Empowering Women: Indonesian Muslim Girl Fans, Thailand’s Y-Series, and Gender Equality

Abstract This article explores how Indonesian Muslim girl fans experience sexual empowerment through watching Thai dramas portraying homoerotic romances, known as Thai Y-series and Thai Boy’s Love. Despite concerns from local Islamic authorities about moral issues and cultural differences, Y-series have gained popularity among Indonesian Muslim girls. This study raises concerns about the diminishing portrayal of women’s gender roles, given that Muslim girls form the majority of the Y-series fanbase in Indonesia. The patriarchal influence in Y-series appears to be gradually replacing traditional women’s roles with male characters, relegating women to supporting roles. This study argues that the repositioning of gender roles in Y-series offers an alternative perspective on empowering equality, which is not commonly found in heterosexual relationships. This television genre fosters a sense of intimate proximity with its fans, contributing to the empowerment of various roles and the repositioning of women within their heterosexual romances.