The Intellectual Disability Figures in Indonesian Folktales

This research explores the intersection of folktales and intellectual disability, examining how intellectual disability is manifested within Indonesian folklore and how individuals with intellectual disabilities represent themselves and their identities within these narratives. This study analyzes eleven folklores, available in print and online formats, with a thematic focus on intellectual disability using discourse analysis. By examining the portrayal of characters with intellectual disabilities in these narratives, this research uncovers the discursive constructs and subject positions available to (disabled) children as they enact and express their identities in their daily lives. The figures in these folklores are depicted as sources of inspiration, objects of pity, and objects of exclusion. This investigation sheds light on the complex interplay between folklore, disability, and identity in the Indonesian context, contributing to a deeper understanding of how intellectual disability is represented and negotiated within the cultural narratives of the nation.