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definition of literature as that body of works which, deserves to be preserved as part of the current reproduction of meanings within a given culture. This sense
seems more tenable than the later attempts to divide literature as creative, imaginative, fictional, or non-practical from factual writings or practically
effective works of propaganda, rhetoric, or didactic writing. According to Simon and Delyse Ryan in Wikipedia, literature is a road
that is much travelled, though the point of arrival, if ever reached, is seldom satisfactory. Most attempted definitions are broad and vague, and they inevitably
change overtime. In fact, the only thing that is certain about defining literature is that the definition will change. Concepts of what is literature change over time as
well.
2.2 Play
Play is a literature composition that tells a story, usually of human conflict, by means of dialogue and action, to be performed by actors; play; now often
specif, any play that is not a comedy. Not only that, a play is also a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of dialogue between
characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. A play or drama offers another classical literary form that has continued to revolve over the
years. During the 18
th
and 19
th
centuries, opera developed as a combination of poetry, drama, and music. Nearly all drama took verse form until comparatively
recently. A play is something to act out or do a performance. And drama is now commonly used to refer to a genre of film or television which is more serious than
comedy.
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An older meaning of ‘drama’ was the spesific mode of fiction represented in performance. Drama is often combined with music and dance: the drama in
opera is generally sung throughout; musicals generally include both spoken dialogue and songs; and some forms of drama have incidental music or musical
accompaniment underscoring the dialogue. And drama is similar to it, its not acting out from something, but doing a play is drama.
2.3 Gender
Gender is often associated with gender sex, whereas gender is different from sex. Gender is often understood as a gift from God or kodrat Ilahi, whereas
gender is not solely so. In terminology, ‘gender’ can be defined as the cultural expectations of men and women Lips, 1993: 4. Another definition of gender put
forward by Elaine Showalter. According to him ‘gender’ is a distinction of men and women seen from the socio-cultural construction Showalter, 1989: 3.
Gender can also be used as an analytical concept that can be used to describe something Umar, 1999: 9.
Of some of the definitions of the above can be understood that gender is a trait that is used as the basis for identifying the differences between men and
women in terms of social conditions and Cultural Studies, values and behavior, mentality and emotions, as well as factors other nonbiologis. In general, sex is
used to identify the differences in male and female anatomy in terms of biological, gender was more concentrated to the social, cultural, and other aspects
nonbiologis. If the sex studies more emphasis on the development aspects of biological and shemical composition of the body of a male and female, then
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gender studies more emphasis on development aspects of a person’s masculinity and feminity.
History of gender differences between a man occurs through a very lengthy process and is formed by several reasons, such as socio-cultural
conditions, religious condition of statehood. With this long process, the gender defference is often considered to be a provision ultimately God is as if the natural
or biological nature can not be changed anymore. This is exactly what causes the onset of gender inequality in the society.
Gender has a significant position in one’s life and can determine the life experience that will be gone. Gender can determine a person’s access to
education, work, and other public sectors. Gender can also determine the health, life ecpectancy, and a person’s freedom of movement. Clearly, gender will
determine sexuality, relationships, and ability to make decisions and act autonomously. Finally, gender determines a person who many will be what it will
be. Gender is a social construction with important consequences in everybody
life. Gender is constructed both socially through social interactions as well as biologically through chromosomes, brain structure, and hormonal differences.
Gender refers to the social, psychological, and cultural attributes of masculinity and femininity that are based on the above biological distinctions. Gender pertains
to the socially learned patterns of behaviour and the psychological or emotional expression or attitudes that distinguish males from females. Ideas about
masculinity and feminity are culturally derived and pattern the ways in which males and females are treated from birth onward. Gender is an important factor in
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shaping people’s self image and social identities. Gender is learned through the socializations process and thus is and achieved status.
Scott 1990:535 states that gender, which is defined as a social construction rather than an essential biological trait, comes in many forms: in
languages that assign genders to nouns and pronouns; in what sociologist describe as “sex roles,” which divide and limit what persons of one sex or the other can do
in private and public spheres; in efforts to recuperate the culture or traditions of women, as neglected and marginal when compared to those of gender.
Gender roles are sets of societal norms dictating what types of behaviours are generally considered acceptable, appropriate or desirable for a person based on
their actual or perceived sex. These are usually centered around masculinity, although there are myriad exceptions and variations. The spesifics regarding these
gendered expectations may vary substantially among cultures, write other characteristics may be common throughout a range of cultures.
There is ongoing debate as what extent gender roles and their variations are biologically determined, and to what extent they are socially constructed.
Gender roles may be a means through which one may express their gender identity, but they may also be employed as a means of exerting social control, and
individuals may experience negative social consequencesfor violating them.Vario us groups have led efforts to change aspects of prevailing gender roles that they
believe are oppressive or inaccurate, most notably the feminist movement. The terms was first coined by John Money in 1955 during the course of his
study of intersex individuals to describe the manners in which these individuals
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express their status as a male or female, in a situation where no clear biological assignment exists.
And gender is an important are of study in many disciplines, such as literary theory, drama studies, film theory, performance theory, contemporary art
history, anthropology, sociology, psychology and psychoanalysis. These disciplines sometimes differ in their ap is aproaches to how and why they study
gender. For instance in anthropology, sociology and psychology, gender is often studied as practice, whereas in cultural studies representations of gender are more
often examined. Gender studies also a discipline in itself, an interdisciplinary are of study that incorporates methods and approaches from a wide range of
disciplines.
2.4 Gender Equality
