DINAMIKA STIGMA SOSIAL TERHADAP PEREMPUAN BERSTATUS JANDA DALAM KEHIDUPAN MASYARAKAT LOKAL DI KELURAHAN WALI, KABUPATEN MANGGARAI

Abstrak

Status janda dalam masyarakat yang masih dipengaruhi nilai patriarki sering dikonstruksikan melalui berbagai stigma sosial yang memengaruhi posisi perempuan dalam kehidupan sosial. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memahami dinamika stigma sosial terhadap perempuan berstatus janda serta bagaimana stigma tersebut termanifestasi dalam kehidupan sosial dan ekonomi di Keluraha n Wali, Kecamatan Langke Rembong, Kabupaten Manggarai. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan jenis penelitian deskriptif. Informan penelitian dipilih melalui teknik purposive sampling yang melibatkan perempuan berstatus janda berusia 30-44 tahun serta masyarakat setempat. Data dikumpulkan melalui observasi, wawancara mendalam, dan dokumentasi, kemudian dianalisis melalui tahapan reduksi data, penyajian data, dan penarikan kesimpulan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa stigma terhadap janda tidak selalu muncul dalam bentuk penolakan terbuka, tetapi bekerja melalui mekanisme kontrol sosial informal seperti pengawasan sosial, gosip, dan standar moral ganda yang membedakan janda dan duda. Stigma tersebut memengaruhi ruang sosial, aktivitas ekonomi, serta persepsi masyarakat terhadap penampilan dan interaksi sosial janda. Meskipun demikian, para janda mengembangkan berbagai strategi adaptif seperti menjaga perilaku di ruang publik, membatasi interaksi sosial tertentu, serta membangun solidaritas antarperempuan. Penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa stigma terhadap janda merupakan konstruksi sosial yang berkaitan erat dengan nilai patriarki dan norma moral dalam masyarakat.

Widowhood in communities influenced by patriarchal values is often accompanied by strong social stigma that shapes women’s social position and everyday experiences. This study aims to examine the dynamics of social stigma toward widowed women and how such stigma manifests in their social and economic lives in Wali Village, Langke Rembong District, Manggarai Regency. The research employed a qualitative descriptive approach. Informants were selected through purposive sampling, consisting of widowed women aged 30-44 years and members of the local community. Data were collected through observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation, and analyzed using data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing procedures. The findings indicate that stigma toward widows does not always appear as explicit rejection but operates through informal social control mechanisms such as social surveillance, gossip, and double moral standards that differentiate widows from widowers. These perceptions influence widows’ social space, economic activities, and community interpretations of their appearance and interactions with others. Despite these pressures, widowed women develop adaptive strategies to maintain social acceptance, including regulating public behavior, limiting certain social interactions, and building solidarity among women. The study highlights that stigma toward widows is a socially constructed phenomenon closely linked to patriarchal values and moral norms embedded in community life.