35 society to follow men and obey what men say to them. Women rely too much on
men and cannot decide their own path in life. However, Bao adds a statement:
“You‟ve earned your chance for flying to a bigger world, to pursue your own ideals. Don‟t yield to your brother now. You have to push forward
and struggle if you want to be free, and equal to your broth er.” p. 79.
This statement means Dawan has to fight for her right to get a better education. She has been given chance to learn more knowledge in the City, which
not many of girls from the village may get. „Flying‟ does not mean literally flying like a bird does. If the cage door is already opened, someone is free to fly.
Dawan‟s door is opened because she has given chance to get the scholarship. It means, she should not be afraid to fly because she has been free now to improve
herself. It is now her responsibility to push herself and struggle for her right to be equal to her brother and use the chance to be useful for her life, her family, and
her village.
2. Gender Schema as a Result of Internal Factor
The internal factor appears in Dawan‟s herself. At the beginning, she becomes a pessimistic girl who cannot see a chance for her to go to the city. After
she knows that she is the winner of the scholarship, she becomes an optimistic girl who wants to fight for her right to get better education.
36
a. Pessimism
Dawan is so pessimistic about her own capability to get the scholarship. Then Kwai understood, and sat down next to her again, Is it because
today that marks come in and we find out who won the scholarship that you dont want to go? Sister, are you afraid of finding out? p. 11.
From Kwai‟s statement, it can be inferred that Dawan does not want to move and go to school because she does not want to find out the winner of the
scholarship to continue the school in the city. She looks worried and afraid of the announcement because she is not sure that she can win the scholarship.
After a while, she glanced at her brother and asked, “What if you did do best in our village, Kwai? You will go, won‟t you?” p. 11.
Dawan‟s pessimistic attitude is shown in this statement where she responds her brother‟s question. She is very sure that her brother, Kwai, will win the
scholarship because he used to be the best in their village and he can go to the city without thinking further or facing any obstacles. When her brother assumes that
she is afraid to face the result, she cannot answer it quickly because she needs a few minutes to give response. However, she does not give any answer towards her
brother‟s question. She states another questions that show her uncertainty of her capability to win the scholarship.
“He likes you more,” she insisted in a low voice. “Especially today, when you will receive the government scholarship.”
“ Stop talking as if I had already won that scholarship” Kwai interrupted. There are plenty of other students in our village who might get
it, you kow.” “ Like who?” Dawan challenged.
Kwai fell silent, as if he was mentally considering every member of his class who might win. Finally he blurted, “How about you, Sister? You
could win.” “Me?” Dawan flushed. “But I‟m a girl.” p. 13 - 14
37 In Dawan‟s statement, „he‟ refers to their teacher at school. According to
Dawan, their teacher focuses on Kwai more than the other students. The teacher often talks about many problems that appear in their village with Kwai. Dawan
thinks that the teacher really wants Kwai to get the scholarship. Moreover, Dawan also makes her own gender schema when she states that she will not go to the city
and win the scholarship because she is a girl. For her, the one who deserves the scholarship must be a boy. She underestimates herself as a girl compared to Kwai
who has more chance to win the scholarship. “You know why,” Dawan said without looking at her brother, her hand
clenched tight over the edge of the wooden bridge. “I‟m a girl, Kwai.” p. 14
At the end of Chapter One from Sing to the Dawn novel, Dawan once
again gives a statement about how she underestimates herself. She creates her own schema about a girl‟s right. For her, she is just a girl who should not go to the
city and get a better education there. She believes that her teacher will choose Kwai instead of her because she thinks that it will be easier for a boy to be sent to
the City. In this case, Dawan realizes that eventhough she always gets good marks in the class and studies harder than Kwai does, there is still no possibility to get
the scholarship. This schema influences her way of thinking. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
