Javanese family

This is one of the first anthropological stud ies of family life in the complex urban society. of a so-called underdeveloped country. Here the close ties of a Javanese family are de scribed by one who lived among the people for nearly two years, sharing an ordinary worker's home and participating in the life of the com munity. The nature of "matrifocal" society in Java is analyzed in terms of organization, in heritance division and divorce settlements; and an attempt is made to explain the unusually high divorce rate. The dual role of the family -as a stable group of persons supporting its members economically, socially and psycho logically, and as the principal channel for transmitting Javanese social values and en forcing conformity-is the main theme of this book. Here is significant new material for any one investigating family organization, peasant societies, or concerned with life in Indonesia or Southeast Asia.