Lecturer
Overview
I am a cultural anthropologist and I work mainly in West Papua (Tanah Papua), eastern Indonesia, though I also have some research experience in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. My research is ethnographic, qualitative, and collaborative. My interests are in health, gender and violence. I am interested in the various ways that indigenous Papuans engage with and theorise the Indonesian state and international development agendas, especially sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, and schooling. I am currently writing about Indigenous health activism and approaches to HIV education and care, and researching Indigenous women’s experiences of antenatal care and hospital delivery, especially caesarean births (funded by a UQ ECR grant). A related dimension of my research focuses on gender, violence and alcohol in Papua, and I worked with the UN's Partners 4 Prevention on primary prevention of violence research in Papua. I am a chief investigator on the ARC Discovery Project, 'Understanding Social, Economic and Health Vulnerabilities in Indonesia' led by Professor Lynette Parker (UWA). I teach medical anthropology, anthropological theory, and Honours-level writing. I currently advise HDR students researching gender, health, and violence, and I am interested in advising postgraduate anthropological research on health, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.
Some recent publications include my monograph, Dreams made small: The education of Papuan highlanders in Indonesia (Berghahn, 2018) and an article soon appearing in The Contemporary Pacific called Indigenous Masculinities and the “Refined Politics” of Alcohol and Racialization in West Papua.
Research Impacts
My research has contributed evidence that challenges the way that HIV interventions are developed and implemented in Papua. A significant achievement of collaborative research with local NGOs was a workshop, funded by a competitive grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and held in West Papua in 2014, to develop a strategy to address the HIV epidemic in indigenous Papuan communities. (Indigenous Papuans are disproportionately affected relative to the large migrant population). The workshop brought together 60 participants from a collaborative research project I led on indigenous women’s experiences of HIV education and treatment in Manokwari, West Papua, and Wamena, Papua. The workshop produced the first Indigenous HIV Prevention Strategy for Tanah Papua, a comprehensive strategy that defines research, policy, and community priorities.
My research has also informed the Australian government’s aid programming on HIV and reproductive health in Indonesia, and I reviewed DFAT’s Papua Health Strengthening proposal in 2015. Earlier I conducted research on HIV program development in West Papua funded by the Canadian government's aid program. I have 3 years experience co-convening and teaching an intensive course on social science research skills for Pacific Islanders (including Timor Leste and Papua). I have collaborated with numerous civil society organisations, have worked closely with Papuan researchers over the past five years, and mentor several Papuans in Australia who are undertaking postgraduate research on HIV/AIDS and gender.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Australian National University
Publications
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Journal Article: Indigenous Masculinities and the “Refined Politics” of Alcohol and Racialization in West Papua
Munro, Jenny (2019) Indigenous Masculinities and the “Refined Politics” of Alcohol and Racialization in West Papua. The Contemporary Pacific, 31 3: 36-63.
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Book: Dreams made small: the education of Papuan highlanders in Indonesia
Munro, Jenny Dreams made small: the education of Papuan highlanders in Indonesia. New York, NY, United States: Berghahn Books, 2018.
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Book Chapter: Facts, feasts, and forests: considering truth and reconciliation in Tanah Papua
Biderman, Todd and Munro, Jenny (2018). Facts, feasts, and forests: considering truth and reconciliation in Tanah Papua. In David Webster (Ed.), Flowers in the wall: truth and reconciliation in Timor-Leste, Indonesia, and Melanesia (pp. 205-232) Calgary, AB, Canada: University of Calgary Press.
Grants
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Indigenous reproductive sovereignty and health services in Indonesia
(2018–2019) UQ Early Career Researcher
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Understanding the Social, Economic and Health Vulnerabilities in Indonesia (UWA led DP)
(2017–2020) University of Western Australia
Supervision
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Men, Masculinity, and Governmentality: The Disproportionately High Prevalence of HIV among the Uyghur Population in Xinjiang, China
Doctor Philosophy
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Domestic Violence and Refugee Settlement: Exploring the ideologies and Practice of Service Providers supporting Refugee Women
Doctor Philosophy
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Power to empower? Exploring the role of energy in women's organising and empowerment in rural India
Doctor Philosophy
Publications
Book
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Dreams made small: the education of Papuan highlanders in Indonesia
Munro, Jenny Dreams made small: the education of Papuan highlanders in Indonesia. New York, NY, United States: Berghahn Books, 2018.
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From ‘Stone-Age’ to ‘Real-Time’: exploring Papuan temporalities, mobilities and religiosities
From ‘Stone-Age’ to ‘Real-Time’: exploring Papuan temporalities, mobilities and religiosities. Edited by Martin Slama and Jenny Munro Canberra, Australia: ANU Press, 2015.
Book Chapter
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Facts, feasts, and forests: considering truth and reconciliation in Tanah Papua
Biderman, Todd and Munro, Jenny (2018). Facts, feasts, and forests: considering truth and reconciliation in Tanah Papua. In David Webster (Ed.), Flowers in the wall: truth and reconciliation in Timor-Leste, Indonesia, and Melanesia (pp. 205-232) Calgary, AB, Canada: University of Calgary Press.
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Butt, Leslie, Munro, Jenny and Numbery, Gerdha (2017). Adding insult to injury: experiences of mobile HIV-positive women who return home for treatment in Tanah Papua, Indonesia. In John Taylor and Helen Lee (Ed.), Mobilities of return: Pacific perspectives (pp. 147-170) Canberra, ACT Australia: ANU Press.
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Gender struggles of educated men in the Papuan highlands
Munro, Jenny (2017). Gender struggles of educated men in the Papuan highlands. In Martha Macintyre and Ceridwen Spark (Ed.), Transformations of gender in Melanesia (pp. 45-67) Acton, ACT, Australia: ANU Press. doi:10.22459/tgm.02.2017.02
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Slama, Martin and Munro, Jenny (2015). From ‘Stone-Age’ to ‘Real-Time’: exploring Papuan temporalities, mobilities and religiosities – an introduction. In Martin Slama and Jenny Munro (Ed.), From 'Stone-Age' to 'Real-Time': Exploring Papuan Temporalities, Mobilities and Religiosities (pp. 1-37) Canberra, ACT, Australia: ANU Press. doi:10.22459/fsart.04.2015.01
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“Now we know shame”: Malu and Stigma among Highlanders in the Papuan Diaspora
Munro, Jenny (2015). “Now we know shame”: Malu and Stigma among Highlanders in the Papuan Diaspora. In Slama, Martin and Munro, Jenny (Ed.), From ‘Stone-Age’ to ‘Real-Time’: Exploring Papuan Temporalities, Mobilities and Religiosities (pp. 171-196) ACT, Canberra: ANU Press.
Journal Article
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Indigenous Masculinities and the “Refined Politics” of Alcohol and Racialization in West Papua
Munro, Jenny (2019) Indigenous Masculinities and the “Refined Politics” of Alcohol and Racialization in West Papua. The Contemporary Pacific, 31 3: 36-63.
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West Papuan refugees in Papua New Guinea: on the way to citizenship?
Munro, Jenny (2016, July 19). West Papuan refugees in Papua New Guinea: on the way to citizenship?. Devpolicy Blog, .
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Munro, Jenny and McIntyre, Lynn (2016) (Not) getting political: indigenous women and preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV in West Papua. Culture, Health and Sexuality, 18 2: 156-170. doi:10.1080/13691058.2015.1070436
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Munro, Jenny, Patterson, Patrick B. and McIntyre, Lynn (2015) “Your father is no more”: insights on guardianship and abandonment from ultrapoor women heads of household in Bangladesh. Womens Studies International Forum, 53 43-52. doi:10.1016/j.wsif.2015.09.005
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The president and the Papua powder keg
Munro, Jenny (2015, June 24). The president and the Papua powder keg. New Mandala, .
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Politics hinders the fight against HIV in West Papua
Munro, Jenny (2014, May 01). Politics hinders the fight against HIV in West Papua. East Asia Forum, .
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Munro, Jenny, Parker, Barbara and McIntyre, Lynn (2014) An Intersectionality Analysis of Gender, Indigeneity, and Food Insecurity among Ultrapoor Garo Women in Bangladesh. International Journal of Indigenous Health, 10 1: 68-82. doi:10.18357/ijih.101201513202
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The Violence of Inflated Possibilities: Education, Transformation and Diminishment in Wamena, Papua
Munro, Jenny (2013) The Violence of Inflated Possibilities: Education, Transformation and Diminishment in Wamena, Papua. Indonesia, 95 25-46. doi:10.5728/indonesia.95.0025
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"Nobody helps us": insights from ultra-poor Bangladeshi women on being beyond reach
McIntyre, Lynn and Munro, Jenny (2013) "Nobody helps us": insights from ultra-poor Bangladeshi women on being beyond reach. Development in Practice, 23 2: 157-168. doi:10.1080/09614524.2013.772118
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Compelling evidence: research methods, politics and HIV/AIDS in Papua, Indonesia
Munro, Jenny and Butt, Leslie (2012) Compelling evidence: research methods, politics and HIV/AIDS in Papua, Indonesia. The Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology, 13 4: 334-351. doi:10.1080/14442213.2012.694467
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Munro, Jenny (2012) “A diploma and a descendant!” Premarital sexuality, education, and politics among Dani university students in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Journal of Youth Studies, 15 8: 1011-1027. doi:10.1080/13676261.2012.693592
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Rebel girls? Unplanned pregnancy and colonialism in highlands Papua, Indonesia
Butt, Leslie and Munro, Jenny (2007) Rebel girls? Unplanned pregnancy and colonialism in highlands Papua, Indonesia. Culture Health & Sexuality, 9 6: 585-598. doi:10.1080/13691050701515324
Conference Publication
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Home-brewed alcohol, gender and violence in Wamena, Papua
Munro, Jenny (2016). Home-brewed alcohol, gender and violence in Wamena, Papua. In: International Conference on Social Science and Biodiversity of Papua and Papua New Guinea (ICSBP 2015), Jayapura, Indonesia, (7-13). 16–17 November 2015. doi:10.18502/kss.v1i1.428
Other Outputs
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Indigenous Women, Antenatal Care and Childbirth in Papua, Indonesia
Munro, Jenny (2016) Indigenous Women, Antenatal Care and Childbirth in Papua, Indonesia Canberra, ACT, Australia: State, Society and Governance in Melanesia Program, Australian National University
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‘Luxury’ and ‘Disturbances’: Women’s Views on City Life in Honiara Settlements
Munro, Jenny and Carpenter, Jessica (2016) ‘Luxury’ and ‘Disturbances’: Women’s Views on City Life in Honiara Settlements Canberra, ACT, Australia: State, Society and Governance in Melanesia Program, Australian National University
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Papuan Perspectives on Family Planning, Fertility and Birth Control
Munro, Jenny (2014). Papuan Perspectives on Family Planning, Fertility and Birth Control. SSGM Discussion Paper 2014/7, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, Australian National University.
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Report from the Field: HIV/AIDS in West Papua, July-Sept 2013
Munro, Jenny (2014). Report from the Field: HIV/AIDS in West Papua, July-Sept 2013. SSGM Working Paper 2014/1, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, Australian National University.
Grants (Administered at UQ)
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Indigenous reproductive sovereignty and health services in Indonesia
(2018–2019) UQ Early Career Researcher
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Understanding the Social, Economic and Health Vulnerabilities in Indonesia (UWA led DP)
(2017–2020) University of Western Australia
PhD and MPhil Supervision
Current Supervision
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Men, Masculinity, and Governmentality: The Disproportionately High Prevalence of HIV among the Uyghur Population in Xinjiang, China
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
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Domestic Violence and Refugee Settlement: Exploring the ideologies and Practice of Service Providers supporting Refugee Women
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
-
Power to empower? Exploring the role of energy in women's organising and empowerment in rural India
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
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Exploring girls' participation in education in the highlands region of Papua New Guinea
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
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Freedom on a Thread: Living in limbo as part of the asylum legacy caseload
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
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Fundamental change or a boutique model: agribusiness and community views of production animals in Australia and Malaysia
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
