Matrilineal Marriage Traditions and Hegemonic Masculinity in Marah Rusli’s Sitti Nurbaya

Abstract

This article offers an intensive analysis and discussion regarding the practice of hegemonic masculinity in the matrilineal marriage tradition belonging to the Minangkabau ethnic group in the western part of Indonesia's Sumatera archipelago. The rules of Minangkabau matrilineal customs that still place men as policymakers for women are a contributing factor to the practice of hegemonic masculinity. The data source used to examine the problem is an Indonesian novel set in Minangkabau society and culture entitled Sitti Nurbaya by Marah Rusli. Text data obtained from the novel Sitti Nurbaya were analyzed using content analysis techniques. After analyzing the stages of data reduction, data display, and data verification, it was found that two matrilocal marriage traditions in Minangkabau society show the practice of hegemonic masculinity, namely a) kawin bajapuik tradition; and b) the tradition of polygamy. The hegemonic masculinity in both traditions is characterized by the superiority of male power in regulating the conditions of marriage and the emphasis on female obedience as subordinate objects. This study is considered to have greatly contributed to the initial study of masculine literature in the Minangkabau matrilineal society, the study of the revitalization of its gender mainstreaming, as well as efforts to find out the description of the social reality of Minangkabau society in the early 20th century.

Muslim women adhering to Minangkabau’s bajapuik tradition in Cirebon, West Java: compromizing a gendered culture in Islamic law

“…Before that, they were under the influence of men, namely the mother's brothers (mamak). Thus, Minangkabau women obtain a high position when they are in the highest family status, meaning that this position is obtained through a family process (Bahardur et al, 2022). Minangkabau women with their privileges as bundo kanduang play a decisive role in solving various problems in their people and in society (Blackwood, 2010).…”

Maskulinitas Laki-laki Minangkabau dalam Novel Perempuan Batih Karya A.R. Rizal: Tinjauan Rewyn Connel

“…Di Indonesia sendiri juga telah terdapat beberapa peneliti yang mengkaji masalah maskulinitas dan kaitannya dengan masalah lainnya, di antaranya hegemoni maskulinitas dan tradisi perkawinan matrilineal Minangkabau dalam novel Sitti Nurbaya karya Marah Rusli (Bahardur et al, 2022) (Bahardur et al, 2020) maskulinitas dan kaitannya dengan peran mamak dalam budaya matrilineal (T. Kusniarti, 2018) . Di luar kajian budaya dan masyarakat Minangkabau, permasalahan maskulinitas juga telah dilihat kaitannya dengan lagu dangdut (Ulya, 2021) dan musik metal (Priyatna, 2020).…”