DINAMIKA FLOURISHING PEREMPUAN DEWASA DALAM KOMUNITAS PLUS-SIZE JOGJAKARTA

Abstract

Plus-size women with extreme body proportions often experience acute psychological distress due to weight bias internalization driven by macro-sociocultural stigma. This study aims to deeply explore how active involvement in an inclusive community can deconstruct this stigma and lead its members to achieve a state of optimal functioning (flourishing). Utilizing a qualitative approach with Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), primary data were gathered through in-depth interviews with five adult women (aged 26–40 years, weighing 102–127 kg) who are active members of the Jogjakarta Plus-Size Community. The analysis revealed two main superordinate themes: (1) Deconstruction of internalized weight bias through a safe space, where unconditional positive regard and positive mirroring successfully restored the subjects' self-esteem; and (2) Reclamation of agency and aesthetic activism as a catalyst for flourishing, where involvement in modeling training, cosmetics, and public fashion exhibitions triggered enclothed cognition effects that restored self-autonomy and activated all pillars of well-being (PERMA model). This study concludes that achieving flourishing status does not require a reduction in physical size, but rather a radical reconstruction of self-worth within an inclusive ecosystem.

ABSTRAK

Perempuan dengan proporsi tubuh plus-size ekstrem sering kali mengalami distresi psikologis akut akibat internalisasi bias berat badan (weight bias internalization) yang dipicu oleh stigma sosiokultural makro. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengeksplorasi secara mendalam bagaimana keterlibatan aktif dalam komunitas inklusif dapat mendekonstruksi stigma tersebut dan mengantarkan anggotanya mencapai status keberfungsian optimal (flourishing). Dengan menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif jenis Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), data primer diperoleh melalui wawancara mendalam terhadap lima orang perempuan dewasa (usia 26–40 tahun, berat badan 102–127 kg) yang merupakan anggota aktif Komunitas Plus-Size Jogjakarta. Hasil analisis menunjukkan dua tema superordinat utama: (1) Dekonstruksi internalized weight bias melalui ruang aman (safe space), di mana penerimaan tanpa syarat (unconditional positive regard) dan efek cermin positif (positive mirroring) berhasil memulihkan harga diri subjek; dan (2) Reklamasi agensi dan aktivisme estetika sebagai katalis flourishing, di mana keterlibatan dalam pelatihan modelling, tata rias, dan eksibisi busana publik memicu efek enclothed cognition yang memulihkan otonomi diri dan mengaktifkan seluruh pilar kesejahteraan (model PERMA). Penelitian ini menyimpulkan bahwa pencapaian status flourishing tidak mensyaratkan reduksi ukuran fisik, melainkan melalui rekonstruksi radikal atas kelayakan diri di dalam ekosistem yang inklusif.