Marital Conflict, Javanese Women Coping Strategy Aside From Legal Approach In Divorce Decision Making

Abstract

Divorce in Javanese people is a humiliating event, considered as a disgrace not only for the divorcee but also for their extended family. That kind of shame caused decision making process for Javanese women become difficult, although they might have marital violence but not too many of them reported it legally. This research aimed to understand marital conflict and coping strategy in divorce decision making among Javanese women. Research method used here is phenomenologist qualitative on eight women that filed their divorce for at least six months before interview conducted, were employed, and had children. Data collected with semi-structured interview, analysed by Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). This research found that: marital conflict and coping strategy for Javanese women participants filed divorce influenced by Javanese ethics. Javanese ethics also caused these Javanese women participants had a confusing divorce situation because norms that they believe in its community was forcing them to stay in that marriage, though it might be full of violence, without making any legal action. These Javanese women participants had courage to take divorce decision when coping strategies, they had done were no longer enough to handle the stress caused by marital conflict.