therefore they promote abortion, contraceptives and other forms of birth control 2009: 74.
Djuna’s action of avoiding maternal life reflects one of the basic ideas of radical libertarian feminism. In the novel, Djuna is described as a self-governed
woman who wants to pursue her dreams and desire freely with no obstacle from her surroundings. She avoids maternal and marriage life because she thinks that
those things do not suit her personality. Djuna argues that the obligations in maternal and marriage life will limit her freedom. This characteristic is also
shaped by her childhood memories when she has to take care of her siblings because of poverty in her family. In her childhood, Djuna is limited to do
activities like a normal child because of this responsibility and it makes a trauma of being attached into something. Therefore as she grows up, she does not want to
be bounded with solemn obligation of raising children which can limit her freedom. It is stated in her conversation with Lillian: I never liked real children,
only the child in the grown-up, Lillian aswered: you should have had children.“But I lack the maternal feeling for children, Lillian, though I haven’t
lacked the maternal exp erience.” 1995: 46. Djuna’s action of avoiding maternal
life proves the fact that she was against the old- fashioned society’s assumption.
She liberated herself from any obligation of maternal life. This idea is also supported through Lillian’s action of leaving her family to
pursue her desire. Lillian is described as a passionate woman whose courage to pursue her passion. Once, she is married with a man named Larry and has two
children. It is a harmonic marriage filled with joy and serenity. Yet that kind of PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
life does not suit Lillian’s personality. She feels like a stranger in her own house instead, for her unfulfilled desire. Lillian has not been able to show her own
characters which are adventurous and passionate. In her marriage, Lillian is obligated to take care of her family and play role as a good mother and wife. She
feels trapped and anxious about her life and nature as a woman. Lillian knows that marriage and maternal life do not seem suit her personality. Hence, she rebels by
leaving her family and continues her adventurous life to pursue her nature and desire by living a life where there is no obligation of taking care children through
maternal life.
2. Considering Normative
Heteresexuality as a Form of Women’s Oppression
Heterosexuality is still regarded by society as an obligatory for human and there is no other option besides being heterosexual. Any other kind of sexual
interest will be considered as digression or even sin. Yet the radical libertarian feminists argue that normative
heterosexuality is a form of women’s oppression where there is a tendency women are positioned lower than men. They suggest
lesbian as another sexual preference. Since a woman does not need a male body to achieve sexual pleasure, she does not have to engage with in sexual relations with
a man.Tong, 2009: 71-72. Moreover, they also recognize bisexuality as a sexual preference in which women should explore within themselves. As one of feminist,
Clare Hemmings, states that those of us who consider ourselves feminist are excited about the possibilities of a bisexuality informed by the understanding that
sex and gender are classifications by which women are oppressed and restricted PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
2002: 17. Therefore, having sexual interests toward men and women has become one of women’s freedom. Women who have courage to consider
themselves as bisexual are no longer submissive toward old customs. Lillian’s courage to become bisexual reflects the idea of radical feminism.
She does not only express her sexual attraction towards men but also women because she can not fulfill her desire only with men. Lillian falls in love with her
whole self integrity when doing bisexual relationship. In her life, Lillian builds relationship with several men named Gerard, Larry, and Jay and several women
named Djuna, Sabina, and Helen. One of of her attraction with a man named Jay is shown in the following description:
He sheltered himself, she carried his head on her breast, she carried his body become limp, his hands nestling in her pocket. The waves of passion
inspired by his abandon intoxicated her 1995: 62.
Lillian loves to warm and shelter men. She also loves men’s affection toward her yet it can not satisfy her hunger of love and affection. Therefore, she
experiences her sexual life with women, one of them named Djuna. In her courtship with Djuna, Lillian can feel the equal power and devotion toward each
other. She recognizes that the love from women strenghens her. Loving in men and women not their strength but their softness, not their fullness but their hunger,
not their plenitude but their needs 1995: 40. Lillian’s bisexual characteristic shows that she is a woman whose courage to follow her desire. In society,
bisexual is still regarded as a taboo thing and sexual digression yet Lillian does not want to be limited by this assumptions. She fights against the old patriarchal
custom and pursues her sexual interest freely. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
.Another woman character whose freedom to choose her sexual preference is Djuna. In the novel, Djuna’s attraction is not into men but women. She has never
been attached in a relationship with men. Influenced by her independent and androgynous characteristics, Djuna frees herself from society’s assumption about
heterosexuality and men’s role in her life. She decides to become a lesbian which reflects one of the major ideas of radical libertarian feminism. She argues that
men will not give women chance to prove their strength therefore women have to give in their strength. Her lesbian characteristic is shown in her relation with
Lillian in which she feels the equal power. There is no one side dominancy in their relationship. Since both of them share equal affection and devotion, Djuna’s
hunger for love is satisfied. Djuna and Lillian’s freedom of choosing their sexual interests shows that
they break the society’s assumption about heterosexuality as the only sexual preference for human. They prove that someone’s natural desire can not be
defined and regulated by such old assumptions. Human, especially woman, is free
to experience any sexual desire regardless society’s limitation. 3.
Being Androgynous
Society has not encouraged the development of both masculine and feminine characteristics within the same individual because it contrasts with the social
norms. Therefore, the action of being androgynous takes courage because it challenges the gender stereotypes. It makes people thinking differently about
stereotypical male and female roles .
As Humm states, many feminist philosophers claim that androgynous personalities are holistic and have a capacity to
