Characters and Characterization Review of Related Theories

This thesis tries to show the rebellion of inequality of gender. Therefore, it is important to understand the general idea about feminism which is equality. Both of women and men have same freedom to be free. Jo freeman in Women: The Feminist Perspective says that either men or women are born to be free and want to place equally. They have the same rights in front of God Freeman, 1975:439. Therefore, women should have the same rights as men to be treated equally. Unfortunately, women have been conditioned to believe that they are inferior to men, and it seems that people’s thought and belief about this condition is acceptable and naturally true Montagu, 1953:23.Women also perform most of the household chores. It is the most prominent stereotype towards women. Similarly, Williams and Best 1990:125 state that gender stereotyping toward women also occurred in the education aspects. Cultures vary somewhat regarding the full range of traits and abilities associated with each gender, but in nearly all cultures, women are more associated with communal traits and men are more associated with agentic traits. Indeed, gender stereotyping is often used to justify the nurturing roles assigned to women, although research suggests that differential social roles actually create gender stereotypes Eagly Steffen, 1984:164. That is, whoever typically cares for children or the elderly is viewed as nurturant, regardless of gender; and whoever typically works in high-powered jobs is viewed as active and dominant, again regardless of gender. Given their link with adult roles, gender stereotypes also affect educational opportunities. Because boys are assumed to be more active and aggressive, they typically are educated to assume the leadership roles in society, whether those roles are in business or politics. The education of boys, therefore, is given higher priority than the education of girls, as can be seen in the statistics on school attendance in developing countries. Boys often receive encouragement and training to pursue the higher-paying and higher- status jobs in a cu lture because boys are seen as both more ‘‘naturally’’ inclined to such work as well as the more likely breadwinner in a family. These stereotypes and perceptions in society rise feminism. Feminism appears because the unfair acts and treatment toward woman in society. Men often oppress and control women in many ways. It is believed by nature that women’s place is in the house, caring for husband, and children. Women are not given a chance to develop their potentialities in spheres. Fakih, 1996:69. Deborah L. Madsen in Feminist Theory and Literary Practice states that feminist literary theory has three main aims. First is to show the readers about the issue of patriarchal power that has structured in society. Second is to re-establish various achievements of women. Third is to find the new perspective about women and theory that shapes our lives Madsen, 2000: 15. Ms. Arksonkool also said in the International Seminar on Women’s Education and Empowerment that an individual empowerment of women is attained in relationship to the larger society 1975:9. Freeman in Women a Feminist Perspective 3 rd Edition states that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain