From Sacred Objects to Monetary Exchange: Cultural Transformation and the Social Reconfiguration of Marriage in Tanimbar Island Society
Abstract
This study examines the transformation of marriage practices in Tanimbar Island society, focusing on the shift from sacred ritual objects to monetary exchange and its implications for social relations, symbolic meanings, and cultural structures. It situates this transformation within the broader context of Global South sociology, questioning whether such changes reflect pragmatic adaptation to socio-economic pressures or deeper reconfigurations of kinship, status, and sacred values. A qualitative case study was conducted in Watidal Village, North Tanimbar District, Indonesia. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with customary leaders, married couples, and community members, supported by participant observation and document analysis. An interpretive analytical approach was employed to understand how local actors construct and negotiate meaning amid cultural change. The findings indicate that the monetization of ritual exchange is driven by intertwined economic and social factors, including resource constraints, efficiency, and shifting lifestyles. Rather than eliminating symbolic meaning, this transformation produces a hybrid cultural form in which monetary exchange acquires new symbolic significance, while the sacred dimension of traditional objects gradually weakens. This study contributes by conceptualizing monetization as a process of social reconfiguration rather than mere commodification. It concludes that Tanimbar marriage practices reflect an ongoing negotiation between tradition and modernity and recommends strengthening community-based engagement to sustain cultural values within changing socio-economic contexts.
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