Stereotypes of Javanese People

Suku Jawa

Every ethnic group or nation has stereotypes. Javanese people are usually referred to as people who come from Central Java and Yogyakarta. In Indonesia, the stereotypes of Javanese people are very clear, so there is an anecdote called " Dasar Jawa Loe". This expression is the impatience of expression of other ethnic groups when they deal with Javanese. "Dasar Jawa Loe" means " Huh, You are Javanese".
Stereotypes do not represent all Javanese people, but rather the behavior and character on the surface when you get along with Javanese. Here are some of the stereotypes.

1. Javanese people are slow-moving people.
   This is because of the influence of the philosophy that was generated by their ancestors. "Alon-Alon Asal Kelakon" . The expression means " Slow as long as you can achieve your goal." Javanese people like doing their jobs in slow motion. In the past, a Keris maker or Empu would take a long time to finish a Keris for a client. It can be months or years.
   From the Javanese traditional costumes, you can see how difficult it is for a man to walk or move. With the costumes, a man and a woman can only walk slowly.
   
   Sindonews

2. Javanese people are polite.
   There are different strata of language in Javanese. I will give you an example: " Koe, Siro, Sampean, Njenengan, Ingkang Sinuwun. Those words mean "you". Koe and Siro are used for ordinary people who have the same social status. Both are used in non formal conversation. Sampean will be a little bit polite. This word is usually spoken by adults with the same social status. Njenengan is the most polite word to address "you". Young people or children should use Njenengan to address the older people. While Ingkang Sinuwun is a term used to address the Javanese King or royal family.
   When I was learning English, a child addressed his dad with "you", I thought English was not a polite language. However, when I moved to Jakarta and met a lot of people from different ethnic groups, using "you" is commonly spoken in the Indonesian language.

3. Javanese people are not consumptive.
   If you meet Javanese people who have lived abroad for a long time, their character may have changed. Some Javanese people who became urban and had successful careers in their jobs or businesses also changed their lifestyle.
   Javanese people who have just come to a city and work in an office or a company will save their money, though their salaries are low. They have a goal of buying a house. That is the first goal for a man, because a house is one of the symbols of success and pride. If you visit Jakarta, you will notice that millions of people of Java ethnicity own private homes, despite the fact that Jakarta is not their homeland.

4. Javanese people are obedient.
   Javanese people will follow their leader. Leadership in Javanese belief is not achievable, but it is a gift from God. That is why all people should follow the leader. In history, there was a belief in "Wahyu Keprabon". Wahyu Keprabon is a belief that one has been chosen and written to be a leader. This belief has made a stereotype of Javanese people as "yes men".
   Many Javanese people become laborers in industrial parks in Bekasi and Jakarta. Some of them work in low positions in companies, like in cleaning services, as office boys or as security officers. Many Javanese women work as house helpers in Jakarta and other big cities in Indonesia. Some of the women work as house helpers in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, and Taiwan. The typical character of obedience is liked by the employers.

5. Javanese people are adaptive.
   Javanese people will adapt quickly to the new society and environment. Other ethnic groups in Indonesia will accept Javanese people easily. In Jakarta, about 50 % of the population are Javanese people. Some Javanese urbans do not teach the Javanese tradition and philosophy to their children, so that the second generations have no characteristics of Javanese people. Those second generations do not like to be labeled as Javanese, though their parents are from Central Java. Unfortunately, the adaptable character tends to abandon Javanese tradition and values.
   
   Jasa Office Boy

Those are the stereotypes of Javanese people. You can not judge all Javanese people the same as those stereotypes. This post is a cultural note that you can take advantage of. You may find some good character traits that you can benefit from. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy my post.