The Intercultural Communicative Practices of Filipino Women Married to Korean Men In Resolving Marital Conflict

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to understand the views of Filipino women on marital conflict. In addition, it sought to comprehend the intercultural communicative practices of Filipino women in resolving marital conflict with their Korean husbands.

The researcher situated the study within the Ethnomethodological tradition of qualitative research. Participants of the study were chosen purposely, and in-depth interviews were conducted. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and translated to English. Data gathered were analyzed through thematic analysis.

Two main views on marital conflict were present. The Theocentric view explained how the participants sees marital conflict under the orchestration of God. On the other hand, a humancentric view looked at how the participant understood conflict as a clash between two people and their emotions. Theocentric view defined the following communicative practices; the use of silence as non-verbal communication, mindfulness and meditation, adopting another language or mixed language, and “no feedbacking.” On the other hand, humancentric view explained practices which are; identifying “noise” and clarifying message, adjustment and employing genial paralanguage.