Family Relational on Girl Child Marriage Decision: A Study of Communication and Conformity Orientation in Tegaldowo Village, Rembang Regency

Abstract

The prevalence of girl child (early) marriage in Indonesia is 23%, which means 1 of 5 girls aged 20-24 years have been married less than 18 years. Decisions to marry at an immature age are vulnerable to domestic problems, one of them is early divorce because they don't have enough understanding about the consequences of marriage, has no financial independence, mental and emotional maturity. This study will examine the pattern of family communication between parents and daughters in their first marriage decision making process on mate selection in Tegaldowo Village, Gunem District, Rembang Regency using Family Communication Pattern Theory. During 2015-2017 the data show that 11 girls aged 15-20 years in Tegaldowo have been married for 2-3 times which marriage duration only 1-2 years. This research used qualitative perspective-case study method. The data were obtained by indepth interview technique, observation and document analysis and then analyzed using an interactive analysis model. The results of this study indicate the low level of communication orientation but high in conformity orientation on mate selection of marriage decision-making. Cultural factors of society also has an important role of girl child marriage decisions.