Multimedia, Mobility and the Digital Southeast Asian Family

ABSTRACTS

Abstracts Session 1 – Social media, educational mobility and digital family narrative

1. Singaporean Societies: Multimedia Communities of Migration

Raviv Litman

Abstract home. Students described in interviews and in The state of uses contractual online forums how they used these sites of state obligations and incentives to maintain a long- sponsorship to further their own goals for term connection between overseas Singaporean overseas community building and critical students and their parents. Some of these discussion of their positions as overseas students methods go beyond the borders of Singapore and while also fulfilling their government’s involve online communities. In 2012, the Deputy expectations for maintaining ties to home and Prime Minister of Singapore said of overseas family. students “they are part of our family while they are overseas and the valuable skills and exposure Bio they gain while overseas will enrich our economy Raviv Litman is a MA graduate of anthropology and society when they return”. In this paper, I from the University of Victoria in Canada. In his talk about the worldwide state-funded and undergrad, Raviv studied Pacific and Asian Studies student-run Singaporean Societies and how they with a specialization in Mandarin Chinese. Raviv seek to govern overseas students’ relationship wrote his thesis in 2016, titled ‘The parent tax: with family at home using interactive methods The governance of gratitude among such as social media, finance, cuisine and more. transnationally educated sons in Singapore’. Drawing from ethnographic and online methods Throughout his masters and after graduation of inquiry in the summer of 2015, I explore how Raviv worked at the Centre for Asia Pacific students experienced Singaporean Societies as a Initiatives at Uvic as both a research assistant and tool to access social and financial resources while as oral translator on projects related to migration. also committing to a closer relationship with

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2. Maintaining Virtual Homes: Social Media and Pesantren Families

Dr Faried F. Saenong

Abstract media plays a significant role in reviving the familial bond of alumni toward their pesantren Pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) in and its culture. Social media has also enabled this are considered homes, not only to their leader[s], familial relationship to shape the hearts and Kyai or Nyai, the family members of the leader[s], minds of alumni. Social media platforms can be and teachers, but also to students and alumni. In considered the new pesantren homes for alumni, contrast to regular schools (non-boarding), especially those living in the diaspora. pesantren are homes to students who physically live together for between three to six years. Kyai Bio and elites of pesantren are known to emphasise Faried F. Saenong is currently the corresponding that the pesantren population are one family. associate researcher at the UWISG of the This familial bond remains in the hearts of some University Waikato, New Zealand. He received his pesantren students after their graduation. Making master's degree in Islamic Studies from Leiden use of social media, pesantren stakeholders and University and the University of Manchester. He their alumni have established what van Dijck holds a PhD in Anthropology from the Australian (2013) coins as “the culture of connectivity” in National University. His publications include order to maintain a virtual home. Drawing on Women, Gender, and Women’s Religious online and offline research from 2015-2016, this Education in Indonesia (2016) in Suad Joseph paper examines the role of social media in (ed). Encyclopaedia of Women, Islamic Culture maintaining the identity and sense of belonging (Leiden: Brill); ʿAlid Piety in Bugis Texts on Proper of pesantren alumni, including those living in the Sexual Arts (2015) in C. Formichi & M. Feener diaspora as international students. The paper (eds.) Shi‘ism in South East Asia: ‘Alid Piety and observes the presence of various virtual groups Sectarian Constructions (London: Hurst); Kindred managed by pesantren families through diverse Endogamy in a Bugis Migrant Community (2012) social media platforms, particularly WhatsApp in Intersections: Gender and Sexuality in Asia and and Facebook. This paper argues that social the Pacific 30.

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3. Documenting Motherhood: Interactions and Connections Among PhD Mama Indonesia

Dr Lily Yulianti Farid

Abstract Indonesia reveals the challenges faced by middle class Indonesian females who are pursuing higher This paper examines online interactions on a education overseas where culture, traditional Facebook Community Page and website among values, religion and social factors influenced their international female students from Indonesia perceptions on ‘how to be a good mother and who identify themselves as PhD Mama Indonesia. wife while pursuing a higher education’. PhD Mama Indonesia was established in mid 2016 Bio as an online platform to share stories and ideas among female students studying overseas, mainly Dr Lily Yulianti Farid completed her MA (2003) in Australian universities. According to the and PhD (2015) in gender studies at the website admin, the PhD Mama Indonesia is University of , . She received defined as a mother who is pursuing her doctoral Australia Development Scholarship and Australia degree overseas accompanied by her husband Leadership Award to pursue her postgraduate and children. As temporary migrants in Australia studies. Lily is a journalist, writer and the director and elsewhere, these female students discuss of International Writers Festival and their shared-problems and interests as mothers, has published collections of short stories, wives and foreign students. The web admin including Makkunrai (2008), Maiasaura (2008), interviews the PhD Mama members and invites Family Room (2011), Ayahku Bulan Engkau them to write their own stories for the website. Matahari (2012). She also translated Anita Success stories on how to balance PhD life and Roddick’s Business as Unusual (2013) and Linking family have become the main focus. People: Connections and Encounters Between Australian and Indonesians (2017). She is now Using content analysis and interviews this paper working as a research assistant at the Asia aims to discuss the use of digital platform among Institute, The . Her international female PhD students from Indonesia research interests are: gender, media, politics and to establish a connection among ‘mother cum Australia-Indonesia relationships in culture, arts PhD student’. This paper argues that the digital and literature. interaction and connection among PhD Mama

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Session 2 – Social media, wellbeing, gender and identity representation

1. Voice of Singapore’s Invisible Hands and Online Literary Works of Indonesian Migrant Workers

Adriana Rahajeng Mintarsih

Abstract it has helped its students to take part in a literary Rarely do migrant workers, especially female competition for migrant workers in Singapore. migrant domestic, get the chance to narrate their Using online ethnographic method, I am migration experience. Voice of Singapore’s interested to see how both the organization and Invisible Hands, a non-profit organization which Indonesian migrant domestic workers make use promotes the rights and welfare of migrant of Facebook to promote the organization and domestic workers in Singapore, sees their their narration in the form of literary works. potential and opens the opportunity. Using Keywords: Voice of Singapore’s Invisible Hands, Facebook as one of the platforms to socialize its Indonesian migrant workers, literary works programs, it invites those who want to narrate their personal experiences untold by the media or Bio academicians. It has continuously improve the Adriana Rahajeng got both her Bachelor's Degree skills of its students who are mostly from in English Literature and Master's Degree in Indonesia through some English writing skills and Gender Studies from University of Indonesia. literary training and/or workshop. These students There she has been teaching in English Studies have been writing short stories and poems about Program, Faculty of Humanities, since 2009. their homes, family, and culture although not all Besides teaching, she has participated in some of them are written in English. Initially their programs and community projects which provide literary works are intended for personal use and free English lessons for disadvantaged children. development. However, the literary works are often shared on the organization’s Facebook, and

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2. How does social media improve the well-being and awareness of challenges faced by Indonesian migrant domestic workers?

Dr Stevanus Wisnu Wijaya, Jason Watson and Christine Bruce

Abstract an enhancement of their self-esteem. Discussions within online communities contributed to This paper discusses the online practices and their enhancing their awareness of migration related outcomes which improve the well-being challenges. and awareness of challenges faced by migrants amongst Indonesian migrant domestic workers in Keywords: Indonesian migrant domestic workers, and Taiwan. This study adopted online communities, virtual ethnography. virtual ethnography methodology to investigate Bio (first author) online communities of Indonesian migrant domestic workers on Facebook. Data was Dr Stevanus Wisnu Wijaya is a Lecturer at the collected from online observations and 19 School of Applied Science, Technology, participants were interviewed. The analysis shows Engineering and Mathematics, Universitas that Indonesian migrant domestic workers discuss Prasetiya Mulya, Indonesia. He is interested in common interests and problems within the online investigating the social phenomenon occurring as communities. Discussing common interests and an impact of the widespread adoption of social problems within online communities contributes technologies by the migrant community. For directly to enhancing their knowledge and critical example, he has researched Indonesian migrant thinking skills of the challenges faced by migrants. domestic workers’ empowerment through social Online discussion was also found to enhance the media since 2010, funded by Strategic National self-esteem of migrant domestic workers. They Competitive Grants from Directorate General of were also found to be socializing with others Higher Education at 2010. Following this, he was through the online communities such as awarded a PhD scholarship to continue his developing social networks, maintaining family research at the School of Information Systems, relationships, sharing feelings and providing or Queensland University of Technology, Australia in receiving emotional support. Their online 2011 and then graduated in 2016. Drawing from a practices contribute to the well-being of virtual ethnographic approach, his PhD research Indonesian migrant workers such as improvement is aimed to develop a theoretical-based model of in the feeling of connectiveness with their social migrant domestic workers’ empowerment in environment, reduced feeling of high tension, and online communities.

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3. Indonesian Muslim women’s use of Facebook

Dr Graeme MacRae (on behalf of the late Vitri Hartono, Massey University, New Zealand)

Abstract Hence, Facebook is not merely experienced as a Since the fall of the Suharto regime in 1998, the site for passing time or entertainment, but is also Indonesian media landscape has been radically used as a medium through which Indonesian transformed. The country is now a highly women shape and refashion their piety. saturated media space in which people are Bio exposed to numerous media from television programming to social media. In this article, I Dr Graeme MacRae is a Senior Lecturer in the explore the meanings of Facebook for Indonesian School of People, Environment and Planning Muslim women in which morality is a core and will be presenting on behalf of his PhD concern. Facebook becomes a platform in which student the late Vitri Hartono, from Massey they address and (re)work their understanding of University, New Zealand. Vitri Harsono, a New Islam and ultimately voice their sense of piety. Zealand Indonesian, suffered a sudden stroke on Based on ethnographic research with Muslim campus on February the 11th 2017, leaving behind women and Indonesian media, I discuss the way three wonderful children and an adoring they are actively shaping their piety through husband. Her PhD on Muslim mothers in Facebook, especially around the issue of veiling. Semarang and , Muslim parenting and the Although some religious clerics have concerns media (including Facebook), was almost finished. regarding Facebook, suggesting that it could Her supervisors, Graeme MacRae and Sharyn incite gossip and jeopardise marriages, my Graham Davies (Auckland University of participants utilised Facebook to share and Technology), are working together to finalise her discuss Islamic tenets with other Muslim women. submission and publication of her research.

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Session 3 – Transnational family members: online connection, communication and communities

1. Differential Communicative Mobilities: The Case of the Transnational Filipino Family in Melbourne, Australia

Dr Earvin Charles B. Cabalquinto

Abstract contend that analysing these interconnected elements uncovers social inequalities Mobile devices and communications platforms perpetuated by using broadband-based mobile play a pivotal role in engendering and sustaining devices. In this regard, the article provides a relationships among geographically separated nuanced approach in examining the mobile lives family members. The exchanges of personalized of the transnational Filipino family in a networked information – texts, photos and videos – bring society. family members spread across continents closer. Employing visual methods and drawing on in- Bio depth interviews among 21 Overseas Filipino Dr Earvin Charles B. Cabalquinto is a Teaching Workers (OFWs) in Melbourne, Australia, and Associate in the School of Media, Film and their left-behind family members in the Journalism (MFJ) at the Faculty of Arts, Monash Philippines, this paper investigates the ways in University. He is also research assistant and a which mobile device use produces differential member of the ‘Digital Mobilities in Asia’ group in communicative mobilities. The empirical study Culture Media Economy (CME), a new takes into account six aspects of uneven research unit at MFJ. His research interests multimedia-based transnational communication: include mobile and social media, mediated (1) Access; (2) Technical competency; (3) intimacies, digital creative spaces, place making Quality of connectivity; (4) Rhythms; (5) Affective and locative media, and asymmetrical experience; and (6) Communicative space. I mobilities.

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2. Adjusting the Moral Compass, Keeping the Ethnic Bonds Alive: The Virtual Communities of Filipino Migrant Women in Japan

Dr Jocelyn O. Celero

Abstract sense of ethnic belonging to Filipino society. At the same time, it facilitates a dialogue on Filipino women’s migration to Japan in the 1980s everyday cultural dilemmas Filipino mothers was a response to both the growing labor experience in leading a bicultural, transnational demand in Japan’s entertainment and sex family through gathering gendered and ethnicized industries, as well as the crisis brought about by voices on how to build, maintain and ‘normalize’ bride shortage in the rural villages. Their marriage and family life in Japanese society. relations with Japanese nationals have led to the formation of Japanese-Filipino families and Bio children. Unlike temporary female migrant Jocelyn O. Celero recently obtained her PhD workers elsewhere, Filipinas are increasingly program in International Studies at Waseda seeking long-term and permanent settlement in University-Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Japan. Their marriage to Japanese, formation of a Studies, , Japan. She also earned her Japanese-Filipino family, and membership to local Master’s Degree in Global Studies at Sophia communities indicate gradual integration to University in 2012 for her thesis on Filipino Japan since the 2000s. mothers’ transnational, bicultural, and global- Coinciding Filipino migrants’ growing tendency to local patterns of rearing Japanese-Filipino settle in Japanese society is the proliferation of children in Japan. The paper she will present to virtual communities as alternative spaces of this workshop is a portion of her on-going communication among migrants worldwide. This research work on Japanese-Filipino families in paper builds on nethnographic research on the Japan and the Philippines. She was a recipient of three online communities of Filipino migrants in Monbukagakusho scholarship, a grant given by Japan and in-depth interviews with (70) Filipino Japan’s Ministry of Education. Prior to pursuing migrant mothers in Tokyo from 2010 to present. graduate studies in Japan, she has earned a It examines the patterns of interaction of Filipino Master’s Degree in Asian Studies, major in mothers online, focusing on their marriage, Southeast Asia at the University of the parent-child relationships and extended family Philippines-Asian Center in 2008. Her thesis was ties in the Philippines. This paper aims to show a comparative study on Muslim education in the evidence of online communities functioning as a Philippines and Malaysia. Her research interests transnational village (Levitt 2011), an alternative include migration, ethnicity, identity, space in which Filipino migrant women to transnationalism, gender, and globalization. simultaneously reaffirm their affective ties and

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3. Transnational family communication and digital devices: A case study

Dr Xuan Thu Dang, Associate Professor Howard Nicholas, Associate Professor Donna Starks

Abstract positioning of digital devices within the communicative event as a whole. Many studies of home language use often focus on macro-level language changes and verbal communication rather than on micro-level Bio (first and second authors) analyses of first-generation family communication, non-verbal communication and Xuan Thu Dang works as a lecturer of TESOL contribution of multimedia (Croucher & Rahmani, (teaching English to speakers of other languages) 2015). This paper reports preliminary results of a for Hanoi University and a research fellow for study which examines the communicative various research projects at Deakin University. He interactions of a first generation Australian- has researched extensively in the area of Vietnamese family currently settling in technologies in English teaching and learning. His Melbourne. Through an in-depth analysis of a 20- current research interests include English minute video clip capturing diverse teaching and learning, teacher identity, teaching communicative resources used by each member methods, staff professional development, during their watching a favourite English mobility and transnationalism, innovative use of television program, we want to argue that the technologies in teaching, learning and research. transnational family communication patterns are Howard Nicholas is Associate Professor in the complex in terms of language use, gestures, School of Education, La Trobe University. He has movement and spatial positioning. The fluidity in researched child and adult second language wholeness of their interactions involves displays acquisition (German and English) and the of languages (English and Vietnamese), verbal (in acquisition of German as a first language. He has many cases involving translanguaging) and non- researched extensively in the area of mobile verbal communication, bodily (non)movement or technologies and education. He teaches in the even silence. Interestingly, digital devices areas of applied linguistics and language (television and smart phone) play an important education. He has worked in Germany on various role in facilitating transnational family research projects and has undertaken Visiting communication, intimacy and continuity. The Professorships at the University of Hawaii, at Multiplicity Framework (Nicholas & Starks, 2014) Manoa, Concordia University in Montreal and the is used to track the multimodal communication to University of Western Australia. From October show how such a simple interaction can provide a 2013 to September 2014 he was Visiting wealth of information about communicative acts Professor in English Language Education, in a natural multilingual context and the Paderborn University, Germany.

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Session 4 – Hope and affirmation of digital diaspora through social media

1. Engaging a Greater Hope: Rohingya in Malaysia and Hope in Social Media

Dr Eva Nisa

Abstract a decisive role in spreading hatred and hateful language against others, it has also been used by Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar—formerly known Rohingya Muslims as a means to help family in as Burma—who historically faced a humanitarian Myanmar and Malaysia living in a deprived crisis for decades, have recently suffered another conditions, by generating humanitarian episode of oppression. The condition of Rohingya awareness to the wider community- virtual and Muslims has invited international attention and non-virtual. sympathy. This paper focuses on Rohingya Muslims living as refugees and asylum seekers in Bio Malaysia. Malaysia is a sanctuary for a number of Eva Nisa is currently Lecturer of Religious Studies Rohingya, particularly when compared to the at the Victoria University of Wellington, New previous conditions in their hometown, Arakan, Zealand. Before commencing her current where they were unable to freely perform position, she was a post-doctoral research fellow Muslim acts of devotion. Drawing on for the Problematising ‘Muslim Marriages’ ethnographic fieldwork in Malaysia from 2015- project. Currently, she is an affiliated researcher 2016, this paper will mainly focus on the efforts for the same project, focusing on unregistered of Rohingya Muslims in Malaysia in reconnecting marriage, online siri (secret) marriage, temporary familial bonds with relatives with whom they marriage, and online Shari’a-compliant have lost touch due to multiple crises. It analyses matchmaking platforms. Her other research the role of social media in the life of Rohingya interests are social media and da’wa Muslims living in Malaysia as well as activists (proselytisation), face-veiled women and Muslim focusing their projects on Rohingya Muslims. In activism, Muslim youth, Muslim fashion, migrant regards to escalating tension between the parties domestic workers, Muslim refugees and involved in the conflict and their supporters, this philanthropy. paper argues that social media does not only play

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2. Crowd Curated History: Vietnamese Refugee Diaspora on Facebook

Ms Anh Nguyen

Abstract suggests that Vietnamese refugees on Facebook are creating a crowd curated historical account of This paper examines the use of Facebook as a their experience and present day perspective as knowledge source and its historical significance in the subjects and objects of the history in the understanding refugee diaspora using the specific aftermath of the Vietnam War. It illustrates how case of Vietnamese refugees dispersed globally ICTs have empowered migratory and dispersed since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. The populations with access and agency to contribute phenomenon of creating Facebook transnational to historical knowledge. Given the controversies communities in diaspora is not new. Migrants regarding the treatment of refugees worldwide, have been the main social actors of using ICTs to allowing the subjects in the headlines, to share form on-line communities that transcend time their authority may better guide our historical and distance. However, Vietnamese refugees consciousness about immigration policies and explicitly use Facebook to share their historical practices in the future authority about their experience and identity as refugees with pride and positivism. The paper Bio explores the following propositions. Whilst Facebook provides a permanent place for these Anh Nguyen was a Vietnamese child refugee on-line communities, does a refugee on-line raised in Carrollton, Texas. She graduated with a community constitute its own distinguished form Masters of Theological Studies from Harvard of diaspora? Furthermore, how does this migrant Divinity and Bachelors of Arts in English Literature community on Facebook contribute to a crowd from Bryn Mawr College. In 2002, she had a curated history? Martin Sokefeld’s application of postgraduate fellowship from Harvard to conduct social movement approach towards a definition research interviews about the acculturation of of diaspora and Robert Craig’s “Facebook Vietnamese in Australia. She then worked with hermeneutics,” lend vital frameworks to this Harvard School of Public Health on AIDS research inquiry. Through a critical examination of and treatment in Nigeria, and became a bilingual Facebook postings about refugee reunions and legal aid advocate for Vietnamese immigrants in moments of self and group recognition as former Boston. She currently works as Executive refugees, we witness how Vietnamese refugees Assistant to the CEO of Native Title Services affirm their survival in history. We also examine Victoria and is pursuing her PhD on the oral how Facebook functions as a site of memory that history of Vietnamese Australian child refugees in provides a space for their stories, myths, Australia. memorials and community activism. This paper

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3. Multimedia and mother-daughter relationship: Indonesian and Philippine women in Melbourne Australia

Dr Monika Winarnita and Dino Concepcion

Abstract Philippine female migrants in Melbourne, the paper seeks to understand social and cultural New capacities for multimedia forms of change as it relates to issues of gendered expression of belonging and communication have identity, belonging and family relationships in a transformed the migrant experience (Morley and transnational context. Robins 1995; Wilding 2012; Gifford & Wilding

2013). This paper examines the multimedia and Bio online expression of identity, belonging and intergenerational family relationships of mothers Dr Monika Winarnita and Dino Concepcion (PhD and daughters from the Indonesian and candidate, La Trobe University) are working Philippine community in Melbourne. In Australia together on a project with Associate Professor these group of women are part of the third Raelene Wilding titled ‘Multimedia, Migrant largest and steadily growing Southeast Asian Identities and Family Relationships: A Qualitative migrant population who are also active Investigation’ funded by Research Focus Area of participants in the international flows of media, Transforming Human Society, Migration and communication and ideas. This paper asks how Mobilities cluster at La Trobe University. For this their identity, belonging and family relationships presentation Monika will also draw upon her are expressed through their multimedia current research as a Postdoctoral Fellow on the production. What do these multimedia project ‘Southeast Asian Women, Migration and production and stories tell us about the effects of Family in the Global Era’ with the Department of migration and mobility on women’s Anthropology at the University of Victoria, intergenerational relationships, particularly the Canada supervised by Associate Professor Leslie mother-daughter relationship? By focusing on Butt. multimedia expression of Indonesian and

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