Developing an Ecofeminist Literary Criticism Model to Cultivate An Ecologically Aware and Feminist Generation

Abstract

AbstractThis study is aimed at developing an ecofeminist literary criticism in order to instigate a generation that is ecologically aware and feminist. The study is based on research and development using five universities in Yogyakarta and Surakarta that run Indonesian literature study programs. Research findings show that in the learning processes of the literary criticism course, ecofeminist perspectives are seen as a new viewpoint and they have not been well discussed in class. No course book is available that is specifically designed to present the conceptual framework of ecofeminism in literature. From observation of the curriculum in the five universities, we found that literary criticism, literary sociology, and literature research are possible venues through which literary criticism can be brought up in relation to environmental and feminist issues. However, ecofeminist literary criticism has not been specifically investigated and applied. Hence there is a need to develop a model of literary criticism based on an ecofeminist standpoint. The model has been designed and validated by content experts who are proficient in the conceptual framework of ecofeminist literary theory and criticism. We agree on the importance of developing an ecofeminist literary criticism model with lesson plans and content materials. The content materials have the following characteristics: (a) a conceptual framework of literary criticism based on ecology and feminism; (b) a literary criticism model for novels using ecofeminism perspectives; (c) a course book expected to be used as a material supplement for literary criticism and literature research, which up to the present has not specifically studied the relationship between literary works (novels) and ecological and feminist issues.