Page 620 - Proceedings Collega2023

RECOGNIZING THE CULTURAL ADAPTATION OF MACAK-MANAK-

MASAK IN MARRIAGE AMONG JAVANESE WOMEN AND FRENCH
CITIZENS: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

1
Mohd Shahnawi MUHMAD PIRUS
Hany Nurahmawati 2

1,2 Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor, Malaysia
1,2 Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Universitas Bakrie, South Jakarta, Indonesia

1 dr_shahnawi@uitm.edu.my

2 hanssiong@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study is to understand the cultural adaptation of Macak-Manak-Masak among
Javanese women (JW) who are married to French citizens. About 11 informants of Javanese women who
are married to French citizens were chosen via in-depth interviews and data was analysed by using the
constant comparative technique. A Qualitative research of phenomenological approach was the main
structure of this study in recognizing cultural adaptation and acculturation. From the findings, the Javanese
women illustrated adaptive challenges in transcending cultural barriers and expanding their personal
growth beyond the boundaries of a single culture or beyond their cultural classification. Their marriage
with the French citizens had determined the flexible intercultural communication emphasizing the process
of acculturation and cultural assimilation. Nevertheless, since both Javanese women and their French
spouses must acquire and interpret values that differ from what was previously expected, intercultural
communications can be stressful at times due to the assimilation between both cultures. In conclusion,
the authors concluded cultural adaptation can be traumatic among Javanese women due to the need for
them to disconnect from their traditions and identity to be well assimilated with French culture and survive
all challenges.

Keywords: Macak-Manak-Masak; cultural adaptation; acculturation; intercultural communication;
Javanese women (JW)

International Conference on Local Wisdom of the Malay Archipelago (COLLEGA 2023) Page - 607 -