By: Sri Kusumo Habsari, Fitria Akhmerti P., M. Taufiq Al Makmum
This article examines the construction of dominating wives in the Indonesian situational comedy, Suami Suami Takut Istri (Dominated Husbands). This article argues that the notion of power is very cultural. Asserting male-female power relationship is complex and should be understood within cultural framework to reveal whether the dominating wives challenge and contest the patriarchal ideology of male power or undermine female empowerment. Although women have feminist awaraness and empower themselves to get their power over their husband, they fail to gain respects from their partner. The text of the sitcom helps to reify the notion of power and domination in gender relation.