Proses Othering pada Penyandang Disabilitas di Keraton Yogyakarta

Abstract

Othering, a label for an individual or group that is disregarded and considered different by other societies, becomes one of the anthropological theories in reading disabilities that need to be reviewed for accuracy. This is because not all who are neglected are always in an isolated or marginalized position in society. Through the case of persons with disabilities who are in the Yogyakarta Palace, this study seeks to reconsider how the accuracy of the othering theory for Palawija-Cebolan, a naming for people with disabilities in the Palace? Based on ethnographic fieldwork in the Yogyakarta Palace, this study shows that it is true that the othering process for Palawija-Cebolan meets suitability in terms of the hierarchical structure in the Palace, because of its status as working as a lowerclass official, servant or servant of the palace. However, historically and cosmologically as is the belief and knowledge prevailing at the Palace, the othering label is very problematic considering that Palawija-Cebolan is highly respected, respected, and considered magic, by the king and more broadly, the Keraton environment.

Othering, sebuah label bagi suatu individu atau kelompok yang diliankan dan dianggap berbeda oleh masyarakat lainnya, menjadi salah satu teori antropologi dalam membaca disabilitas yang perlu ditinjau ulang keakuratannya. Hal ini lantaran tidak semua yang diliankan selalu berada dalam posisi terasingkan atau terpinggirkan di suatu masyarakat. Melalui kasus kaum disabilitas yang berada di Keraton Yogyakarta, studi ini berusaha mempertimbangkan ulang bagaimana akurasi teori othering bagi Palawija-Cebolan, suatu penamaan bagi kaum disabilitas Keraton? Berdasarkan kerja lapangan etnografi di Keraton Yogyakarta, studi ini menunjukkan bahwa memang benar jika proses othering bagi Palawija-Cebolan menemui kesesuaian dari sisi struktur hierarki di Keraton, sebab statusnya bekerja sebagai pejabat golongan rendah, pelayan atau abdi dalem. Namun demikian, secara historis dan kosmologis sebagaimana kepercayaan dan pengetahuan yang berlaku di Keraton, label othering sangat problematik mengingat Palawija-Cebolan sangat diagungkan, dihormati, dan dianggap sakti, oleh raja dan lebih luasnya, lingkungan Keraton.