8 United Kingdom. One of the 20th centurys most famous and influential
women, Thatcher came from nowhere to smash through barriers of gender and class to be heard in a male dominated world. Much more than a
biographical epic, the film is also the surprisingly intimate journey of a common grocers daughter whose social ambition and steel will -- along
with the love of her husband and confidant, Denis Jim Broadbent —
propelled her to unprecedented power. Combining fact, fiction and poetic flight of imagination
– as well as flashbacks -- director Phyllida Lloyd creates a portrait that reveals the many faces of Thatcher: the hard-nosed
conservative; the woman who demolished the barriers of gender and class in a male-dominated world; the spirited wife and mother who longed to
change her country for the better.
This movie was made in London, 2008. The story began with the elderly former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher prepares breakfast for
her husband Denis, as she has every morning of their married life. Denis is alive only in her imagination.
Once described in life as “always present, never there”, Denis is still present for Margaret. Is he a loving memory made flesh? A
manifestation of her grief? Or perhaps her conscience, taking her to the task?
9 Locked in the infuriating inaction of retirement and battling ill
health, Margaret is ambushed by memories. Fragments of her private life and of her premiership crowd into her mind and she relives them in vivid
detail. As she struggles to maintain her equilibrium, Denis teases and needles her. The struggle, the triumphs, the betrayals
– in the end, what did she achieve? When all is said and done, was it worth it?
10
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
This chapter consists of two sections. The first section is the Theoretical Description which consists of two theories. Those theories are
the theory of Post-feminism and theory of People Reaction. The second section is the Theoretical Framework which presents how the theories will
be used in the research to answer the questions formulation.
A. Theoretical Description
This section consists of five theories, namely: the development of Post-feminism Theory, Post-feminist Characteristics, Social Reaction
Theory, Language and Gender Theory, and the explanation of the subject; The Iron Lady movie.
1. Post-feminism Theory
Feminism is a movement which is fighting for the rights of
women so that women get out of injustice. Feminism is a political movement that reviews various aspects of life. Feminism itself has been
through several stages of development. Recently, feminism is still as a hot issue to be discussed. The history of feminism is divided into three waves.
10 PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
11 The first wave of Feminism has been revealed in 1792 until 1960.
It has been known by the writer Wollstonecraft in The Vindication of the Rights of Women. There is some feminism flows in this era. Some of them
are; Liberal Feminism, Radical Feminism, Anarchist Feminism, Marxist Feminism, and Socialist Feminism. All of those flows are fighting for the
development of the rational side of women. They are focused on individuals’ autonomy practice, but still do not eliminate discrimination
against women Sanders, 1999. The second wave of Feminism was revealed in 1960-1980. It is
marked by the publication of “The Feminine Mystique” Freidan, 1997 and was followed by the establishment of National Organization for
Woman. This wave appears as a reaction to the dissatisfaction of women on various discriminations they experienced. They are fighting for the
universalism. Feminism flows of this era are; Existential Feminism and Gynocentrism Feminism.
The third wave of Feminism is revealed in 1980 up to nowadays. This movement is well known as Post-feminism. It emerges as the result
of varieties criticism of feminism universalism in the second wave. Pilcher 2004, states that to comprehend post-feminism, it is a must to state that
there is no agreement about how post-feminism can be described; the definition or terms is usually “essentially contradict” Pilcher, 2004, p:
105. It means that there is a pro and against towards post-feminism. The pro-state that post-
feminism is a different manifestation of feminism”, PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
12 while the contra said that post-feminism is an anti-feminist movement
Pilcher, 2004, p: 106. Brooks 1977, argues that “it is not a question of depoliticizing
feminism, but of marking the conceptual shift from the ‘old’ and the ‘new’ form of debates around the revivified and theorized concept of
difference”. The conceptual shift means here is about accepting pluralism to shape equality than create equality. In addition, Brooks states that post-
feminism represents feminism’s maturity, a development into a confident body of theory and politics, representing pluralism and difference.
Mills 1989, notes that the frame of post-feminism is useful to signify how feminism becomes rewritten, depoliticized and incorporated
into media accounts of contemporary culture. Furthermore, Brooks states that feminism is not necessarily anti-feminist. Based on this border
perspectives, Braithwaite stated that post-feminism are not simply reactions against or anti-feminism as cited in Brooks 1977: p. 27.
In addition, Gill 2007 states that post-feminism should be thought of as a sensibility. Besides, post-feminism also should be acknowledged
to be the cultural mood regarding gender that pervades Western countries in the late twentieth and early twenty-first century.
Post-feminism itself has some flows with their own uniqueness. The first is Postmodern Feminism known as Posmo. The idea of Posmo
is antiabsolute and anti authority. This flow found that ‘gender’ does not
mean as significant identity or social structure automatically. Posmo PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
13 Feminism illustrates that the differences between men and women need to
be accepted and nurtured. More specifically, this flow rejects the authority.
The second flow is Multicultural Feminism. Multicultural feminism focused on the view that not all women are created or
constructed equally in a country. They are different in all aspects of life; not only on races and ethnicities differences’, but also different from
sexual identity, gender identity, age, religion, education level, occupation, and marital status. This flow is generally identifying as the social-
intellectual movement that promoting the value of diversity as a principle key. Multicultural also emphasize that all cultural groups must be
respected and treated equally. The third flow is Global Feminism. Global Feminist claimed that
the oppression of women can also be caused by an unfair system. The global feminist highlights the inequality between first world countries and
third world countries which have a different system of government. Thus extending the global feminist agenda into a cross-country-
women’s liberation and nation.
The fourth flow of post-feminism is Ecofeminism. This flow is a movement that seeks to create and preserve nature and the environment
with based femininity. Baxter 2006, tried to arouse and knock the heart of feminist to pay more attention to their natural environment.
14 Ecofeminism assumes that this natural phenomenon occurs because the act
of masculine hegemonic and exploitative.
2. Post-feminist Characteristics
As an ideology of life, post-feminism also has some
characteristics. This research found some characteristics of post-feminism from some writers. Here, the researcher chose feminist characteristics by
Faludi’s: backlash theory, Grant’s: advice manual and some addition from Braithwaite Journal. There are four characteristics of post-feminism found.
a. General Rejection on the Second Wave of Feminism
Braithwaite’s theory states that woman of this characteristics are grateful for the freedoms and equalities made possible by the feminist
movement, but at the same time blame it for making them miserable with pressures and high expectations. Women feel forced to apply what
feminism won for them; juggling a bona fide career and a family Braithwaite, 2004, p; 21-22. In addition, Grant asserts that woman who
focuses her energy to shape her career has her time left over to improve her relationships, to support her man, and to raise her children. Besides,
Faludi 1992 in her book said that many contemporary women are supposedly angry that feminism has weighed them down with high
expectations, specifically with balancing a career and home or family life. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
15
b. Female Identity Crisis
This characteristic states that women today are not familiar with the term womanhood, because ‘feminism did not prepare them for the
roles as women’ Friedan, 1997, p: 75. Feminism has promised her- ‘women’-a stronger sense of her own identity. Feminism also has given
her little more than an identity crisis, the best-seller advice manual being a Woman asserts. Grant asserted that contemporary women have a real
course because feminism placing so much emphasis on career and taking not enough attention on marriage and motherhood. In addition, Grant
explained that the dilemma of the contemporary woman is shown when she tries to decide whether she want to be a single career girl or to be a
motherhousewife. It happens because the price she has had to pay in order to gain the whole world often feels like the loss of her very soul.
c. Focus on the Individualism
The third character of post-feminism is focused on the individual for personal pleasure. These may include fashion, beauty, sexiness, fun,
pleasure, and even include self- existence; “Look… I am a woman, and I
can do it better than men’s”. This also signifies of indulgence that considers ‘a rebellion against the old regime of feminism’ and ‘lifestyle
choices and personal consum er pleasures’ Braithwaite, 2004, p: 23 and
24. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
16
d. Revival of Traditional Femininity
In this last but not least characteristics of post-feminism, post- feminism’s eagerness to participate in the revival of traditional femininity.
It can be shown through motherhood and domesticity-men, children, family, and life at home, which is not in the plot of feminism. This
characteristic is also fighting for a normal family life as it should be. On one side a mother could have had a brilliant career outside the home, but
on the other hand, she also became a brilliant mother and wife inside home as befits a traditional woman.
Faludi 1992 mentioned that women had enough of the need for equality and they started claiming that they only
wanted to be the guardians of motherhood and domesticity, the housekeepers of national politics Faludi, 287. Besides, feminists failed
women by promoting the Equal Rights Amendment, pushing for no-fault divorce laws, and ignoring motherhood. Women today are now realizing
that this is considered as one of the alternative lifestyles.
3. Social Reactions Theory
Labeling is a definition when given to a person will become the
identity of that person, and explain how the type of particular person. By labeling a person, people tend to see him as a whole personality and not
the behavior one by one. Lemert in Sunarto, 2004 states that labeling theory is the deviation caused by the labeling of society to someone who
then tends to continue these deviations. The labeling theory inspired by PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
17 symbolic interactionism perspective and has evolved in such a way to
research and testing in various fields such as criminology, mental health, health, and education. Labeling theory has started by Lemert and symbolic
interactionism of Herbert Mead in Sunarto, 2004. Later, this theory develops by Becker in 1963. Initially, the Structural Theory deviant or
deviation understood as behavior that exists and is a character as opposed to social norms. Devian is a form of behavior.
Mead 1934 states that people act together. They do what they do with an eye on what others have done, are doing now, and may do in the
future. Furthermore, one tries to fit his own line of action into the actions of others, just as each of them likewise adjusts his own developing actions
to what he sees and expects others to do.
Labeling theory states that the more often and more people who label to a particular person or group, the person or the group
will resemble and even be transformed into a label that is given to him or her. This reaction arises because someone labeled felt caged in
label given to him Hikmat, 2008.
Labeling is one of the most reasons for someone to do secondary deviation. Someone who labeled tends to perform other actions
which also include actions primary irregularities, especially in defending themselves from granting that label. Someone who labeled is trying to
eliminate the label granted, but eventually they are likely to commit PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
18 irregularities the others because it cannot maintain the attitude of the label
given Martine, 2008.
Labeling theory stresses the idea that deviance is a relative term. Under this perspective, people become deviant not because of the act
itself, but how people react to that act. As part of this theory, there are two
types of deviance. Primary deviance refers to episodes of deviant behavior that many people participate in. Secondary deviance is when
someone makes something out of that deviant behavior, which creates a negative social label that changes a persons self-concept and social
identity. People call this negative label a stigma.
4. Language and Gender Theory
Eckert and Mc.Gonell-Ginet 2003, p: 13, gender is the process of categorizing characteristics based on social interpretation of biological
similarities and differences. This categorization is the social decision Fausto Sterling, 1998 to label one is a woman and the other one is a
man. The labeling then focuses on what society expects somebody to perform Butler, 1990 based on their sex. Gender is defined broader as the
social constructions of the characteristics, responsibilities, and roles for women and men, boys, and girls World Health Organization [WHO],
2012. Language is one of the systems of communication in speech and
writing used by people in a particular country or area. Language is PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
19 people’s identity that differentiates one with other. The language style
used by someone can show which social group someone belongs to. There are many sociolinguists have made some research about the influence of
gender and language in society, such as; Lakoff 1975, Spender 1980, Coates 1998, and Cameron 2003. Wood 1997 also explains that the
research about gender and communication have been done by many researchers for decades. The research that is done by Jhonson 1997
shows that men and women actually have different assumptions in communication. He states that both men and women live in two different
worlds that became great evidence why both of them have the different form of communication in the society.
The differences between men and women are also found in the form of discrimination in society. Women are always expected to talk like
a lady. Women need to talk politely, gracefully, and courteously. If they do not do that, they will be considered as unfeminine-women. However,
when women talk gracefully and courteously they will also be judged as a weak person. On the contrary, it is normal for men to angry and acts
aggressively. Besides, men have never been criticized when they talk rudely. People in the
society accept it as a common thing and it is men’s nature act like that.
Even in the politics, the difference in the way men and women talking do not bring any benefit for women in the politics life. Women
language or feminine language is considered too passive in politics field. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
20 Larner 2009, p.5 states that it can be seen that although women work in
politics field, they are still considered to be unimportant just because of the way they use language.
5. The Explanation of the Subject; The Iron Lady Movie
The Iron Lady movie is a biographical movie. This movie tells the life of a woman named is Margaret Thatcher who fought very hard to
reach her position in parliament. In order to achieve her goals, Margaret got various challenges and obstacles, one of which is gender
discrimination. In the very beginning, the struggle of Margaret Thatcher was not
well received by the public of her Country. People’s rejections occur because, at that time, people still think that women’s duty in the ‘kitchen.’
However, Margaret Thatcher is a strong woman, due to all her hard work and struggle; she finally managed to sit on the benches of parliament.
After she becomes a prime minister of Britain, Margaret Thatcher still must confront all forms of reaction emanated both from society and other
Member of Parliament against all her wisdom and political decisions. This is a very inspiring movie. In addition, this movie can also be a
lesson to continue to fight and work hard for the sake of the country. By watching this movie, someone’s nationality is considering increasingly
and triggers to provide the best for the nation and homeland. In addition, PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
21 women are expected to increasingly have the confidence to perform,
fought and have good competition with men in the political field.
B. Theoretical Framework
This research provides some theories to support the analysis and to answer the two questions presented in the questions formulation in the first
chapter. They are; theory of Post-feminism and Post-feminist Characteristics, Social Reaction Theory, and Language and Gender
Theory. The first is the theory of Post-feminism and Post-feminist
Characteristics. Those theories are used to answer the first research questions, which is to identify how Margaret Thatcher is being presented
in The Iron Lady movie. In addition, this theory will help the researcher to find out whether Margaret Thatcher represents any post-feminism ideology
in the way she interacts with other genders or not. The theory of Post- feminist characteristics is used to find out what sort of character Margaret
Thatcher is. The second is the theory of social reaction and theory of language
and gender. In this research, the researcher uses the theory of social reaction to finding out the pro and contra-reactions on the political
decisions’ of Margaret Thatcher during her political career. The theory of language and gender is used to find out whether Margaret Thatcher used
the language based on her life’s ideology or based on her gender. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
22
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY
This chapter is divided into six parts. The first part is research method. This section explains the type of research chosen. The second part
is research setting. The third part is the data source. The fourth is instruments and data gathering techniques. This section describes kinds of
instruments being used in this research. The fifth is data analyzing technique. The section describes how the findings are analyzed. The last
part is research procedure that explains the steps of the research.
A. Research Method
This is a document analysis, since some of the researchers, such as Ary, Jacobs, and Razavieh 2002, p. 442 define document analysis as a
research method applied to written or visual material for the purpose of identifying specified characteristic of materials. Ripley and Flick 2007
state that, “analyzing conversation has a long tradition in the history of qualitative research.” The material was usually in the form of scripts,
textbooks, advertisement, and any other types of document. The data of this research were found in The Iron Lady
movie’s script that contained the conversation of the characters. The data were analyzed based on
Brook’s theory about post-feminism.
22 PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
23
B. Research Setting
The analysis of The Iron Lady movie was started from February 9
th
, 2015 in Yogyakarta until September 25
th
, 2015. The researcher spent half a year in analyzing the script in order to gain the answer for the
research questions that found in the transcript.
C. Data Source
The data of this research is Margaret Thatcher’s language and
behaviors that are presented in the English movie entitled The Iron Lady. The sources were in the form of
movie’s transcription. This movie is a surprising and intimate portrait of Margaret Thatcher Meryl Streep, the
first and only female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. One of the 20th centurys most famous and influential women, Thatcher came from
nowhere to smash through barriers of gender and class to be heard in a male dominated world. Much more than a biographical epic, the film is
also the surprisingly intimate journey of a common grocers daughter whose social ambition and steel will -- along with the love of her husband
and confidant, Denis Jim Broadbent — propelled her to unprecedented
power. Combining fact, fiction and poetic flight of imagination – as well
as flashbacks -- director Phyllida Lloyd, produced by Damian Jones, and written by Abi Morgan.
This movie creates a portrait that reveals the many faces of Thatcher: the hard-nosed conservative; the woman who demolished the
24 barriers of gender and class in a male-dominated world; the spirited wife
and mother who longed to change her country for the better. The researcher chose this movie because of some criteria that the
researcher needed to be analyzed. Some of those criteria are; the character has applies post-feminism theory in the way she interacts with other
gender in the movie, the character also has social interaction with various social status, the character’s ideology of life, and the movie also represents
social reaction.
D. Research Instruments and Data Gathering Technique
In this research, there were two instruments used by the researcher. Those instruments are human instrument and document. “The human
instrument has the unique capability of summarizing data on the spot and feeding it back to an informant for clarification, correction, and
amplification. Moreover, human instrument is the main instrument for gathering the data from the documents”. Lincoln Guba, 1985, p.194.
The other instrument was the document. This instrument can help the researcher in doing the research; it can be similar to the sources’
books. The researcher made an observation on the script in order to accomplish the research questions. After gathering the data needed, the
data would be presented in the analysis. Documents can be a personal document, such as diaries, files, or books Ary, Jacobs, and Rasavieh,
2002. In this research, the researcher employed the script of The Iron PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
