Weaving an identity: A phenomenology exploration of government employee’s lived experiences with mandatory batik attire in Indonesia

This study takes into account Indonesian government employees’ experience with mandatory wearing of batik and its effects on national identity, attitude towards batik and workplace interaction. Being an old-fashioned Indonesian textile, batik has become a powerful national identity symbol that the government reinforces by way of the calls for employees to wear it to work. With a qualitative phenomenological approach, the research explores the workers lived experience in the state-owned enterprises, i.e., State-Owned Companies (BUMN) and schools. The research collected the data through semi-structured interviews for the purpose of obtaining employees’ perceptions in-depth. The findings affirm that the use of batik enhances national identity, particularly if the employees use batik from every region, which would most likely hold a deep cultural and philosophical value. Although the obligatory aspect of wearing batik might at first glance seem to be a necessity, it also ensures the perpetuation of batik’s beauty and cultural sensitivity in the long term. In addition, batik ensures healthy workplace relationships through the creation of a less formal and friendly atmosphere between co-workers and with customers. Batik is also a powerful medium of cultural transmission in the school setting, enabling educators to introduce Indonesian heritage and values to their students. This study contributes to understanding the multifaceted nature of batik in contemporary Indonesia. It highlights the intricate dynamics between batik’s cultural significance, the legal requirement for its use in the work setting and its impact on personal and group identity. The research concentrates on the demand to consider the social and cultural implications of bringing in traditional attire into the modern workplace.