Feminist Literary Criticism Research Articles

Women’s Resilence during the Pandemic Era in ‘Perempuan Dalam Kotak’ Short Story by Aziz Athar

During the pandemic, women occupied a core position and role in maintaining the family in various dimensions. Women (mothers) perform roles in various fields at the family and community levels. This study aimed to describe the roles and strategies for women's resilience in dealing with problems during the pandemic, expressed in literary works. The research method used in this study was a descriptive qualitative approach, with the data source coming from the short story "Prempuan dalam Kotak/Women in a Box", which is included in the selected collection of short stories #ProsaDiRumahAja Pandemi. The collected data were in the form of a linguistic unit that described the focus of the research problem and analyzed using a feminist literary criticism approach. The results of the study reveal, first, the problems faced by women include economic, family, and cultural problems. Second, in dealing with these problems, women base themselves on several aspects, involving spirituality, self-efficacy, and self-assessment. The roles played, the problems faced, and the efforts made to survive during the pandemic in substance were real manifestations of women's resilience when dealing with the pandemic. In conclusion, women were the most severely affected during the pandemic as they are taking on broader roles and positions in efforts to prevent, overcome and maintain the continuity of family and community life during the pandemic. Women have resilience or resilience in dealing with the pandemic with all the problemsthat surround it.

PEREMPUAN DAN PERKOSAAN MEI 1998 DALAM DUA CERPEN KARYA SENO GUMIRA AJIDARMA: KRITIK SASTRA FEMINIS

The May 1998 rape is one of the historic events that has yet to be resolved. This event is portrayed in literary works as a sociocultural document. Seno Gumira Ajidarma as the author and journalist describes the incident through his short stories, namely "Clara" (1998) and "Jakarta, 14 February 2039" (1999). The short story about the rape in May 1998 is full of women's issues and gender injustice in society. This study seeks to uncover how female characters and the rape in May 1998 are depicted in short stories using a radical feminist literary criticism. Descriptive-qualitative method is used in this research. The results of the analysis show that the May 1998 rapes show a gender imequality, because women are seen as parties who have the right to be controlled by men. Even in the act of rape, women are only seen as an object. Because of the rape, female characters, both victims of violence and children born from rape, have to bear the severe trauma. This is in accordance with the radical feminist view that rape is the basis for men to practice their power and control over women, and the demand that women must regain control over their body autonomy.

Resistensi Perempuan Terhadap Ketidakadilan Gender Pada Novel Perempuan Yang Menangis Kepada Bulan Hitam Karya Dian Purnomo

This research discusses about the problem of resistance to gender injustice in Dian Purnomo's novel Perempuan yang Menangis kepada Bulan Hitam (PMBH). This study aims to describe and interpret the forms of resistance of women who experience gender injustice and to understand the forms of gender injustice experienced by these female characters. The method used in this study is descriptive qualitative by utilizing feminist literary criticism theory. Data sources are obtained from the entire contents or chapters of the PMBH novel. Data collection techniques using reading and note techniques. The data validity technique of this research is triangulation. The steps in analyzing are: 1) reading the PMBH novel; 2) determine the research focus; 3) marking important parts; 4) sorting data; 5) describe forms of gender inequality and forms of women's resistance; and 6) make conclusions. The results of the analysis show that the forms of gender injustice experienced by the character Magi Diela as the main character and other female characters as subordinate figures are in the form of marginalization, stereotypes, violence, workload, and subordination. The forms of resistance carried out by the character Magi Diela as the main character and other female subordinate figures are in the form of 1) actions and 2) thoughts.

The Role of Women Characters in the Select Novels of Salman Rushdie

Salman Rushdie, a postmodernist immigrant, is considered as one the greatest novelist of the 20th century. His apt use of magical realism, incorporates mythology, religion, history, fantasy, and humor into the real world. He narrates his life story and relates it to the national history of India. Rushdie uses the magical realist technique to deal about the postcolonial people of India, and various postcolonial issues. His writing focuses on India’s history, politics, and identity as seen through his narrators. There is a blending of fantasy and reality with his fantastical fiction. Salman Rushdie presents women as strong characters to break free from their oppressive roles through his works. He develops strong female characters who face life with great fortitude and strength rather than meek personality. This research article critically investigates the role of women characters in selected novels by the acclaimed author, Salman Rushdie. A corpus of three major works—Midnight’s Children, The Satanic Verses, and Shame—has been selected for detailed analysis. The study aims to illuminate the varying dimensions of women’s representation, their influence, and the evolution of their roles in these narratives, serving as mirrors to the sociopolitical realities of their time. The article applies a combined theoretical framework of feminist literary criticism and postcolonial discourse to unpack the intricate characterizations and their wider implications. Findings reveal that Rushdie’s women characters are often depicted as multi-dimensional, complex individuals who actively influence the plot and resist conforming to traditional roles. They embody strength, resilience, and liberation in the face of cultural, political, and religious adversities, breaking the mold of passive feminine stereotypes. Despite being enmeshed within patriarchal societal structures, these characters often subvert normative constraints, highlighting the intersection of gender, power, and resistance in Rushdie’s novels. Through the use of magical realism, Rushdie juxtaposes reality with the fantastical, further challenging conventional expectations of women in literature. Rushdie’s depiction of women provides significant insights into the complexities of postcolonial feminist identities, societal norms, and cultural heritage. His novels, while being grounded in their specific contexts, resonate on a universal scale, enriching the discourse around the representation of women in literature.

Ongoing Objectification, Marginalization and Sexualization of Women in Michael Ondaatje’s The English Patient and Divisadero: Old Patterns, New Disguises

The year 2023 marks Michael Ondaatje’s 80th birthday, a landmark in the author’s life and an occasion for literary critics to look back and revisit what are perhaps some of the more troubling aspects of his literary production. Ondaatje’s poetry and fiction have received little attention from feminist literary critics, which is due to the author’s conservative take on the figuration of female characters and representation of women. While some critics have proposed that The English Patient (1992), and therefore also by extension his novel Divisadero (2007), might signify a turning point in Ondaatje’s otherwise problematic gender politics, this article demonstrates that earlier patterns of women’s objectification, sexualization and marginalization found in Ondaatje’s poetry and fiction persist in both of these seemingly more progressive works, albeit in new forms and disguises. This article also introduces a new concept to the field of (feminist) literary theory, the so-called blazon in prose.

Objectification and Resistance of Women Against Patriarchal Shackles in Anime Haikara-san ga Tooru Movie 1: Benio, Hana no 17-sai

Objectification of women can be found in various media, including in literature, both classical and popular works. Therefore, this paper examines the objectification female characters experienced and their resistance to patriarchal culture in the anime Haikara-san ga Tooru Movie 1: Benio, Hana no 17-sai, which received the first Kodansha Manga Award. This study uses a feminist literary criticism approach that focuses on radical-liberal feminism. Data in conversations, actions, and events representing women's objectification and resistance to this treatment were collected using a note-taking technique. As a result, three treatments of objectification of women were found: arranged marriages, demands on women to be skilled in domestic tasks, and demeaning women. Meanwhile, women resist that objectification acts by rejecting arranged marriages, fighting against the demeaning of women, and working in the public sphere. From these findings, it is concluded that the objectification of women is constructed, consumed, and reproduced by men and women. Women, like men, should be treated as human beings with their rights, not as objects that can be traded, owned, or demeaned.

Digital Novels: A Recycled Advertisement about the Old Social Construction of Women’s Identity

21st-century digital novels, accessible through mobile apps like Webnovel, Dreame, and Play Books, commonly depict women characters as powerless, impoverished stepdaughters or illegitimate children. These prevalent themes in digital novels often reinforce patriarchal norms and present themes of fathers' financial struggles and indebtedness to wealthy families resulted to contract marriage or planned marriage. Employing the approach of feminist literary criticism, this study aims to examine how these novels uphold antiquated perceptions of women's identity. Through the reading strategy of feminist literary criticism is revealed that these digital novels represented the old construction about women identity, perpetuating the idea that women are powerless and financially dependent on men. From the setting of the novel, we know that the offered themes were not only occurred in eastern culture but also in western culture. They depict women as inanimate objects, lacking agency and voice. The narratives promote patriarchy by portraying male power and oppression as protection, often emphasizing material wealth. This notion is strategically disseminated through digital novels, targeting the millennial generation who have easy access to digital media. Consequently, younger women may internalize these ideas and accept their subjugated role. Instead, digital novels should empower women to navigate patriarchal constraints and depict men who respect and support women's autonomy, challenging traditional gender norms. While the study employs feminist literary criticism as the reading strategy, it's important to acknowledge that different theoretical frameworks or approaches may provide alternative interpretations of the novels. Recognizing the limitations and potential biases of the chosen methodology could lead to a more balanced analysis.

Gender Stereotypes in Boyd Smith’s the Story of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith: A Greimas’ Actantial Model

The research attempted to examine the contribution and relevance of structuralism as a theory, method, and paradigm, especially in the study of feminist literary criticism in the novel entitled The Story of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith. Many researchers had scrutinized the novel from various approaches, such as socio-cultural, historical political, and post-colonial studies. However, analysis using actantial models had not been conducted and reported in scholarly journals. The qualitative research utilized textual analysis that practiced a narrative semiotic approach proposed by Greimas. The research used the actantial model proposed by Greimas to evaluate the narrative’s deep structure so as to reveal gender stereotypes of male and female characters in the novel, written in 1906. Although the female character appeared as the main character, she was portrayed as sentimental, emotional, weak, and dependent on the male characters’ help. In contrast, the male characters were shown as dominant figures. They were portrayed as physically strong, rational, thoughtful, and able to prioritize the interests of the wider community and independently achieve the goals they wanted. It is found that the discussion about gender stereotypes in literary works is still relevant to be carried out, especially in literary works, because several kinds of research showcase that the portrayal of stereotyped characters has an unfavorable impact on children’s cognitive and affective development.

Virginia Woolf’s Contribution to Feminist Discourse: Re-reading of A Room of One’s Own

Feminist literary criticism is a component of the discourse of New feminism that emerged in Europe and America in late 1960's to resurrect political and social concerns associated with the actual participation of women in Western culture. It examines the male-dominated canon in order to comprehend how males have manipulated culture to further their dominance over women. Feminist approach to literature, like Marxist criticism, is a part of a larger set of social perceptions. It investigates the connections between women's representation in literature and social and historical issues such as sexuality and the family, hierarchies, patriarchy, and law. Feminist literary criticism offers fresh interpretations of literature by re-evaluating the literary works of both men and women. Feminist discourse encompasses a wide range of ideas, theories, and discussions related to gender equality, women's rights, and the social, political, and economic challenges faced by women. Virginia Woolf emerged as one of the most distinguished critics of the twentieth century, and undoubtedly as the greatest woman critic of all centuries in English literature. Her works and concepts have had a considerable influence on feminist discourse and are still researched and discussed in relation to feminism. The present paper aims to offer a comprehensive and insightful analysis of Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own, shedding light on its enduring significance in feminist discourse, literary criticism, and the ongoing fight for gender equality.

Gender Injustice and The Image of Women in the Novel Cantik itu Luka By Eka Kurniawan

This study uses a study of feminist literary criticism which focuses on finding out (1) the gender injustice experienced by female characters, (2) the image of women and (3) the relationship between gender inequality and the image of women in the Novel Cantik itu Luka by Eka Kurniawan. The method used is descriptive qualitative, the subject of this research is the novel Cantik is a Wound while the object of research is gender inequality, the image of women and the relation of gender inequality with the image of women. The data obtained from books related to this research both theoretically and factual data from the CIL. Sources of data in this study are in the form of primary data and secondary data with the method of literature. The research instrument used data cards, the data were analyzed using data triangulation. This study found data that supports 3 (three) research focuses, namely gender inequality in the form of two data stereotypes, two data marginalization, two data violence, one data subordination and one data workload. The female image consists of two physical aspects of self-image and two psychological data and two social data. The last data found is the relation of gender inequality with the image of women as many as three data.

A Comparison Between the Feminism of Scarlett and Melanie

Widely considered as a classic feminist work, there are many studies of Gone With the Wind from the perspective of feminism in academia. Most of these studies focus on the feminist spirit of its protagonist Scarlett, while the feminism of another important female character Melanie has always been ignored and even considered as the representation of women who completely accept the repression of patriarchy. Based on the text analysis, this research makes a contrastive analysis of Scarlett and Melanie, analyzes the similarities and differences between them and taps into their feminist spirits from the perspective of feminist literary criticism. By comparing these two female characters, the research finds the two main differences lie in their handling of interpersonal relationships and responses toward patriarchal rules are obvious—— from the perspective of interpersonal relationships, the egoism of Scarlett contrasts with Melanie’s altruism; in the face of the patriarchal rules, Melanie’s female subjectivity and independence are not as noticeable as those of Scarlett. Although the differences between them are obvious, they still share similarities in their subversion towards the patriarchy and their occupation of a position more central than the male characters in Gone with the Wind. This research on these two female characters has implications for further studies of female character creation and feminist literary criticism, as well as the distinctive feminism of Mary Mitchell, reflected in her portrayal of these two female characters.

Citra Perempuan dalam Novel Laut Bercerita karya Leila S. Chudori

This study aims to describe the dominant image of women depicted in the novel Laut Bercerita by Leila S Chudori. The problem that arises in this study is how is the image of a female character named Asmara Jati in the novel Laut Bercerita by Leila S Chudori. This research includes the type of qualitative descriptive research. The data were taken from reading the novel Laut Bercerita by Leila S Chudori in the form of words and direct and indirect sentences. Data collection techniques in this study were carried out using the read-and-note method. The data is then identified and analyzed based on the theory of feminist literary criticism from Ruthven's perspective. In this article, the image of female characters is found, including self-image and social image. Women's self-image consists of physical and psychological images. In the physical image, Asmara Jati is described as a young, assertive woman. In the psychic image of Asmara Jati, it is described as a woman with a stable psyche, tough, intelligent, brave, compassionate, and caring. Meanwhile, the social image consists of the family and society. The image in the family of Asrama Jati figures as a child, a younger sibling, and a family member with a high sense of caring and love for their parents. Meanwhile, the image in the Asmara Jati community is that of a woman who is active, caring, responsible, and a driving force for the Commission on Missing Persons.

An Analysis of Taylor Swift's Song Lyric The Man using Feminist Literary Criticism Theory

An Analysis of Taylor Swift's Song Lyric The Man using Feminist Literary Criticism Theory

The Struggle for Gender Equality and Educational Values Collection Sihir Perempuan Short Stories by Intan Paramadita

The problem of gender equality between men and women often occurs both in the world of work, household, public space, and politics. The struggle for gender equality arises because of the many kinds of oppression against women. This study aims to reveal the struggle for gender equality experienced by the main character in Intan Paramadita's collection of Witchcraft of Women short stories and to explain the educational values contained in the collection Sihir Perempuan short stories by Intan Paramadita. This study uses the theory of feminist literary criticism. The research method used in this research is descriptive qualitative. The data collection technique used in this study is the reading, observing, noting (BSC) technique. Data analysis methods and techniques are using the content analysis method and using data analysis techniques according to Miles and Huberman which have three stages, namely data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions. Research data in the form of words, phrases, sentences, and discourse. The results of this study indicate that the form of struggle for gender equality found in the collection of short stories Sihir Perempuan by Intan Paramadita is the struggle for women's rights and justice. Public and productive role, freedom in choosing for women, and toughness in dealing with various problems. While the educational values found in the collection of short stories Sihir Perempuan by Intan Paramadita are moral values, cultural values, and religious values.

“A Modern Woman, born 1689”: Lady Mary Wortley Montagu in the Early Feminist and Women’s Suffrage Movement

This article examines the early suffragist and suffragette revival of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762). Studying Montagu’s representation in prominent suffrage journals and the writing of leading women’s rights activists, this essay argues that she was celebrated as both a remarkably progressive New Woman-prototype and as an early example for women’s militant tactics. In doing so, this paper sheds new light on the complex recovery history of Montagu. It also contributes to our understanding of the importance of feminist literary criticism and women’s literary history in the historiographic projects of the early women’s movement.

“Look a Negro!”: self-authorship, self-definition, and the wake of anti-blackness

In this manuscript, I lift Black feminisms as a methodological intervention on a holistic meaning-making theory and its relationship to anti-Blackness. Specifically, I employed a Black feminist literary criticism, which presumes that Black people have cultivated living and survival practices throughout their history in the United States. I analyzed 7 full-length books and essays written by James Baldwin and Audre Lorde. Additionally, in attending to Black feminist theorizing, I used creative prose to situate myself in the text by locating the curated findings from the literary analysis in my mother’s rearing practices. Pointing to the historical ways Black people have lived in the wake of anti-Black structures, I depart from the meaning-making pathways articulated by self-authorship and point to the possibilities of self-defining praxis for Black people.

Author's Tendency toward Patriarchal Culture in Novels by Khilma Anis

Literature as a cultural product reflects the social conditions of the stories it tells. In the pesantren ecosystem, the existence of the kiai as a central figure, social background and culture that is held for generations, has become the trigger for the roots of patriarchal culture to this day. Literature can be used as a means of conveying the author's ideology so that in literary works the author's tendencies can be identified. This study aims to analyze how the author's tendency towards patriarchal culture is reflected in Khilma Anis' novels. The objects studied were 3 novels by Khilma Anis, namely Jadilah Purnamaku, Ning (2016), Wigati: Lintang Manik Woro (2018), and Hati Suhita (2019). This research is a type of qualitative research. The approach used is feminist literary criticism. Data was collected by heuristic reading technique and then analyzed by hermeneutic technique. The results of the research show that in the novel Hati Suhita the author's tendency is the tendency to fight against patriarchal culture. Keywords: author’s tendencies, feminist literary criticism, novels, patriarchy

“Sularda yaşamak için yaratılmış gibi”: William Shakepeare’in Hamlet adlı oyununda Ophelia’nın ölümüne maddeci feminist bir yaklaşım

The purpose of this paper is to bring the material, specifically the materiality of the human body and the natural world, to the forefront within the context of material feminist theory and practices in William Shakespeare’s renowned play Hamlet. Drawing on material feminist literary criticism as the principle guiding paradigm, this paper explores the manner in which Ophelia’s entanglement with the material world in Hamlet offers fresh insights into the reconsideration of many dichotomous categorizations, including culture/nature, man/woman, and human/nonhuman. In this regard, this paper, which draws mainly upon material feminisms’ notions of “trans-corporeality,” “diffraction apparatus,” and “thing power,” considers the materiality of the bodies an active force, Thus, this paper provides a critical perspective on Shakespeare’s conventional representation of Ophelia’s death. By paying particular attention to Ophelia’s entanglement with the natural world in Hamlet, this paper indicates that the reconceptualization of Ophelia’s entanglement with water in her drowning scene within the context of material feminist theory can offer a sense of fluidity, mobility, and dynamism between dichotomous categorizations.

THE ARCHETYPAL ROLES OF GENDER PORTRAYAL IN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE: A CRITICAL OVERVIEW

Feminist literary criticism, cropping up in concurrence with socio-political feminism, critiques patriarchal language and literature by exposing how this replicates masculine ideology. It scrutinizes the functioning of gender politics and traces the subtle construction of masculinity and femininity, and their virtual standing, positioning, and marginalization within the written works. Feminist criticism relates itself with a trite illustration of genders. One will recurrently notice the term “patriarchy” used among feminist critics, referring to conventional male-dominated culture. “Marginalization” refers to being forced to the fringes of what is considered socially and politically mainstream; the female voice was habitually marginalized, or dismissed in total. Fairy tales are exceedingly indispensable components of literature and they should not be obliterated from children’s existence. Regarding the distinctive typecast present in fairy tales, it is a prevailing truth that inappropriate and one-sided portrayals impinge on females to a large extent. In fairy tales, we perceive that women are characteristically portrayed in an inferior or yet adverse way. They are pictured as feeble princesses and they by and large wait for a valiant and robust prince to salvage them. The archetypal representation of women and men in children’s literature causes the children to picture an illusory image of the disposition of females and males. It also intensifies the unfairness against both women and men. Concurrently, it aids in the configuration of children’s erroneous and prejudiced notions regarding the characteristic conduct patterns of females and males. In this paper, an attempt is made to embark on a critical overview of the Archetypal Roles of Gender Portrayal in Children’s Literature, tracing its history to get hold of a deeper insight into the gender characters.

ANALYSIS OF AMBITIOUS CHARACTERIZATION OF THE EVIL QUEEN THROUGH PLOT DEVELOPMENT “SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS” MOVIE

This study presents how prose fiction can be reflected in human life through a feminist literary criticism approach one of them is to identify the ambitious characterization of the Evil Queen in the novel and film adaptation entitled Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs through plot development is closely related to human life. Human characterization certainly has an ambition that they will do anything to get what they want. This study has the purpose that to find out the ambitious characterization of the feminist side of the Evil Queen through plot development between the novel and film adaptation of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. This study used close reading as the method by reading the novel and watching the film adaptation of “Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs”. The result of this study is the Evil Queen has an ambitious characterization that is closely related to the feminist side both in the novel and film adaptation of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. 
 Keywords: Prose fiction, Ambitious characterization, Plot development, Novel, Film Adaptation.