Communication of Intercultural Couples Through Identity Negotiation During Courtship

Abstract

This study aims to discover and to analyze how interfaith couples negotiate their identities with each other. In Indonesia, especially in Jakarta, individuals often meet and interact with people from different backgrounds and as a result, some fall in love. However, partners who belong to distinct cultures will encounter numerous obstacles and will specifically face resistance from their social environment. This study uses a qualitative research methodology with the constructivist paradigm. The results of this study revealed that religious identity is not an obstacle for respondents to proceed to the stage of marriage. However, identity negotiation is required for couples to obtain the blessings of their social environments, which in this case concern the family of one party.