Shofwatul Aini, Niswatul Hidayati

(Ir)Rationality among Migrant Worker Families in Ponorogo: The Demolition of Joint Property after Divorce

Introduction

(ir)rationality among migrant worker families in ponorogo: the demolition of joint property after divorce. Explore why migrant worker families in Ponorogo demolish joint property after divorce, analyzing 'rational' actions driven by betrayal & socio-economic impacts.

Abstract

House demolition as a solution to joint property disputes appears to be an option for some Ponorogo migrant workers. In 2022, there were five cases of house demolitions in Ponorogo involving migrant families in Ponorogo. This study addresses three main issues: (1) the reasons why some migrant worker couples prefer to demolish joint-property houses; (2) how these reasons can be understood through Homans' theory of rational action; and (3) the socio-economic impacts of these actions. Data were collected through interviews and document analysis. This study argues that, first, the primary reason husbands and wives choose to demolish their house is due to feelings of disappointment and betrayal by their partners, coupled with fear that the house might later be used as a residence for their ex-partners and their new partners. Second, the act of demolishing the house is considered rational because the emotional harm caused by betrayal is perceived as equivalent to suffering an economic loss. Third, this demolition has socio-economic consequences for their children, who are unable to benefit from their parents' property. [Pembongkaran rumah sebagai solusi atas sengketa harta bersama tampaknya menjadi salah satu pilihan yang ditempuh oleh sebagian pekerja migran asal Ponorogo. Pada tahun 2022, tercatat lima kasus pembongkaran rumah di Ponorogo yang melibatkan keluarga pekerja migran. Penelitian ini mengkaji tiga persoalan utama, yaitu: (1) alasan pasangan pekerja migran memilih membongkar rumah yang merupakan harta bersama; (2) bagaimana alasan tersebut dapat dipahami melalui teori tindakan rasional Homans; dan (3) dampak sosial-ekonomi yang ditimbulkan dari tindakan tersebut. Data penelitian diperoleh melalui wawancara dan analisis dokumen. Penelitian ini berargumen bahwa, pertama, alasan utama suami dan istri memilih membongkar rumah adalah karena adanya perasaan kekecewaan dan pengkhianatan oleh pasangan, disertai kekhawatiran bahwa rumah tersebut kelak akan digunakan sebagai tempat tinggal oleh mantan pasangan bersama pasangan barunya. Kedua, tindakan pembongkaran rumah dipandang sebagai tindakan rasional karena kerugian emosional akibat pengkhianatan dimaknai setara dengan kerugian ekonomi. Ketiga, pembongkaran tersebut menimbulkan konsekuensi sosial-ekonomi, terutama bagi anak-anak, yang pada akhirnya tidak dapat menikmati atau memanfaatkan harta yang telah diusahakan oleh kedua orang tuanya selama masa perkawinan.]

Review

The paper, "(Ir)Rationality among Migrant Worker Families in Ponorogo: The Demolition of Joint Property after Divorce," delves into a compelling and under-researched phenomenon: the intentional demolition of shared homes by divorced migrant worker couples in Ponorogo. The abstract immediately captures attention by presenting five documented cases from 2022, highlighting the urgency and specificity of this issue. The study sets out to investigate the underlying reasons for this drastic choice, interpret these actions through Homans' theory of rational action, and analyze their subsequent socio-economic impacts. This focus on a specific community and a seemingly counter-intuitive behavior makes the research inherently significant and intriguing. Employing a qualitative approach through interviews and document analysis, the research provides rich insights into the motivations behind house demolitions. The abstract outlines three crucial findings: First, the primary drivers are profound feelings of disappointment and betrayal, coupled with the fear that the former residence might be occupied by the ex-partner and a new spouse. Second, the study provocatively frames these actions as "rational" within the context of Homans' theory, arguing that the emotional harm from betrayal is perceived as equivalent to an economic loss, thereby justifying the destructive act. Third, the research underscores the often-overlooked and severe socio-economic consequences for the children, who are deprived of the assets their parents jointly acquired. This application of rational choice theory to deeply emotional responses presents a thought-provoking interpretation of human behavior under duress. This study offers a valuable contribution by shedding light on a unique intersection of migration, family law, property disputes, and emotional rationality in a specific cultural context. Its strength lies in tackling a sensitive and destructive behavior with an attempt to provide theoretical grounding, moving beyond mere description to an analytical interpretation. While the interpretation of emotional harm as equivalent to economic loss within a rational action framework is a bold assertion that would benefit from detailed elaboration in the full paper, it nevertheless prompts critical reflection on the boundaries of rationality. The emphasis on the devastating impact on children is particularly crucial, calling for greater attention to the long-term consequences of such disputes. Overall, this paper promises to be an important empirical and theoretical contribution to sociology, family studies, and migration research, opening avenues for further research and potential policy interventions.

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