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Najwa and Raneen with some male characters namely Omar Rahman, Zakir, Ashraf and Andy in the novel
Willow Trees Don’t Weep by Fadia Faqir.
C. The Research Question
Based on the limitation of the problem above, this study concentrates by formulating the research question as follows :
How are gender relations portrayed in the novel of Willow Trees Don’t
Weep by Fadia Faqir through feminist literary criticism concept?
D. The Significance of the Research
It is hoped that this research can be useful for the reader. Moreover, it is provided that this research as a contribution for the scientific field of study
literary criticism to become more diverse and varied. In addition, it is wished that the results of this research are expected to provide an accurate and valid
information to the reader about gender relations in the novel Willow Trees Don’t Weep.
E. The Research Methodology
This research methodology includes the important aspects, such as the objective, method, data analysis, research instrument and unit of the analysis.
1. The Objective of the Research
Based on the research question above, this research aims to reveal gender relations between female and male characters in the novel of
Willow Trees Don’t Weep through feminist literary criticism concept.
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2. The Method of the Research
This research uses qualitative method with descriptive analysis. According to
Bodgan and Taylor, “qualitative methodology as a research procedure that produces descriptive data in form of written
words or spoken and behaviors of people who being obser ved” Bogdan
and Taylor, 1992: 21. This study also employs descriptive analysis method since this research describes the evidences of this study by
using sentences to emphasize the analysis based on the verbal data. The research data can be found by reading the novel, then
analyzes and finds the evidences to reveal women and gender issues reflected in the novel. Such as relationship between women and men in
patriarchal culture, images of women and stereotype of women portrayed by the author. This study utilizes feminist criticism
“woman as reader” theory to give evaluation and see women‟s condition in this
novel by a woman‟s point of view based on her ideas about social life
and experiences through woma n‟s perspective.
3. The Technique of Data Analysis
Technique of data analysis is the way of analyzing the research data, including statistical tools that relevant to use in a study Noor,
2012: 163. Furthermore, this research will be analyzed and discussed in order to answer the research question above that contained of the
research question by using feminist literary criticism theory from article, journal online and other books.
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4. The Unit of Analysis
The unit of analysis in this research is a novel Willow Trees Don’t
Weep by Fadia Faqir published by Heron Books in 2014.
5. The Instrument of the Research
