Coastal North Bali has historically been a meeting point between Hindu communities and Muslim-associated maritime traders, creating cultural interactions preserved in local sacred traditions. However, the forms and functions of this interaction in Pelinggih Juragan remain insufficiently documented. This study aims to identify Hindu–Islamic cultural acculturation in Pelinggih Juragan , analyze its religious and social functions, and examine its relevance for local history learning. This qualitative study employed an ethnographic approach at Merajan Dadia Pasek Gelgel, Bungkulan Village, North Bali. Data were collected through participant observation, in-depth interviews, and document analysis, and analyzed thematically. The findings identify four forms of acculturation: the combination of Balinese and maritime titles in the name Ratu Manik Mas Subandar, the prohibition of pork in ritual offerings, the coexistence of Balinese Hindu sacred architecture with Muslim-associated clothing attributes, and the performance of Juragan Juru Kemudi during the pujawali ceremony. These forms serve religious, ancestral, social, commemorative, and historical functions. They demonstrate that acculturation can accommodate Muslim-associated identity within a Balinese Hindu ritual framework while preserving memories of maritime interaction, local history, archipelagic trade, and interreligious tolerance.
The ogoh-ogoh tradition in Bali has historically represented Bhuta Kala as a symbol of destructive forces that must be neutralized before Nyepi Day. However, contemporary ogoh-ogoh increasingly depict Bhuta Kala through eroticized female figures characterized by idealized bodies, sensual poses, and attractive visual aesthetics. This study examines the transformation of Bhuta Kala representations, the factors driving this shift, and the commodification of female bodies in contemporary ogoh-ogoh. Using a critical qualitative approach, data were collected through visual observation, interviews, documentation, and analysis of thirteen ogoh-ogoh from several regions in Bali. The findings reveal three major transformations: from cosmological monsters to female figures, from aesthetics of fear to aesthetics of sensuality, and from ritual symbols to visual spectacles. These changes are influenced by spectacle culture, popular culture, digital media, creative competition, and the creative economy. The study further shows that female bodies function as visual capital, attention commodities, and cultural commodities that generate aesthetic, social, and economic value. The findings indicate that traditional symbols are being reinterpreted and commodified within the broader context of contemporary visual culture and digital media in Bali.
This study examines the phenomenon of overtourism in the Pantai Kuta area, which has intensified tourism activities while simultaneously generating economic opportunities and environmental pressures for local communities. For micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), this condition creates a structural dilemma between economic gains and environmental sustainability. This research aims to investigate MSMEs’ perceptions of the economic benefits and environmental pressures associated with overtourism, and to analyze the trade-offs influencing their business sustainability. A qualitative approach with a descriptive-exploratory design was employed. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, field observations, and document analysis, and were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify recurrent patterns of perception. The findings reveal that overtourism significantly enhances income generation and business opportunities for MSMEs; however, it concurrently exacerbates environmental pressures, including waste accumulation, traffic congestion, and declining environmental quality. These dynamics produce ambivalent responses among MSMEs, reflecting a dual dependence on tourism-driven income alongside growing environmental constraints. Unlike previous studies that primarily adopt a macro-level perspective, this study provides a micro-level analysis by focusing on MSMEs and their lived experiences of economic-environmental trade-offs. This study contributes to the literature by offering insights for the development of more balanced and sustainable tourism governance.
This study aims to describe how the task of caring for the elderly differs between men and women, and how women and men view the role of caring for the elderly in the family. Because Indonesian society has entered the aging population era, the need for elder care will increase rapidly. This study was conducted with case studies. The participants consist of two male informants and two female informants both with male/ female siblings and are having with elderly parents at home. Data analysis was carried out by organizing data collected from interview while data interpretation was conducted by summarizing the data and doing comparison with literature review. This study shows that society still teaches and regulates separate roles between men and women in caring for the elderly, and although gender equality has increased, culturally women tend to be considered natural caregivers.
This research aims to examine how climate policy affects gender justice and women’s adaptive governance in Central Java through the lenses of ecofeminism, political ecology, and intersectionality. This research examines women’s marginalization in three contexts: (1) as a social construct that connects patriarchal domination and climate governance, (2) as a social power construct that systematically marginalizes women from formal participation in climate-related policymaking, and (3) as adaptive resilience of social constructs, in which women design and implement adaptive strategies, such as diversifying livelihoods. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, this study analyzes women’s experiences, social roles, and adaptive strategies in climate-vulnerable coastal and farming communities in Central Java. The findings demonstrate that women’s effective participation in climate governance depends on recognition of their social roles and adaptive capacities. Gender-blind governance frameworks that focus on climate-related technical ends at the cost of women’s rights to safe and dignified living intensify the vulnerability of women in the coastal and farming communities. The study argues that climate policy should adopt gender-transformative strategies that formally recognize women’s adaptive governance and participation. Such an approach can strengthen gender-responsive climate governance and contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals 5, 13, and 16.
