Theoretical Framework REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

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2.3.4.1.6 Egyptian Women and Health

Egyptian women also find inequality in the health status. Egyptian families, and especially in rural areas, give more attention and health care to their sons than to their daughters. This is caused by the belief of the birth of a boy will give them a greater happiness and pride than the birth of a girl. This belief follows through their life Guenena and Wassef 38. Egyptian women are subjected to female circumcision, often called female genital mutilation FGM. According to UNICEF, it is estimated that more than 130 million women and girls in some Islamic countries such as Egypt have been subjected to FGM. UNICEF defines FGM as removing or injuring the female genital organs of girls between 4 and 14 years old. There are many reasons for doing FGM. UNICEF states that the most significant reason is the belief that a girl who has not experienced FGM will not be considered suitable for marriage. There are many health consequences from FGM. They are the failure to heal, severe bleeding, inflammatory diseases and urinary infections. It can also cause HIV infection. Also, the pain of FGM may cause shock and trauma through them. Although it is very dangerous for their daughter, Egyptian parents still believe it as a good tradition with many benefits for them. Therefore, they forced their daughter to do it.

2.4 Theoretical Framework

To answer the problems which are formulated in the problem formulation, several theories are needed. They are the theory of character, theory of characterization, theory of motivation, and theory of freedom. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 31 Theory of critical approach is employed to determine the most appropriate approach in analysing and interpreting the novel. To answer the third problem, also, two theories are used, namely theory of motivation and theory of freedom. Theory of motivation discusses the types of needs and the hierarchy of needs. Theory of freedom discusses about the definition of freedom, types of freedom and the limitation of human freedom. Related to the theory of freedom, the theory of motivation reveals the factors and the reasons of why someone needs to get their freedom. To discuss the topic further, it is also essential to obtain information about Egypt. Therefore, the explanation about Egypt which covers the twentieth century Egyptian society, Egyptian laws, Egyptian social strata and the Egyptian women on the twentieth century are applied to provide comprehension about the women in Egypt. The explanations are needed to answer the first and second problems. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 32

CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY

This chapter consists of three parts. They are subject of the study, approach of the study and method of the study. The first is the subject of the study which deals with Saadawi’s novel Woman at Point Zero and also the focus of the study. The second is approach of the study that explains the critical approach in analyzing this novel. They are the sociocultural-historical and the psychological approaches. The last is method of the study as the procedure to analyze the study.

3.1 Object of the Study

This study is to analyze a novel entitled Woman at Point Zero. This novel was written by Nawal El-Saadawi. Nawal El-Saadawi is one of the most popular and controversial writers in Egypt. Nawal El-Saadawi’s Woman at Point Zero was originally written in Arabic 1979. It was translated into English by Sherif Hetata. The novel was published nine times. Totally, this novel consists of 103 pages. This novel has brought about a hard criticism about womens inequality in Egypt. In conducting the study, I used the tenth impression which was published in 1999 by Zed Books Ltd. Woman at Point Zero is a novel about the life of Firdaus, a prostitute who is sentenced to death for having killed a pimp in a Cairo street. It tells about Firdauss life from a village childhood to a city prostitute. It also shows the Egyptian society that has affected her controversial act. In the end of the story, Firdaus refuses to sign an appeal to the President that asks for his forgiveness. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI