Abstract
The study explores the phenomenon of cultural adaptation among hijab-wearing Muslim women (hijabers) within the Nolja Gang community, an Indonesian subculture that embraces K-Pop and K-HipHop fandoms and regularly engages in social activities, such as nightclubs events. This context presents a unique cultural contradiction, as nightclubs are often perceived as incompatible with the traditional values upheld by hijabers. Using Kim’s Cultural Adaptation Theory (2001), this study examines the adaptation process experienced by hijabers across five stages: pre-contact, culture shock, initial adjustment, acculturation, and internalization. Employing a qualitative phenomenological approach, the study gathered data through in-depth interviews and six months of participant observation with four hijaber members of Nolja Gang who come from conservative and religious backgrounds. The analysis revealed that hijabers undergo significant personal negotiation while integrating into the community. They experience initial discomfort and cultural tension, particularly regarding dress norms and nightclub behavior. Over time, however, they adapt through observation, while preserving aspects of their original identity. The findings demonstrate that the adaptation process does not lead to full assimilation but rather the formation of a hybrid identity. Hijabers actively construct their place in the subculture by balancing self-expression and religious values, ultimately reshaping social norms within the group. There are three main negotiation factors, which are cultural negotiation, globalization and space identity. This study contributes to intercultural communication and identity studies by highlighting how individuals navigate globalized subcultures. It also underscores the complexity of identity formation and adaptation in multicultural environments, providing valuable insights for understanding cultural negotiation in youth-driven global communities.