Sex Typing THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

CHAPTER II THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

Prior to the main discussion of the paper, there ought to be some trait theories and concepts that apparently have to be delivered into explanation. At first place, noting to the research question in first chapter, the account of sex- typing itself has to be discussed. Further, the other concepts related will also bring about continuously following that.

A. Sex Typing

Sex typing is not familiar concept among academia in letters department; even so the term has been mentioned in psychoanalysis theory. However, it is already well-known that the psychoanalysis itself has been used as a tool to critics literatures 11 , therefore the concept of sex typing is integrated to the matter of the theory then can be used as part of the argument. 11 Psychoanalytic literary criticism refers to literary criticism which, in method, concept, theory, or form, is influenced by the tradition of psychoanalysis begun by Sigmund Freud. Psychoanalytic reading has been practiced since the early development of psychoanalysis itself, and has developed into a rich and heterogeneous interpretive tradition. It is a literary approach where critics see the text as if it were a kind of dream. This means that the text represses its real or latent content behind obvious manifest content. The process of changing from latent to manifest content is known as the dream work, and involves operations of concentration and displacement. The critic analyzes the language and symbolism of a text to reverse the process of the dream work and arrive at the underlying latent thoughts. Freud wrote several important essays on literature, which he used to explore the psyche of authors and characters, to explain narrative mysteries, and to develop new concepts in psychoanalysis. The object of psychoanalytic literary criticism, at its very simplest, Sex typing refers to “…the adoption of the beliefs, attitudes, and activities which the culture defines as appropriate for one’s sex.” 12 Most of the member of western civilization and also in eastern shares a common conviction that boys and girls should behave differently. Beliefs about the specific ways they should differ are sometimes implicit and unconscious; sometimes they are explicit and consciously encouraged. Parents will vary in their attitudes concerning the appropriates of a specific traits for one sex or the other. But, in general, obvious physical aggression dominance, competence at athletics, achievement, competitiveness, and independence are regarded as desirable traits for boys. On the other hands, dependence, passivity, inhibition of physical aggression, and competence at language skills, politeness, social poise, and neatness are some of the characteristic more appropriate for girls. To Justin Pikunas 1969 “Sexual typing may be understood as a process of intrapsychic identification with those personality qualities and traits that pertain to one’s own gender. It begins with a closer identification with the parent of the same sex in early childhood.” 13 According to the father of Psychoanalysis, which the theory came from: Freud, “…sex typing is the indirect result of anatomical differences, an integral part of the identification process, and an upshot of the Oedipus complex. The can be the psychoanalysis of the author or of a particularly interesting character. Retrieved from: http:en.wikipedia.orgwikiPsychoanalytic_literary_criticism 12 Paul Henry Mussen, et al., Child Development and Personality second edition New York: Harper and row publisher, 1963, pp. 261-262 13 Justin Pikunas, Human Development: a science of growth New York: Mc Graw Hill Book Company, 1969, p. 208. child assimilates the attitudes and behavior of the same sex parent, many of which are related to sex role expectation.” 14 In identifying and identification process will be explained further. Hence, in the ideal family constellation, a little boy find it very natural and highly rewarding to model himself in his father’s image. The father is gratified to see this recreation of his own qualities, attitudes, and masculinity, and this is the big contribution to boy identification with father. In the well-ordered, psychologically healthy household, much the same picture, in reverse, holds for the little girl. Theoretically, the degree to which the child adopts a parent’s behavior is a function of that parent’s nurturance and affection for him, their competence, and power. If the parent did not posses this characteristic, the child would not want to be like him, and would not acquire a positive identification with him. “The ideal situation for the adoption of culturally approved, appropriate sex-role behaviors would be one in which 1. The same-sex parent is seen as nurturant and possessing desirable characteristic, and 2. Both parents consistently reward-sex appropriate responses and discourage in appropriate ones.” 15 Further, there are several psychological process in which a child would acquire the proper sex-typing. At least three motives are involved in the child’s adoption of sex appropriate behaviors: “1. Desire for praise, affection and acceptance by parents and peers for sex appropriate behaviors, 2. Fear of 14 Diane E Papilia and Sally Wendkos Olds, A Child’s World Infancy Through Adolescence Second Edition New York: Mc Graw Hill Book Company, 1979, p. 294. 15 Paul Henry Mussen, et al., Child Development and Personality 3rd edition New York: Harper And Row Publisher, 1969, p. 361. punishment or rejection for inappropriate behavior, and 3 identification with the same sex parents substitute, or fantasized ego ideal.” 16 Here, in the paper, hence the major of discussion is on the umbrella of psychoanalysis, the only point that will be discussed to the sex-typing is the identification process that related to Oedipus complex and its integral part of psychosexual development stage. As according to Paul Henry Mussen 1969, the basic components of sex-typing are: undoubtedly acquired at home, largely trough identification with, and imitation of, the parents of the same sex. This theory also mentioned in Sandra L. Bem’s journal, “Gender Schema Theory and its Implications for Child Development: Raising Gender-Aschematic Children in a Gender-Schematic Society”. In her journal, Sandra L. Bem states some theories correlating the sex-typing; to the Psychoanalytic Theory, where Anatomy is Destiny Freud, Sex Typing is result of: a understanding differences in genital structure b development of penis envy girls and castration anxiety males. c resolution of OedipalElectra complex c.1. males = identification with same sex parent internalize the father c.2. females = not resolved until symbolically possess father through heterosexual relationship 16 Ibid. p. 263 And hence we can conclude that “…Sex typing refers to the learning process by which children learn behaviors and adjustments appropriate to their biological sex.” 17 Along with sex typing goes the process of identification a psychological accompaniment of sex typing. In other hand, identification seems to be essential in the process itself because adequate moral or conscience has not already developed at stage where the sex typing is occurring.

B. Identification