Noi and Ghan Gender Schema as a Result of External Factor
33 get the scholarship, will always make the family proud and she will support it no
matter what. Dawan‟s grandmother shows that she is really proud of Dawan‟s achievement of getting the scholarship eventhough Dawan‟s father shows the
opposite response. She encourages Dawan to talk to her father again and find some supports so that Dawan‟s father can change his mind about boys and girls
should have the equal chance to get more education in the city. The old woman grunted, and
squeezed Dawan‟s hand firmly. “Now don‟t you start being scared all the time too, child Your mother‟s bad
enough...let‟s not have two rabbits in the house Besides, what is there to be afraid of?” p. 102.
This time, Dawan‟s grandmother shows that a girl should not just follow what is commanded to her and what people say. She convinces Dawan that she
does not need to be afraid of achieving something that she believes. Dawan should be brave to fight for her right to get better education and make changes to her
village by studying more knowledge in the c ity. Dawan‟s grandmother says
„rabbit‟ which refers to girls or women who are seen as inferior gender that do not even have chance to speak up their mind. She does not want Dawan to grow up to
be a common girl in the village who cannot even dare to struggle for their own improvements.
In a voice slow and heavy with age, the old woman said, “You have a long life ahead of you yet, child, and this
is just the first step. If you‟re this timid now how on earth are you going to face all the struggle still before
you? Gather yourself together, and face the world out there with clear bold eyes. You hear me?” p. 116.
Grandmother is a supportive character who always sees the positivity in everything. For her, a girl, especially Dawan, still has a long journey of life.
34 Eventhough someone is a girl, it does not mean she has to stop walking when
superior people say they have to stop. Girls have their right to get a better life and be given the same chance to make changes
. Dawan‟s grandmother wants to show that going to the City is only the beginning of Dawan‟s responsibility towards her
life. A girl should be brave and independent so that she can face all of the obstacles and problems that may appear later. Moreover, it is possible for a girl to
take a risk and learn on how to improve themselves, just like what the boys do.