POLICING DESIRE: IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION IN MY POLICEMAN (2022)

Lea Zahra Santoso, Salva Syeira Wijaya, Yanti Rosalinah


Abstract


This study examines the tension between social duty and personal desire in My Policeman (2022), focusing on how individual identity is shaped and constrained by systemic social pressure. The analysis addresses three central issues: the mechanisms of identity suppression experienced by Tom Burgess, the influence of moral and societal norms on personal choice, and the broader ideological implications of these conflicts. Employing a qualitative descriptive approach, the study draws upon Feminist Literary Criticism, Queer Theory, and the Sociology of Literature to interpret the film’s narrative and character dynamics. The findings reveal that patriarchal expectations limit Marion’s autonomy, while heteronormative institutions compel Tom to repress his sexual identity, effectively criminalizing his private self. Rather than portraying social expectations merely as cultural pressures, the film presents the legal and moral framework of 1950s Britain as an active “policing force” that regulates private emotions and desires. This perspective offers a deeper understanding of how desire becomes socially monitored and ideologically controlled. Ultimately, the study demonstrates that these restrictive structures not only suppress personal freedom but also fracture emotional integrity and undermine authentic human relationships.

Keywords


Feminist literary; identity conflict; My Policeman; Queer theory; social expectations

Full Text:

PDF

References


Berg, R. C., Weatherburn, P., Ross, M. W., & Schmidt, A. J. (2015). The Relationship of Internalized Homonegativity to Sexual Health and Well-Being Among Men in 38 European Countries Who Have Sex With Men. Journal of Gay and Lesbian Mental Health, 19(3), 285–302. https://doi.org/10.1080/19359705.2015.1024375

Beauvoir, S.de, & Parshley, H. M. (1949). The second sex.

https://cds.cern.ch/record/2728998

Benyamin, B. A., Karmina, S., Rosyida, E., & Sukmawan, S. (2025). Challenges and Strategic Approaches in EFL Students ’ prose analysis essays. Journal of Applied Linguistics and Literature, 10(2), 611-632

Berg, R. C., Munthe-Kaas, H. M., & Ross, M. W. (2016). Internalized Homonegativity: A Systematic Mapping Review of Empirical Research. Journal of Homosexuality, 63(4), 541–558. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2015.1083788

Butler, J. (2016). Gender trouble. In Social Theory Re-Wired: New Connections to Classical and Contemporary Perspectives: Second Edition. Routledge https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315775357

Creswell, J. W. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). Sage.

Chernick, K., & Sweeting, K. D. (2025). Beyond Ingrained Stigma: a Critical Intersectional Analysis of Sex Work, Social Equity, and Canada’s PCEPA Legislation. Sexuality Research and Social Policy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-025-01158-9

Drydakis, N. (2021). Sexual orientation discrimination in the labor market against gay men. Review of Economics of the Househould, 20(3), 1027-1058. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11150-02109581-8

Hennessee, D. (2015). Historicizing the politics of representation in contemporary queer media. Teaching Media Quarterly, 3(2). https://pubs.lib.umn.edu/tmq/vol3/iss2/3

Hudi, I., Purwanto, H., Diyanti, P., & Syafutri, T.M, (2023). Analisis literatur terhadap lesbian, gay, biseksual, dan transgender (LGBT) di Indonesia. Jurnal Pendidikan Tambusai 7(3), 26038-24604. https://doi.org/10.31004/jptam.v7i3.10777

Lin, C. Y., Griffiths, M. D., Pakpour, A. H., Tsai, C. S., & Yen, C. F. (2022). Relationships of familial sexual stigma and family support with internalized homonegativity among lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals: The mediating effect of self-identity disturbance and moderating effect of gender. BMC Public Health, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13815-4

Morandini, J. S., Blaszczynski, A., Ross, M. W., Costa, D. S. J., & Dar-Nimrod, I. (2015). Essentialist beliefs, sexual identity uncertainly, internalized homonegativity and psychological wellbeing in gay men. Journal Of Counseling Pyschology, 62(3), 413-424. https://doi.org//10.1037/cou000072

Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2014). Qualitative data analysis. SAGE

Nauman, M., Khan, R. N,. & Idris, S.(2024). Negotiating queer identity and marriage of convenience: A study of Marriage of a Thousand Lies. Sir Syed Journal of Education & Social Research, 7(4), 26–34. https://doi.org/10.36902/sjesr-vol7-iss4-2024(26-34

Nguyen, T. T., & Sharma, M. (2024). Calling for equitable access to the Canadian labor market: Exploring the challenges of international graduate students in Canada. Journal of International Students, 14(5), 67-84. https://doi.org/10.32674/p4m7k123

Russell, S. T., Bishop, M. D., & Fish, J. N. (2023). Expanding Notions of LGBTQ+. In Annual Review of Sociology, 49(1), 281-296. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-soc-030320-032256

Sepúlveda-Páez, G., Santibañez-Palma, J. F., Ferrer-Urbina, R., Atencio, D., Bucarei, P., Castillo, J., Fuentes, M., & Zumarán, B. (2022). Internalized homophobia and sexual risk behavior in men who have sex with men: The mediational role of sexual self-concept. Front. Psychol. 13:1007749. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1007749

Setyowati, L., Benyamin, B. A., Karmina, S., MR, E. R., & Sukmawan, S. (2025). Challenges and strategic approaches in EFL students’ prose analysis essays. JOALL (Journal of Applied Linguistics and Literature), 10(2), 611–631. https://doi.org/10.33369/joall.v10i2.4005

Shenkman, G., Ifrah, K., Shaia, Y., Lusky, M., Samahov, O., & Wiener, M. (2024). Internalized homonegativity and mental health among sexual minority couples and parents. Current Psychology, 43(32), 26178–26192. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-06281-1

Sola, J. L., & Kubrin, C. E. (2023). Making the call: how does perceived race affect desire to call the police? Journal of Experimental Criminology, 20(4), 1193–1223. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11292-023-09571-z

Susmayani, U., Shaluhiyah, Z., Surjoputro, A. (2024). Literatur Review Fenomena Stigma Terhadap Homoseksual di Indonesia. Jurnal Ners, 8(2), 2169–2175. https://doi.org/10.31004/jn.v8i2.42698

Tan, K. J., & Anderson, J. R. (2024). Internalized sexual stigma and mental health outcomes for gay, lesbian, and bisexual Asian Americans: the moderating role of guilt and shame. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(4), 384. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21040384

Thomson, K. (2021). An analysis of LGBTQ+ representation in television and film. Scholars commons (Wilfrid Laurier University), 5(1), 7. https://scholars.wlu.ca/bridges_contemporary_Connections/vol5/iss1/7

Tomic, D., O’Dwyer, M., Keegel, T., & Walker-Bone, K. (2025). Mental health of LGBTQ+ workers: a systematic review. BMC Psychiatry 25, 114 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06556-2

van Meer, M. M., & Pollmann, M. M. H. (2022). Media Representations of Lesbians, Gay Men, and Bisexuals on Dutch Television and People’s Stereotypes and Attitudes About LGBs. Sexuality and Culture, 26(2), 640–664. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-021-09913-x

Vogler, S. (2025). Toward a Queer Pathways Framework: Understanding the Disproportionate Incarceration of LGBTQ People. Critical Criminology, 33(2), 339–355. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10612-025-09828-1

Ziyi, G., & Kamaruzaman, N. A. (2025). Identity conflict: Theoretical framework and review. Asian Journal of Applied Communication, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.47836/ajac.14.01.02




DOI: https://doi.org/10.30743/ll.v10i1.12854

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.