Menjadi Indonesia: Dinamika Komunikasi Interpersonal dalam Pernikahan Antaretnik Tionghoa dan Jawa di Lasem, Jawa Tengah

RAHMI, Aghnia SA, Budy K Zaman

2013 | Skripsi | Ilmu Komunikasi

ABSTRACT Becoming Indonesian: The Dynamics of Interpersonal Communication in Interethnic Marriage (An Ethnographic Interview Study of Spouse in Interethnic Marriage between Chinese-Indonesian and Javanese in Lasem, Central Java) Friction and conflict between ethnic groups in multicultural country such as Indonesia is unavoidable. Roots of this is admited as domino effect of the system run by Hindia-Belanda government in colonial era. The government placed Chinese- Indonesian in to middlemen minorities which triggers envious between indigine and Chinese-Indonesian. In Lasem, a small town in central Java, shows different pattern since interethnic conflict is not detected. The process of acculturation in Lasem has been being underway since 1742. Historical expression of relationship between Chinese-Indonesian and Javanese has been taking place until now. Each ethnic group is able to mutually accept the existance of others. However, Chinese-Indonesian’s endeavor to adapt with Javanese -including in marriage context- is a process to identify themselves in order to becoming Indonesian, not just being. In this becoming process, interethnic spouses do not deem ethnic identity as a barrier. They utilize ethnic boundaries as a mean to preserve diversity without staking togetherness. The process of becoming Indonesia is an effort for adapting in order to be accepted in society. This study observed how the dynamics of interpersonal communication happened in interethnic marriage between Chinese-Indonesian and Javanese in Lasem. To be specific, research focused on the process of information sharing and management of interdependence of each spouses. Dialectical approach was used to study the phenomenon. Information sharing observed from internal perspective (opennes-closeness) and external perspective (revelation-nonrevelation). Management of interdependence was also observed from internal perspective (autonomy-connections) and external perxpective (separation- integration). Using ethnographic interview, this research elicit the phenomenon of interethnic marriage in four spouses. The result indicates that the four spouses in interethnic marriage do not see ethnic identity as a problem. Opennes between them is able to bring friendship in to marriage stage. Yet, their perception is not along side with social challenge. Controversy appears from family. But this challenge lead their relationship getting more intimate. They give support each other in terms of convincing their family. The whole adaptation process is a way in order to be accepted personally by spouse’s family. In wider context, the process of becoming Indonesia is an empirical living proof that acculturation occurred. Key words: interpersonal communication, information sharing, interdependence, marriage, Chinese-Indonesian, Javanese, Lasem

Kata Kunci : Komunikasi Interpersonal