ONE day in 1983, Ida Ayu Oka Rusmini traveled to Bali with a heavy heart. In the land of her ancestors, she faced this reality: Balinese women were at a crossroads, exposed to modernity while the traditional norms were still deeply rooted in the Balinese social structure. They were left with only one option if they insist on pursuing progress: Be prepared to face a social conflict.

Prompted by this cultural reality, Oka began to write her e