Disabled Sexuality in Indonesian Cinema: A Critical Discourse Analysis of the Film Why Do You Love Me? (2023)

Emma Yasmin Muzhaffarah, Dr. Dian Arymami, S.I.P., M.Hum.

2025 | Skripsi | Ilmu Komunikasi

Using Norman’s Fairclough’s three-dimensional model of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), this research critically explores discourses of disabled sexuality in the Indonesian film Why Do You Love Me? (2023). It aims to examine how disabled sexuality is constructed within the cinematic narrative and contextualized within Indonesian societal attitudes by analyzing the film’s textual, discursive, and sociocultural dimensions. Through the analysis in this research, it reveals that the film presents complex and multi-layered discourses of disabled disability. On one hand, the film challenges dominant narratives of disability by offering the intersection of disability and sexuality as its grand theme, which are two topics that are considered taboo in Indonesian media. On the other hand, the film simultaneously reinforces some stigmatizing stereotypes of disability, such as limitation, “Otherness,” and maladjustment. These conflicting depictions highlight the contradiction between progressive and regressive narratives within the film, which reflect broader public discourses in Indonesian society where emerging inclusive perspectives on disability continue to exist against deeply ingrained ableist ideologies. Therefore, despite the film's progressive efforts toward a more inclusive portrayal of disabled sexuality, this research highlights the persistence of stereotypical and exclusionary framings of disability in Indonesian cinema. By focusing on a relatively underexplored area in discourse studies, this research contributes to bridging an academic gap by applying Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) as a methodological tool. Through the deconstruction of cinematic portrayals of disabled sexuality, this research points out the need for more inclusive and non-discriminatory narratives that reflect the lived realities of people with disabilities in Indonesia. 

Using Norman’s Fairclough’s three-dimensional model of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), this research critically explores discourses of disabled sexuality in the Indonesian film Why Do You Love Me? (2023). It aims to examine how disabled sexuality is constructed within the cinematic narrative and contextualized within Indonesian societal attitudes by analyzing the film’s textual, discursive, and sociocultural dimensions. Through the analysis in this research, it reveals that the film presents complex and multi-layered discourses of disabled disability. On one hand, the film challenges dominant narratives of disability by offering the intersection of disability and sexuality as its grand theme, which are two topics that are considered taboo in Indonesian media. On the other hand, the film simultaneously reinforces some stigmatizing stereotypes of disability, such as limitation, “Otherness,” and maladjustment. These conflicting depictions highlight the contradiction between progressive and regressive narratives within the film, which reflect broader public discourses in Indonesian society where emerging inclusive perspectives on disability continue to exist against deeply ingrained ableist ideologies. Therefore, despite the film's progressive efforts toward a more inclusive portrayal of disabled sexuality, this research highlights the persistence of stereotypical and exclusionary framings of disability in Indonesian cinema. By focusing on a relatively underexplored area in discourse studies, this research contributes to bridging an academic gap by applying Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) as a methodological tool. Through the deconstruction of cinematic portrayals of disabled sexuality, this research points out the need for more inclusive and non-discriminatory narratives that reflect the lived realities of people with disabilities in Indonesia. 

Kata Kunci : disability, sexuality, discourse, Critical Discourse Analysis, Indonesian film