Spiritual Storytelling and Hijab Meaning Negotiation Among Generation Z Women

Authors

  • Salma Haqi Annisa Universitas Telkom, Indonesia; Jl. Telekomunikasi No.1, Sukapura, Kec. Dayeuhkolot, Kabupaten Bandung, Jawa Barat 40257
  • Maylanny Christin Universitas Telkom, Indonesia; Jl. Telekomunikasi No.1, Sukapura, Kec. Dayeuhkolot, Kabupaten Bandung, Jawa Barat 40257
  • Lahandi Baskoro London South Bank University, 103 Borough Rd, London SE1 0AA, United Kingdom

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21111/ettisal.v11i2.123

Keywords:

Meaning Construction, Hijab, Digital Narrative, Generation Z, Influencer

Abstract

The growth of digital media has positioned influencer narratives as an important source in shaping the social and religious understanding of Generation Z. This study aims to analyze how the reality of hijab is constructed by Generation Z through Jinju’s spiritual journey narrative presented in a YouTube podcast with Leo Giovanni. This study focuses on Jinju’s spiritual experience as a specific case study due to her high audience engagement, which surpasses that of several other hijrah influencers, as well as the openness of her spiritual experience on social media, particularly YouTube. The research employed a qualitative approach using narrative analysis, involving 30 female Gen Z informants aged 18–28 in Serang City and one expert informant from a local Muslim women’s community. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, digital observation, documentation, and literature review, and analyzed using Miles and Huberman’s interactive model of data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The analysis was based on Bruner’s concept of Referentiality. The findings reveal that Jinju’s spiritual journey from anxiety through spiritual searching to transformation provides the narrative structure through which Generation Z women interpret their own experiences and negotiate the meaning of hijab. Most informants, who were already wearing the hijab, received the narrative primarily as affirmation rather than persuasion, while individual interpretations varied according to their religious knowledge, personal histories, and experiences. Through Referentiality, informants related their experiences to Jinju’s narrative and reconstructed hijab reality not merely as a religious obligation or symbol, but as a representation of self-transformation, inner peace, protection, and closeness to God. The study highlights digital influencer narratives as emerging sources of religious meaning-making among Generation Z through active and differentiated processes of audience reception.

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Submitted

2026-07-22

Accepted

2026-10-01

Published

2026-10-18

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 2 (2026): Ettisal : Journal of Communication

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Salma Haqi Annisa, Maylanny Christin, Lahandi Baskoro

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