Feminism Feminism values the novel of the sweetheart season written by karen joy fowler
women lower than man.
20
Therefore, appear the equal right‟s movement called as feminism. The movement itself can be divided into three waves.
The first wave of feminist‟s movement begins in the 19
th
century, precisely in 1848. The USA held a convention in Seneca Falls that tried to
declare another version of declaration of independence, which is the declarati
on called that „all men are created equal‟ without represent the women aspiration. This movement brings the equality between men and women and
the convention declared another version, „all men and women are created equal‟.
21
In the other hand the first wave feminism movement is about the equality of authority for women. Women want to get the same position with
that of man in every aspect in their life. Especially in education, politic and economy.
The second wave of the feminist movement was born when the publishing of The Feminine Mystique, written by Betty Friedan. It is in the middle of
1960s in the USA. This book has given wide influences to the society that has reached artist, press media, academician, and so on. The second wave of the
feminist movement tried to condemn the sexual discrimination, sexual insulting and get fairer house job-description.
22
Although there are many different specific ideas about the feminism but the most important thing about
those ideas is that women must be free from men‟s domination. So they free from ordered by men. This concept reveals through the scientific research, so
that in the scientific research, there is a motivation to view about women‟s role.
20
Djajanegara, op.cit.,p.5
21
Ibid., p.1
22
Ibid., p.10
The feminist scholars tried to free women from the inferiority of knowledge against men. They did this by making what they called as women studies. This
study tries to enrich the comprehension of women based on their experience, purposes and their own lives.
23
Finally, the movement of feminism rises into the third wave. It was begun in the early 1990s. In this wave, the significant change is feminist thought.
Unlike the second-wave feminism, which largely focused on the inclusion of women in traditionally male- dominated areas, the third-wave feminism seeks
to challenge and expand common definitions of gender and sexuality.
24
The feminists try to liberate women from all oppressions and science restrictions. The feminist‟s effort is to make women as an object of study.
Women studies are appeared in many studies. These assessment enhanced knowledge about experience, importance, and women‟s life. Women study
includes many topics that are related to women studies, such as women history, women labor, women psychological, lesbianism, and so on.
25
Besides that the feminists also try to uncover, investigate, and give the rate of works of women
writers. They try to prepare the context that can support women writers, so that the women can give expression of their experience, feel and mind that are
hidden before. The women writers want the same position with the position of man writers who get the position and admission from literary critics.
26
23
Ibid., pp.16-17
24
“
Third-wave feminism- Definition.”
http:www.wordiq.comdefinitionthird wave_feminism. Accessed on May 20, 2011.
25
Soenardjati, Djajanegara, Kritik Sastra Feminis Sebuah Pengantar, Jakarta: PT Gramedia Pustaska Utama, 2003, pp.16-17
26
Ibid.,p.18
Briefly, feminist criticism aims to interpret literature from a female point of view. This is accomplished in several ways. Some feminist critics seek to
interpret the works of male authors, with particular attention to women characters, in order to explore the moral, political and social restrictions that
women traditionally faced. Other feminist critics choose to analyze the works of women authors that have been previously overlooked by male critics.
Nevertheless, feminist criticism challenges and opposes an opinion and traditional view and men‟s superiority toward women‟s basic attitude and how
woman feel, think, act, and how women generally perceive a life. However, feminist criticism also makes a problem out of prejudice towards women which
is formed by men, and did not let about men‟s dispose for dropping women on
being trifling characters. This case has opened as much as a problem, as example there is an ecriture feminine,
27
which is about woman‟s writing in style and language.
28
Because of the condition above appears the feminist literary criticism.
Feminist literary criticism is a relatively new form of examining literature and text. The womens movements that have swept and take parts of the world have
opened up new perspectives and ideologies for literary critics. The feminist critics want to introduce the feminist literary criticism, develop the study about
women writing, and built the feminist publishing, so that there is no complaint about less of the works of women.
29
27
Ecriture Feminine means a women‟s writing
28
Ibid.,pp.21-26
29
Ibid.,pp.18-19
Feminist literary criticism is the critical analysis of literary works based on the feminist perspective. In particular, feminist literary critics tend to reject the
patriarchal norms of literature that privileges masculine ways of thinkingpoints of view and marginalizes women politically, economically and
psychologically, according to Paul Ady, associate professor of English at Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts.
30
Feminist literary criticism is one of components in women studies, which was established in Western as a social movement for grass root
31
society. Since women study is considered as a part and package of political feminist agenda,
for feminist critics, all interpretations have political values. Feminist critics analyze women differentiation. From the feminist perspective, literary is
always affected by the context or culture, because the literature is a part of culture itself. Feminist literary criticism tried to liberate women from their
inferior knowledge. One of their struggles is making women as a field of study. The study aims to enrich the knowledge about the experiences, needs and life
of women.
32
Feminism literary criticism appears contextually in literary text especially in novel and rather rare in drama or poetry. In novel for example, it can be
analyzed by using some approaches in feminism approach. By using feminist criticism women‟s experience, feel, and their thought are identified. The
Sweetheart Season is one example of literary works, which convey feminist
30
Jared Lewis. “What Is the Feminist Approach to Literary Criticism?.”
http:www.ehow.com. feminist-approach-literary-criticism . Accessed on January 1, 2010.
31
Grass root is a technical term in social studies which describes the underclass in society.
32
Djajanegara, op.cit.,pp.16-17
movement. The main character is a woman who struggles to be self-motivated. The movement of feminism focuses on removing the self-awareness of women
about their under-developed position in society. It is very important because most women, who live in patriarchal society, do not aware that they are
opposed by patriarchy. This concept assumes that living in a capital society is not the only casual factor of women‟s under-development.
Based on the statement above it is clear enough that feminist literary criticism is an effort to interpret the text and to know more about image of
women throughout the text. Without this approach, it must be hard to understand more about image of women in the novel.
CHAPTER III RESEARCH FINDING