Examining Lavender Marriage: Social Influence and Identity Construction in a Heteronormative Context

Jacklin Stefany Manafe (Program Studi Sosiologi, FISIP, Universitas Nusa Cendana)
Jeni M. Ataupah (Program Studi Sosiologi, FISIP, Universitas Nusa Cendana)
Hildigardis M.I. Nahak (Program Studi Sosiologi, FISIP, Universitas Nusa Cendana)

Jurnal Ilmu-Ilmu Sosial PLURALIS
Vol 3 No 1 (2024): Jurnal Ilmu-Ilmu Sosial PLURALIS

Lavender marriage, a term referring to a heterosexual marriage arranged as a cover to hide the non-heterosexual sexual orientation of one or both partners, has become an interesting phenomenon to analyze in a heteronormative social context. This article examines how social pressure and heteronormative norms influence an individual's decision to engage in a lavender marriage and how this impacts the construction of sexual and gender identities. This analysis reveals that lavender marriages not only reflect an attempt to maintain sexual privacy in a repressive social environment but also serve as a tool to maintain social status in a society that marginalizes non-heterosexual identities.