E-JOURNAL OF CULTURAL STUDIES VOL. 8, NO. 3, JULY 2015

SOCIO-CULTURAL IMPLICATION OF BALINESE WOMEN 
WORKING ON CRUISE SHIP
I Made Darma Oka
Made Antara 
I Gede Mudana

Doctorate Program in Tourism, Udayana University

email: madedarmaoka@pnb.ac.id, gedemudana@pnb.ac.id 
ABSTRACT


The Balinese people tend to work on the cruise ship. In the last four years, the number of the Balinese women who work on the cruise ship has increased significantly, namely, by 33,84%. This present study is intended to analyze the socio-cultural implication of the Balinese women who work on the cruise ship as part of the tourism industry. Qualitative data are used in the present study. The data were analyzed qualitatively. 


The result of the study shows that the Balinese people were proud of being employed on the cruise ship as they had the opportunity to see the other countries which they had never dreamed of visiting. The socio-cultural life of the countries they had visited was unique and was completely different from the Balinese socio-cultural system. The socio-cultural life of the Balinese women who were employed on the cruise ship can be divided into; (a) the social implication; being employed on the cruise ship enabled them to improve the social status of themselves and their families, and (b) the cultural implication; being employed on the cruise ship enabled them to understand and conserve their culture. They acknowledged that their strong cultural tradition could impede them from being employed on the cruise ship. The paternal traditional life which is attached to the Balinese people and benefits the Balinese people sometimes cause the Balinese people to hesitate to be employed on the cruise ship. 
Keywords: socio-cultural implication, the Balinese women, tourism industry, cruise ship.
INTRODUCTION


The number of the Balinese women who are employed on the cruise ship has dramatically increased in the last four years. The percentage of the Balinese women who work on the cruise ship as part of the tourism industry has risen from year to year, although, from their participation point of view, the number of the Balinese women who are employed on the cruise ship is less than 10% if compared to the number of the Balinese men who are employed on the cruise ship (BP3TKI, 2014).

The women’s empowerment in the tourism industry in general and on the cruise ship in particular is interesting enough as culturally the tourism sector is under the public sector. Based on the traditional (gender) division of employment, the public sector is in the area of men. Women are in the domestic sector; they are supposed to manage households, wash clothes, and cook. Sukeni (2006) stated that, conventionally, despite such a traditional division of employment, the current fact shows that, since the modern tourism developed in Bali, the Balinese women have participated in the public sector such as in the tourism industry, including the cruise ship. 

The empowerment of the Balinese women in the tourism industry in general and on the cruise ship in particular should be enhanced, as the number of the Balinese women is almost equal to the number of the Balinese men (BPS Bali, 2013). The objective is that both the Balinese women and men can contribute their thoughts and power to the development of tourism. The development of tourism is highly complex and involves all the related stakeholders. The active involvement of the stakeholders is intended to give maximum significance to the future generation. In relation to that, Alavalapati and Adamowicz (2000) state that it is necessary to develop the model balance between the economic and environmental significances and the people’s empowerment in the development of tourism. Gelbman and Timothy (2011) suggest that the physical, social, and cultural elements are the potential elements to which attention is necessarily paid to in the development of sustainable tourism. Furthermore, Nunkoo et al. (2012) state that the economic perception, the attitude of political institution, the local society’s potential and the belief in individuals are important in the development of tourism so that the tourist activities can be sustainable. 

It is recognized that the empowerment of the Balinese women in the tourism industry in general and on the cruise ship in particular can positively affect life as it can improve their families’ income and enrich international experiences. However, it can also negatively impact. 
RESEARCH METHOD


Qualitative data are used in the present study. The data on the socio-cultural implication of the Balinese women who were employed on the cruise line were obtained from several informants; however, their number was not exactly determined. The first informant was a woman who was experienced in being employed on the cruise line, from whom the other informants were determined. When the data were considered surfeited, the data collection was discontinued. The data were qualitatively analyzed. However, before the data were analyzed, they were classified, systemized, and interpreted so that the phenomenon which was explored had social, academic and scientific values. The focus was aimed at finding what way of thinking such a social phenomenon contained or at finding the rationality which such a social phenomenon implied (Bungin, 2011: 45). 
DISCUSSION


In general, the Balinese women who were employed on the cruise line stated that being employed in the tourism industry especially on the cruise line was interesting. They felt proud of being able to be employed on the cruise line as they had the opportunity to explore the countries which had never appeared in their mind; they had never thought that they would visit such countries. Furthermore, they stated that the countries they visited were socially and culturally unique, meaning that their socio-cultures were different from the Balinese social culture. That made the Balinese women happy as they had never thought of being able to visit such countries. However, communicating using the international lingua franca, namely, English, impeded them from interacting with the guests and their crew-fellows.

This fact was directly undergone by Ketut Eka Juliani (a lady who was employed on the cruise line for seven years). She stated that if the Balinese people would like to work on the cruise line being able to speak good English was needed; otherwise, they were not able to interact and do what they were daily supposed to do. What was stated by Ketut Eka Juliani shows that communication and interaction with the crew and guests played an important role to minimize miscommunication. In the beginning, the Balinese women found it difficult to interact with their crew-fellows coming from different countries with different languages, cultures and backgrounds. However, as time passed by, finally, they became accustomed to what they were supposed to do; they could adapt themselves to their crew-fellows who came from different countries. This gave a special experience to them. Every employee should be able to communicate in English in the guest area. This could motivate the Balinese women to study harder. It turned out that the social interaction taking place on the cruise line could motivate them to improve their ability to communicate in English; in this way, they could work together with their colleagues. English is the main language used in the communication between them and the other crew on the cruise line.

Ni Putu Ardyanti, who used to be employed on the cruise line for ten years, stated that social problems can take place anywhere and happen to everybody who is employed on the cruise ship; therefore, they need to be anticipated. This cannot be separated from the interaction made by people as social beings in whatever divisions they are employed on the cruise ship. The social problems such as being drunk due to alcohol, gambling and prostitution are frequently made to be identical with those who are employed on the cruise line”. What the informants stated about being drunk due to alcohol, gambling and prostitution on the cruise line was interesting to be explored. These three things are frequently made to be identical with the women who are employed on the cruise line by several people. However, such a view is not entirely true; therefore, it needs to be straightened out. 

It is true that the social problems taking place on the cruise line such as being drunk due alcohol, gambling and prostitution are the temptations which need to be anticipated by manpower especially the Balinese women. It can be a problem for the Balinese women to leave their families for several months; however, it will be a bigger problem if, it turns out that they are not able to stand such temptations and avoid themselves from being involved in a careless life. Everything depends on how strong the Balinese women can stand temptations which they may face on the cruise line as they are far from those they love. The Balinese women always do their best to be able to stand such temptations. They are aware that they work on the cruise ship in order to earn more money as an attempt to improve their statues and families; in other words, they work on the cruise line not for pleasure.

The success in anticipating such temptations was proved by a Balinese woman named Komang Diah Sekarsari, who comes from Kintamani, Bangli. Now her economy and “social status” have dramatically improved. She stated that “having the experience in being employed on the cruise ship has made her feel being more appreciated and respected in her family and society. She also stated that she felt safe and comfortable being employed on the cruise ship as she was supported by her family. According to her, as far as the temptations mentioned above are concerned, it depends on how someone anticipates it. In the social intercourse in the village where she currently lives, she feels that she is more appreciated by her friends. Before she was employed on the cruise ship, she was frequently marginalized by her friends; she was treated improperly as, economically, she came from a poor family. However, after she left her village several times to work on the cruise ship, her friends treated her completely differently. This reality was one of the things which motivated her to work on the cruise line; he wanted to prove to her friends that she could also improve her status and the status of her family. 


Being employed on the cruise line enables the Balinese people to enjoy the cultures of the countries they visit. They introspect themselves when observing the cultures of the countries they visit.

Wayan Yuni Astuti also explained that “working on the cruise ship is not always pleasant. They also faced many obstructions and challenges in their daily social interactions. One of the things which challenged the Balinese manpower when working on the cruise ship was how to adapt to the new environment which was completely different from the environment where they live in Bali. Their crew-fellows came from different countries such as Asia, Europe, America, Africa and Australia who certainly brought their own culture. If the Balinese women cannot adjust themselves to the new environment and make friends selectively from the other crew, then negative implications cannot be avoided. It is acknowledged that the Balinese women who work on the cruise ship are stated to be lucky as most Indonesians who work on the cruise ship are Balinese people, meaning that it is easier for them to ask their nation-fellows for assistance. The reason is that they speak the same language and work far from where they originally come from. 


Ida Ayu Gede Indayani (who was experienced in being employed on the cruise ship for 7 years) stated that “working on the cruise ship is not always appreciated by the society; many people do not appreciate the women who are employed on the cruise ship; in their opinion, working on the cruise ship is negative”. What is stated by this informant shows that there are still several things which impede the Balinese women from being employed on the cruise ship. Some people state that the women who are employed on the cruise ship are those who are “naughty”. In their opinion, the Balinese women who are employed on the cruise ship are bad; as a result, the parents will disagree if their daughters would like to work on the cruise ship. That is not entirely true. Many Balinese women still consistently implement the principles of the Hindu teaching which are adhered to. It is such a negative view which the Balinese women who are employed on the cruise line intend to deconstruct.

It is true that the tight customs and traditions are acknowledged to impede the Balinese women from being employed on the cruise line. The paternal traditional life, which more benefit men, sometimes cause the Balinese women to hesitate when deciding whether they will work on the cruise ship or not. Bhasin (2001: 11) stated that the paternal ideology, which more benefits men, always considers that women are lower and are more easily controlled. 
CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION

The social implication of the Balinese women who are employed on the cruise ship is that, after being employed on the cruise ship they are able to improve the social status of themselves and their families. The cultural implication is that the Balinese who are employed on the cruise ship can more understand and conserve their culture.

In relation to that, it is suggested to the government that it should give the same opportunity to every Balinese woman to work on the cruise ship, depending on the potentials they have. In addition, it is also suggested that the government should support and empower the Balinese women who would like to be employed on the cruise ship. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

In this opportunity the writer would like to thank the informants for having given the information needed. Many thanks are also expressed to all those who have supported the completion of this article.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Alavalapati, J.R.R. dan W.L. Adamowicz. 2000. “Tourism Impact Modelling for Resource Extaction Regions”, Annals of Tourism Research, 27 (1), 188-202.

Badan Pusat Statistik Provinsi Bali. 2013. Bali dalam Angka - Bali in Figure 2012. Denpasar. 

Balai Pelayanan Penempatan dan Perlindungan Tenaga Kerja Indonesia (BP3TKI). 2014. Penempatan TKI Tahun 2013. Denpasar.

Bhasin, K. 2001. Memahami Gender. Jakarta: Teplok Press.
Gelbman, A., and D.J. Timothy. 2011. “Border Complexity, Tourism and International Exclaves; A Case Study”, Annals of Tourism Research, 38 (1), 110-131.

Lubis, A.Y. 2006. Dekonstruksi Epistemologi Modern: Dari Postmodernisme, Teori Kritis, Poskolonialisme hingga, Cultural Studies. Jakarta: Pustaka Indonesia Satu.

Nunkoo, R., H. Ramkissoon, and D. Gursoy. 2012. “Public Trust in Tourism Institutions”, Annals of Tourism Research, 39 (3), 1538-1564

Sukeni, N.N. 2006. “Dampak Pariwisata terhadap Gender di Bali”, Jurnal Studi Gender Srikandi, VI. (1), 1-13.
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