How children of divorce interpret the matrilineal kinship support in changing society? : A phenomenology study from Minangkabau, West Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract

ABSTRACT The child’s welfare in the matrilineal society is become the maternal kinship responsibility, while the father’s role in the family nonexistent. This situation makes children avoid parental divorce'snegative impacts because they still have maternal relatives as the primary social support source. But the results of research on the Minang community in West Sumatra, Indonesia, show a shift in the role of the members of the matrilineal kinship system, which makes the father’s role more strength for children. This phenomenon leaves the question of whether the kinship system still functions as a social support source for children of divorce. The study was conducted using a qualitative interpretative phenomenology analysis approach involving three Minangnese participants from divorced families. This study aims to reveal social support in the matrilineal kinship system based on experiences and interpretations as children of divorced families. The main question posed is, “How do participants interpret social support received from members in the matrilineal kinship system such as grandmothers, mother’s siblings, and siblings after parental divorce?” The results reveal two themes, “Paradox in receiving support from the extended maternal family” and “The nuclear family as primary support with different expectations for each member.” The results are discussed in the frame of shifting the role in the matrilineal kinship system in Minang.