D. Definition of Term
1. Gender
Lisa Unger in Brannon, 1948: 8 states that gender describes the traits and behaviors that are regarded by the culture as appropriate to women and men.
Gender is thus a social label and not description of biology. Carolyn Sherif in Brannon, 1948: 8 also shares the similar definition of gender, saying that it is a
scheme for social categorization of individuals. On this, Ridgeway 2011: 13 states that many people still stick to the
traditional ideas that men and women should behave in ways that fall into specific categories determined solely on their socially constructed identities, their gender.
However, male or female gender-specific identities are irrelevant in modern society. Gender is socially developed over time and are not based on natural
human behavior.
2. Stereotype
Patterson 1991: 8
states that stereotyping is an oversimplified, usually pejorative, attitude people hold toward those outside ones own experience who
are different. They are a result of incomplete or distorted information accepted as fact without question
. Based on this, Patterson defines a stereotype as a widely belief that an
individual is a member of a certain group based on characteristics 1991: 8.
Stereotype is needed in order to acknowledge the characteristicss of certain groups. However, a great deal of inaccuracy in social perception may happen due
to the process of overgeneralization within social perception.
3. Gender Stereotype
By combining the two definitions above, gender stereotypes can simply be defined as a widely belief that an individual is a member of a certain group based
on traits and behaviors that are regarded by the culture as appropriate to women and men. Brown 2014: 9, shares that gender stereotypes are generalizations
which start when children are introduced to certain roles that are typically linked to their biological sex.
Furthermore, Brown 2014: 11 also explains that the term gender role is used to refer to societys concept of how men and women are expected to act and
behave. Gender roles are based on norms, or standards, created by society. Gilbert and Gubar 1984: 57, also share the thought that such grouping can be positive or
negative, but they rarely communicate accurate information about others. Based on the definitions given above, it can be concluded that a gender
stereotype is a generalization about the gender attributes, differences, and roles of individuals andor groups.
4. Victorian Values in America
According to victorian-era.org, the Victorian era is often thought of as a time when society and its rules were rigid and strict.
It is based upon a group of principles or standard of moral conduct including practicing sexual restriction and
zero acceptance of criminal activity. Other characteristics that describe the values of the Victorian Era include hard work, honesty, the sense of duty and
responsibility towards people in regards of their gender http:www.victorian- era.orgvictorian-era-morality.html 4 May 2017.
The term Victorian America is used to refer the Victorian values adopted in the America. According to Bayley
2008, the elite were in total control of society and its politics at the start of the Victorian era. The elite were made up of
about 300 families which were firmly established as the traditional ruling class. However, new values, such as individualism developed throughout the Victorian
America. Similar to the American Dream, the idea is that, if they work hard enough, all men can become wealthy. Eventually, it can be concluded that
Victorian values refer to the social condition which conducts the standard of moral during the Victorian era. It also includes separation of people in regards of
their gender.
8
CHAPTER II REVIEW OF LITERATURE
The researcher divides this chapter is divided into four sections . The first
section is the review on the related studies of Tell Me a Riddle . It can be related to
the topic . The second section is the review on the theories that are applied to
analyze the problems stated on the problem formulation . The third section talks
about the review on Victorian era related to the poem “Angel in the House” written by
Coventry Patmore, and the last section is about the application of the review on related studies and theories
.
A. Review of Related Studies
Set in America during the 1960s, “Tell Me a Riddle” tells the struggles of creating individuality different from stereotypical images of mid-century women
. The situation is explored through Eva
. The short story was published as a part of a four story collection in 1961
. Tell Me a Riddle became the main title of that collection and it received the 1961 O
. Henry Award. In 1980, “Tell Me a Riddle”
was adapted into American drama film directed by Lee Grant .
Some students of Sanata Dharma University have discussed the topic of feminism as well
. Didikyudono 2003 in his thesis, A Portrayal of Liberal Feminism of Victorian Age: A Feminist Study of William Makepeace
Thackeray’s Vanity Fair, wrote that the goal of liberal feminism is to gain the equality between
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