The influence of ethnic family and intercultural communication on women’s perceptions of higher education

Abstract

In Betawi families, not all daughters are provided with the opportunity to pursue higher education. The prevailing societal stigma suggests that women do not require higher education due to the presumption that their primary focus should be on domestic responsibilities. This research aims to comprehend and explore the influence of the communicative role of the Betawi ethnic family on the attitudes of female offspring towards pursuing higher education. The participants of this study are 254 females who are presently enrolled in or have completed their education at higher education institutions. They primarily reside in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi. The analysis is conducted through Spearman-Rank analysis. The results indicate a strong correlation between family communication and the attitudes of female offspring towards pursuing higher education. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the parental capacity to appreciate and respect a child’s decisions, particularly in selecting majors and schools, significantly influences their interest in pursuing higher education. However, the researcher acknowledges several limitations of this study, especially pertaining to the sample size utilized. Hence, future research should utilize more extensive methodologies and measures to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the motives and attitudes of female descendants towards pursuing higher education. Moreover, it is anticipated that future researchers will be able to devise effective communication strategies involving stakeholders, such as the government and educational institutions, to implement inclusive programs regardless of ethnicity, race, and religion.