Year: 2025
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: The phenomenon of waithood has become a significant social condition in many countries, including Indonesia.Waithood refers to a delayed transition into adulthood, commonly marked by postponed marriage.While existing studies often frame waithood as an outcome of individual choice shaped mainly by economic constraints, this study argues that such explanations are insufficient to capture its complexity.By employing Victor Turner's concept of liminality, this research explores the factors that shape waithood and how individuals experience and perceive it.The study is based on participant observation and in-depth interviews with seven women aged 25-35 years.Findings reveal that beyond economic aspects, waithood is also influenced by sociocultural pressures, social expectations, and changing aspirations.For some individuals, waithood is a temporary stage, with various enabling factors allowing them to transition out of it, while for others it becomes a prolonged condition due to interrelated constraints.This research contributes to the state of the art by shifting the analysis of waithood from an economic-deterministic perspective toward a more nuanced understanding that emphasizes culture and everyday lived experiences in contemporary Indonesian society.
Institution: Diponegoro University
Language: English
Topic: Marriage and Family Dynamics
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Gender equality
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4417417670