As one of the most crowded places where people often meet, the market is one of the significant clusters of Covid-19 transmission in several areas. Consequently, people who want to go to the market to meet their necessities require implementing strict health protocols.
Even so, some parties repent the low level of public awareness to comply with health protocols during the Covid-19 pandemic. Even though some facilities have been provided, some visitors and market traders are often found not wearing masks, not washing their hands, and keeping their distance.
Then a discussion emerged to involve market thugs to help manage health protocols on disorderly market visitors and traders. The involvement of market thugs surely will be in humanist ways.
According to UGM sociologist, Drs. Suprapto, SU, it is alright to involve thugs to implement health protocols in the market. According to him, thugs are also residents who have the right and obligation to engage in maintaining order and security, including health.
“If you ought to involve thugs, the involvement intends for disciplining, not giving punishments,” he said, at the UGM Faculty of Social and Political Sciences on Friday (11/9).
He explained that sociology is recognized for the concept of the social structure “Key Person” and the broomstick theory, namely the official social structure in the market led by the Head of the Market, and equipped by staff according to the current organizational structure.
Even so, apart from the formal organizations’ occurrence, there are also informal organizations with members of the laborers, parking officers, and thugs.
Using this regulation, market traders and visitors must obey the game rules from various parties, including thugs rules. These thugs even proclaim themselves as the controller of market security, in addition to official security guards.
“We can’t ignore their presence. We should admit that thugs have strong enough power, and people have relatively obeyed them. Now, since they are practically obeyed, thugs become one of the ‘key persons’ in the market environment who can apply the broomstick theory,” he explained.
Furthermore, Suprapto explained that the broomstick theory explains that if we want to move the lower part to bloom, hit, or press the top. The top part that is meant can surely be elements or functionaries in the market organization structure or outside the organization.
According to Suprapto, it depends on who has strong power or a role model for the market’s inhabitants. Accordingly, if the thugs are involved from the start or become the ultimate weapon, in the end, it depends on who is the “key person” in the market.
“Our society is very heterogeneous, so sometimes it’s hard for us to adhere to health protocols, either because we don’t understand the dangers, or because we are just careless or reckless. So, if it is not managed seriously, it’s worried that there will be more severe conditions that occurred. In order to handle it, it can’t only be a “single fighter,” but it must be systemic. One of which involves the market administrator who becomes the ‘key person,'” he explained.
Suprapto assessed that non-compliance with health protocols in the market shows more of the attitude ‘whatever I want.’ Market visitors only need to use available facilities, such as soap, hand washing, and others that have been provided by the government.
He hopes that if the campaign is not sufficient, related parties can proceed to the internalization (absorption). Next, it will further lead to institutionalization (application of behavior). Suppose it turns out that the implementation is also not achieved. In that case, it must be followed by the imposition of means of social control, in the form of culture, values , and social norms, starting from the application of usages, folkways, mores, to punishment.
“Why is it too difficult for people to wear a mask? Sanctions must be the ultimate weapon so that if the amenities of health protocols and the functioning of thugs has not yet been implemented, the next implementation must be in the form of a warning, do not immediately be punished,” he concluded.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Photo: manado.tribunnews.com
Translator: Natasa A