the beautiful girl. This was confirmed during an audition for an advertisement when a staff member told his colleague in front of me that they would not choose me because I wasn’t pretty enough. The conversation was had in English, with the assumption that I did not speak the language - they were wrong. As time went on, I learnt to be invisible - I slouched when I walked and remained quiet in group settings. This never-ending teasing shaped me, and soon I was a young woman with very low self-esteem and confidence.
Why did you get into body image and mental health research and work?
I knew that what was happening to me had to stop! The minute I learned about gender and feminism in college, I was determined to tell my story, and hope others could learn from these experiences. I wanted to create environments, societies and cultures that did not hold girls back because of their appearance. That is, their appearance should not jeopardize their behaviors, their opinions or their courage. This was why I decided to pursue a doctoral degree in Women’s Studies, with a focus on Indonesia and the various cultures within this beautiful country. For me, research offered me the opportunity to use my previous experiences in Indonesia to help shape and enhance the experiences of girls and women, by putting an end to body image issues.
What work are you most proud of to date?
My first book, Seeing Beauty Sensing Race in Transnational Indonesia, won the prestigious book award from the National Women’s Studies Association—the main professional association in my field. It has been translated into the Indonesian language, and mentioned in The Economist, Voice of America, SBS Radio Australia, and various websites. My article, “Cosmopolitan Whiteness” is also considered one of the “most impactful” texts in the past 20 years. The article has been accessed, shared and cited across numerous national and international platforms. I have also been interviewed by various media outlets and students from across the world (from elementary schools to university-level), and given speeches in academic and non-academic settings. My happiest moments are when I receive emails from strangers telling me how my work has changed their lives.
Why is this work important to you, where do you see it going and who would you like to work with?
I strive to create a better world for girls and women, and eventually a world without gender limitations. Body image and appearance-based pressures are prominent stressors in girls and women’s lives. These pressures also prevent them from living fulfilling lives and being active members of society. This could not be truer since the rise of social media, where girls and women are under constant scrutiny to look and act a certain way. My second book addresses the issue of social media and how women can take back their power by engaging in online feminist campaigns. My current research explores women’s attitudes and behaviors toward commercial consumption. That is, what are their motivations for buying products, how these purchases and brand loyalty are related to their emotions and how their body image plays into these attitudes and behaviors. As I look to the future, I hope to connect with brands and organizations that seek to educate girls and women on how to think critically about social and mass media, and become savvy consumers who purchase products that align with their values rather than societal pressures!
The Small Print
Education
Doctor of Philosophy (Women’s Studies), University of Maryland, College Park (2007)
Master of Arts (Women’s Studies), University of Maryland, College Park (2003)
Master of Arts (Political Science), University of Illinois, Chicago (2000)
Bachelor of Arts (Political Science), Universitas Indonesia (1999)
Current Appointments
Associate Professor, University of Hawaii, Manoa
Other Appointments
Assistant Professor (2008-2011), University of Kansas
Postdoctoral Fellow (2007-2008), Emory University
Publications
Can be viewed here
Honors & Awards
Japan Foundation. JS-SEA. Member (2017-2020)
Faber Writing Residency Fellowship, Olot, Catalonia (2017)
University of Hawai`i CSS SSRI Research Support Award (2014)
National Women’s Studies Association Gloria Anzaldúa book prize (2013)
Mary Savage Snouffer Dissertation Fellowship (2006)
When I’m not working, you’ll find me…
Snorkelling the gorgeous ocean
Traveling the world while taking silly pictures
Co-facilitating writing retreats for women in academia
Teaching meditation and creating meditation audios
Being an adventurous and curious foodie
Connect with me
Find out more about Ayu and their work.
Work with us
For information about working with Ayu on your project please get in touch.