Anak Hutan: Relationships to the West in Bukit Lawang and the effects of tourism on the masculine identities of young men.

Abstract

The focus of this thesis is on the young men working as guides in the village of Bukit Lawang in Indonesia. These men are influenced by and impacted by a dual side to the society in which they live: on the one hand, by the traditional and local norms of an Islamic community, and on the other, by the Western tourists and the industry of tourism in their small village. What the thesis grapples with are themes of masculinity, tourism, and occidentalism (or, a perception of the West), and how these aspects are shaped by the surrounding social norms. The methodological steps taking during the fieldwork, as well as the process of editing and filmmaking, are laid out and reflected upon, providing insight into how these steps have impacted the research and the informants, too. Most importantly, this thesis explores the relationships that the young men have to various Western women, and how these relationships are understood contextually, theoretically, and personally by the men themselves. Ultimately, this thesis attempts to answer questions of positioning and identity of men who have grown up in a society with tourism, and how working in tourism is a lifestyle decision.