Negotiating Marriage Norms and Women's Coping Strategies in Almira Bastari's Ganjil Genap: A Cultural and Literary Psychology Perspective

Abstract

Purpose: This study examines how marriage norms and social pressure are represented through Gala in Almira Bastari’s Ganjil Genap and how she negotiates cultural expectations through coping strategies. Methods: This study employed a qualitative descriptive method using literary psychology and cultural studies perspectives. Data were collected from narratives, dialogues, and character actions in the 2020 novel and analyzed through thematic content analysis based on Lazarus and Folkman’s stress and coping theory. Findings: The analysis identified 62 data units, comprising 20 representations of marriage norms, 17 instances of stress appraisal, and 25 representations of coping strategies. Marriage is portrayed not merely as a personal choice but as a cultural expectation shaped by family hopes, age-related discourse, and the social environment. Following the end of her thirteen-year relationship, Gala experiences emotional loss and uncertainty regarding her anticipated marital future. Her responses include seeking social support, preparing herself emotionally, and communicating directly to clarify the reasons for the separation. These strategies reflect emotion-focused and problem-focused coping. Research Implications: The findings contribute to literary and cultural discussions of gender relations, singlehood stigma, and women's responses to social expectations. They also encourage critical reflection on how marriage norms influence women's identities, life choices, and perceptions of adulthood. Originality: Unlike previous studies that primarily examine psychological conflicts, personality traits, or cultural elements separately, this study integrates marriage norms as cultural constructions, social-pressure appraisal, and coping strategies to explain how contemporary Indonesian literature represents women's active negotiation of gendered expectations.