Digital Rituals Of Money: Understanding Women’s Financial Decision-Making Practices In A Fintech Era

Abstract

This qualitative study explores how women in Makassar transform digital financial practices into cultural rituals that intertwine emotion, morality, and social identity. Using an interpretive phenomenological approach with 24 participants across occupations and age groups, the research investigates how FinTech interfaces—mobile banking apps, e-wallets, and digital payment systems—mediate symbolic meanings of money, trust, and agency in everyday life. Findings reveal five interrelated ritual dimensions: morning anchoring (daily balance checks as emotional regulation), visible accountability (proof-sharing for reputational integrity), moral partitioning (ethical budgeting through segmented digital wallets), ritualized giving (sustaining reciprocity via instant transfers), and empowerment versus surveillance (negotiating autonomy within family oversight). These practices show that FinTech adoption is not merely a technical transition but a moral and affective reconfiguration of value and responsibility. By foregrounding women’s lived experiences, the study argues that financial digitalization in Indonesia operates as a form of cultural translation—recasting long-standing moral economies into new digital gestures. The findings suggest that inclusive financial design must consider not only usability and security but also the preservation of ritual comfort, emotional assurance, and selective social visibility to ensure trust and meaningful participation.