Dancing Between Castes: Exploring the Psychological Well-Being of Balinese Women Who Have Married Downcaste

Abstract

The Balinese caste system, intertwined with patriarchal traditions, often places women in subordinate positions. One practice illustrating this is nyerod, when a woman marries a man from a lower caste, resulting in a downward shift in her social status and often accompanied by stigma, discrimination, and inner conflict. This study explores the psychological well-being of Balinese women who have undergone nyerod, with a focus on the roles of community, spirituality, and cultural practices, particularly traditional dance. A qualitative phenomenological design was applied to capture the lived experiences of three participants, all active members of village dance communities. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). As a result, three themes emerged: (a) navigating social stigma and inner turmoil, (b) dancing as ritual, joy, and self-expression, and (c) redefining self in a community of movement. Dance was found to be more than cultural preservation—it functioned as a medium of healing, emotional release, and identity reconstruction. The study demonstrates that Balinese dance offers a symbolic and practical pathway for women experiencing nyerod to renegotiate their identities and improve their psychological well-being. Access to cultural spaces such as dance communities enables women to reclaim agency, strengthen social bonds, and redefine happiness beyond caste-based constraints.