Ethnic diversity, traditional norms, and marriage behaviour in Indonesia

Abstract

What role do cultural norms play in shaping individual behaviour and how does this relationship change with rapid socioeconomic development? While modernization and convergence theories predict a weakened relationship between culture and behaviour as individuals rely less on family and community members for economic opportunities, recent research suggests that such norms can persist and continue to influence behaviour. We explored this question in the context of Indonesia, asking whether cultural norms for age at marriage and post-marriage residence—as articulated by local ethnic-based laws and customs known as ‘adat’—influence actual marriage behaviour. We demonstrate that adat norms are strong predictors of marriage behaviours, both over time and net of large increases in educational attainment. Our results suggest more generally that ethnic-based nuptial regimes can be critical and persistent determinants of marriage behaviours even as societies rapidly develop.

Plurality of marriage law and marriage registration for Muslims in Indonesia: a plea for pragmatism

“…This is mainly a matter of choice, not a matter of a lack of access. This argument is supported by Buttenheim and Nobles, 82 who have found that the freedom for women in marriage decisions increases significantly in subsequent marriages after a first marriage has failed. Of course, there are also women who are pressured, betrayed or deceived by their husbands in entering into an unregistered marriage, but most data indicate that most women enter into unregistered marriages because they have freely chosen to close the registration option by not divorcing at the Islamic court.…”

Reproductive contributions of Taiwan´s foreign wives from the top five source countries

“…The low mean marriage age of Indonesian wives was related to the fact that the family systems of Indonesia were characterized by early age at marriage that had not been lengthened very much by the influence of modernization (Jones 2001). Based on the data of the 1997 Indonesian Family Life Survey, Buttenheim and Nobles (2009) found that the average age at first marriage for females was only 18.2 years.…”

Housing deficits as a frame for housing policy: demographic change, economic crisis and household formation in Indonesia

“…In some places parents live with their children who are supporting them; in many cases they co-reside because the children cannot find suitable accommodation (Frankenberg, Chan, & Ofsteda, 2002). This has become an important topic in many East Asian countries as the population ages and some must accommodate increasing dependence through family support systems (Chan, 2005 Housing markets: a missing piece of the puzzle Much of the literature on changing family structure, especially in developing countries, fails to consider the important role of housing markets in family structure (Buttenheim & Nobles, 2009;Mulder, 2007;Thornton & Fricke, 1987). The relative cost of housing changes as cities grow and housing quality improves, and regulatory frameworks can determine the way production responds to demand.…”

“…Despite the significant improvements in education, economic growth, and the rapid urbanization in the country during the second half of the twentieth century, Indonesian women still marry at an early age compared to similar neighboring countries (Buttenheim & Nobles, 2009;Jones, 2001). Only about 3% of Indonesian women from age 35 to 39 were never married in 2000, compared with 10% in the Philippines and 12% in Thailand.…”

“…The first looks at the decision to form a new household as a rational one made by individuals together with choices about work and consumption (Ermisch, 1999;McDonald, Kippen, & Temple, 2006;McElroy, 1985). The second category focuses on sociocultural influences on decisions regarding household formation and co-residence with parents (Buttenheim & Nobles, 2009). Without entering into a debate over the relative importance of either of these two perspectives, I assume that cultural norms have a fundamental influence on family structure, yet that individual decisions ultimately must be made and are subject to housing market and general economic conditions.…”