Mujtahid Mujtahid, Ali Sodiqin, Moch. Nur Ichwan

Social Labeling, Power, and Deviancy Amplification: Community Stigmatization of Migrant Residents in Adultery Cases in Banda Aceh

Introduction

Social labeling, power, and deviancy amplification: community stigmatization of migrant residents in adultery cases in banda aceh. Examine how social labeling, power, and media amplify deviancy, stigmatizing migrants in Banda Aceh's adultery cases. Reveals local power, exclusion, and policy needs.

Abstract

Existing research on social labeling in adultery (zinā) cases in Aceh remains limited, particularly in exploring how local power dynamics shape processes of stigmatization. This article examines how the social labeling of migrant residents (ureung tamong) accused of zinā operates as a mechanism of social control that reinforces the dominance of local residents (asoe lhok), while media exposure intensifies stigma through deviancy amplification. Employing a legal anthropological approach, the article is based on three months of fieldwork in Banda Aceh, involving participant observation, in-depth interviews with ten key informants—including village authorities, community leaders, law enforcement officers, and local residents—and analysis of relevant online and social media content. The findings reveal that social labeling in zinā cases is driven not only by religious and customary norms but also by underlying community power structures, rendering ureung tamong significantly more vulnerable to public exposure and social sanctions than asoe lhok. Additionally, digital media exacerbates the amplification of deviance, resulting in prolonged social exclusion of individuals who have already faced customary or formal legal punishment. The persistence of digital records further obstructs their reintegration into society. This article contends that social labeling functions not merely as a tool of moral regulation but also as a strategy for maintaining the dominance of powerful groups within the community. It concludes by calling for more inclusive media practices and legal policies to prevent the prolonged social and psychological marginalization of individuals in zinā cases who have fulfilled their legal obligations. [Penelitian mengenai pelabelan sosial dalam kasus perzinaan di Aceh masih terbatas, khususnya dalam menelaah bagaimana dinamika kekuasaan lokal membentuk proses stigmatisasi. Artikel ini mengkaji bagaimana pelabelan sosial terhadap pendatang (ureung tamong) yang diduga melakukan zina berfungsi sebagai mekanisme kontrol sosial yang memperkuat dominasi penduduk lokal (asoe lhok), serta bagaimana eksposur media memperparah stigma melalui amplifikasi penyimpangan. Dengan menggunakan pendekatan antropologi hukum, artikel ini didasarkan pada kerja lapangan selama tiga bulan di Banda Aceh, yang meliputi observasi partisipatif, wawancara mendalam dengan sepuluh informan kunci—terdiri dari aparatur desa, tokoh masyarakat, aparat penegak hukum, dan warga lokal—serta analisis terhadap konten media daring dan media sosial yang relevan. Temuan menunjukkan bahwa pelabelan sosial dalam kasus zina tidak semata-mata dipengaruhi oleh norma agama dan adat, tetapi juga oleh struktur kekuasaan di dalam komunitas, sehingga ureung tamong jauh lebih rentan terhadap eksposur publik dan sanksi sosial dibandingkan asoe lhok. Selain itu, media digital memperburuk amplifikasi penyimpangan, yang berujung pada pengucilan sosial berkepanjangan terhadap individu yang telah menjalani sanksi adat maupun hukum formal. Keberadaan jejak digital yang terus bertahan semakin menghambat proses reintegrasi sosial mereka. Artikel ini menegaskan bahwa pelabelan sosial berfungsi tidak hanya sebagai alat regulasi moral, tetapi juga sebagai strategi untuk mempertahankan dominasi kelompok yang berkuasa di dalam komunitas. Oleh karena itu, penelitian ini merekomendasikan adanya kebijakan media dan hukum yang lebih inklusif guna mencegah marginalisasi sosial dan psikologis yang berkelanjutan terhadap individu dalam kasus zina yang telah menjalani sanksinya.]

Review

This article tackles a critical and under-researched area, exploring the intricate dynamics of social labeling, power, and deviancy amplification within adultery cases in Banda Aceh. The authors effectively address a significant gap in existing literature by specifically investigating how local power structures shape the stigmatization processes, particularly for migrant residents (ureung tamong) accused of *zinā*. Employing a robust legal anthropological approach, the study's methodology, based on three months of fieldwork including participant observation, in-depth interviews with ten diverse key informants, and analysis of digital media content, provides a strong foundation for its findings. This interdisciplinary approach offers a nuanced understanding of social control mechanisms and the reinforcement of local dominance (asoe lhok) through stigmatization, further intensified by media exposure. The findings are compelling, revealing that social labeling in *zinā* cases is not solely driven by religious and customary norms but significantly underpinned by community power structures. Crucially, the research demonstrates how this dynamic renders migrant residents far more susceptible to public exposure and social sanctions compared to local residents. A particularly insightful contribution is the examination of digital media's role, highlighting its exacerbating effect on deviancy amplification. The study powerfully illustrates how persistent digital records contribute to prolonged social exclusion, effectively hindering the reintegration of individuals who have already faced customary or formal legal punishment, thus extending their marginalization beyond formal sentencing. In conclusion, this article offers a vital contribution to the fields of sociology, anthropology, and legal studies by re-framing social labeling not just as a tool of moral regulation, but as a strategic mechanism for maintaining the dominance of powerful groups within a community. Its exploration of the interplay between traditional norms, power imbalances, and digital media in a specific cultural context provides significant theoretical and practical implications. The call for more inclusive media practices and legal policies to prevent the prolonged social and psychological marginalization of individuals who have fulfilled their legal obligations is a timely and important recommendation, making this a highly relevant and impactful piece of scholarship.

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