MEMAHAMI NEGOSIASI IDENTITAS KEAGAMAAN PEREMPUAN MUSLIM DALAM PERNIKAHAN BEDA AGAMA DENGAN LAKI-LAKI KATOLIK

Abstract

Interfaith marriage presents complex communication dynamics, particularly regarding
how individuals maintain and negotiate their religious identities within marital life. This study
aims to understand the experiences of Muslim women in negotiating their religious identities
in marriages with Catholic men. This research employs a phenomenological approach
involving seven Muslim women who are married to Catholic spouses. Data were collected
through in-depth interviews and analyzed using phenomenological analysis to uncover the
meaning of participants’ lived experiences. The findings reveal that religious identity
negotiation does not occur through open conflict but through everyday practices that are
personal, contextual, and relational. Negotiation is carried out by positioning religious
symbols as personal needs within the domestic space, meaning that such symbols are not
necessarily displayed as public identity markers but are adjusted based on relational comfort
within the family. In addition, religious practices are treated as private domains that are
performed in parallel without mutual interference, allowing differences in belief to coexist
without escalating into conflict. In terms of food consumption, negotiation takes place through
the management of halal and non-halal boundaries using practical adaptation strategies, such
as separating food or adjusting shared eating practices. Meanwhile, religious celebrations are
redefined as social and familial moments rather than ritual participation, enabling involvement
without compromising individual religious identities. Regarding children’s religious
upbringing, negotiation occurs through discussion and mutual agreement between partners,
taking into account family values as well as the child’s individual autonomy. These findings
indicate that religious identity negotiation in interfaith marriage operates through the
formation of personal boundaries, everyday adaptive strategies, and relational adjustments
that allow differing beliefs to coexist within the household.