Khansa Mahira, Dede Mulyanto, Budiawati Supangkat Iskandar

Post-Marital Relationships Between Widow and Her Ex- Affines Among The Sundanese in Rural West Java

Introduction

Post-marital relationships between widow and her ex- affines among the sundanese in rural west java. Study post-marital relationships between Sundanese widows and ex-affines in rural West Java. Discover factors shaping friendships, fictive daughter ties, or hostile neighbor dynamics.

Abstract

This article explores different types of relationships between widows and their ex-affines and explains the different factors of these relationships among the Sundanese people in rural West Java. The study was conducted by six widows with different experiences of their relationships with their ex-affinal kin using qualitative research methods with a case study approach. For this purpose, in-depth interviews and observational studies were conducted. Based on the results, we conclude that in the context of involuntary endogamous marriages, the relationship between widows and their ex-affinal kin takes the form of (1) friendship, (2) fictive daughter, (3) just another neighbor, (4) hostile neighbor, and (5) total stranger. These results are supported by factors such as (1) past personal relationships between the two people, (2) dependency on old age and social values in elderly care, and (3) the place of origin and residence of ex-husband. The nature of the relationships with ex-affine is not consistent across all categories. Ultimately, the classification of these relationships depends on the widow's specific situation after divorce or the death of her husband.

Review

This article addresses a socially and anthropologically significant topic: the nuanced post-marital relationships between widows and their former affinal kin among the Sundanese community in rural West Java. Employing a qualitative research design with a case study approach, the study aims to illuminate the varied forms these relationships take and the underlying factors that shape them. The focus on a specific cultural context, particularly rural Sundanese society, offers a valuable contribution to understanding kinship dynamics in non-Western settings, where extended family ties often persist beyond the immediate marital bond. The research, drawing insights from six widows, identifies a compelling spectrum of relationship types forged in the context of involuntary endogamous marriages, ranging from amicable to estranged. Specifically, the study categorizes these post-marital interactions into "friendship," "fictive daughter," "just another neighbor," "hostile neighbor," and "total stranger," providing a granular typology. These distinct classifications are attributed to several critical factors, including the quality of past personal relationships, the influence of old age dependency and prevailing social values concerning elderly care, and the geographical proximity and origin of the ex-husband. The finding that relationships are not uniformly consistent and are highly dependent on individual circumstances after widowhood underscores the complexity and situational specificity of kinship renegotiation. While the qualitative depth afforded by the case study approach is commendable for its rich insights into individual experiences, the relatively small sample size of six widows might limit the generalizability of these findings across the broader Sundanese population. Future research could benefit from exploring how these relationship dynamics might differ across various socio-economic strata or urban-rural divides within Sundanese society, or with a larger, more diverse sample. Despite these considerations, the article offers a compelling initial framework for understanding a complex and often overlooked aspect of kinship studies, laying foundational work for further investigation into post-marital social structures in similar cultural contexts.

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