MODAL SOSIAL PEDAGANG PASAR KERAMAT DALAM MEMPERTAHANKAN EKSISTENSI

ABSTRACT

The development of traditional markets amid the currents of modernization indicates that markets function not only as economic spaces but also as socio-cultural arenas rich in values, relationships, and meanings. Pasar Keramat in Pacet, Mojokerto, is an interesting subject of study due to its distinctive cultural, social, and spiritual values that influence the existence of traders. This study aims to examine the perspective of traders’ existence in Pasar Keramat and to understand the meanings they construct through their trading activities. This research employs a qualitative approach with a phenomenological method, involving traders as informants selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through participatory observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation. The data were analyzed phenomenologically through stages of data reduction, categorization, and the extraction of essential meanings. The findings reveal that the existence of traders in Pasar Keramat is not solely determined by economic activities, but is also shaped by strong social capital in the form of trust, solidarity, and social networks embedded in kinship-like relationships among traders. Practices of mutual assistance, such as sharing trading materials during shortages, along with minimal competitive interactions, strengthen the sustainability of the market as a social community. Furthermore, traders interpret their trading activities not merely as a source of income, but also as a source of inner satisfaction, a space for social interaction, and a means of building self-confidence and economic independence, particularly for women traders. Trading activities are also perceived as an effort to preserve and maintain local traditions rich in cultural and spiritual values.