Camouflage Marriages and Women’s Vulnerability: A Gender Analysis of Stigmatisation toward LGBTQ+ Communities in Indonesia

Abstract

Camouflage marriage is a social practice undertaken by some Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) individuals in Indonesia as a response to heteronormative pressures and pervasive social stigma. This practice refers to marriage with an opposite-sex partner intended to conceal one’s actual sexual orientation or gender identity. While it may be understood as a survival strategy within a social, cultural, and legal context that remains largely non-inclusive of gender and sexual diversity, camouflage marriage often generates serious problems, particularly for heterosexual spouses who are unaware of their partner’s true identity. This article examines camouflage marriage as a social phenomenon that perpetuates gender inequality and produces new forms of vulnerability for women. Drawing on feminist theory and queer theory, and employing a qualitative approach based on literature review, media narratives, and case reports, the analysis focuses on power relations, social norms, and the emotional implications arising from the practice of camouflage marriage. The findings indicate that stigma against LGBTQ+ individuals not only causes suffering for LGBTQ+ persons themselves but also entraps heterosexual women in manipulative and unequal relationships. Women involved in camouflage marriages experience structural inequality and symbolic violence, resulting in emotional trauma due to relationships formed without full and informed consent. This article underscores the urgent need for more inclusive policies regarding gender diversity and for legal protections that prioritize victims, in order to prevent manipulative and harmful marital practices. Ultimately, the article argues that the protection of women must encompass an understanding of complex power relations shaped by sexual orientation, social stigma, and gender inequality.