equality are also the ones who perpetuate gender discrimination. She asserts that “by naming sexism as the problem it went directly to the heart of the
matter. Practically, it is a definition which implies that all sexist thinking and action is the problem, whether those who perpetuate it are female or male,
child or adult”. Beyond many various definitions of feminism, what can be concluded is
that since feminism deals with gender discrimination, its goal is to end the discrimination and gain equality between men and women. To end the
discrimination and change the situation which is unfavorable to women, people should understand that factors constructing and perpetuating gender
inequality are not only men, but also women. This is in line with what Hooks 2000:ix says that “we need to be clear that we are all participants in
perpetuating sexism until we change our minds and hearts, until we let go of sexist thought and action and replace it with feminist thought and action.”
a. Feminism in literature
Literature is a creative form of writing which reflects and mirrors human experience Abrams, 2000:51. A work of literature is a response to the
problems of human existence and fate including discrimination against women. For centuries, feminists continue to voice their perspectives about
equality of women and men through literary works. Within their works, either fiction or nonfiction,
feminists explore the histories and stories of women‟s lives.
Morris 1993:7 states that literature gives people a powerful insight about the disadvantages that women get from society. The imaginative ways
of lit erary works in portraying women‟s lives can increase people‟s
indignation at the problem of gender and it will help to stop it. In addition, positive images of women which are crafted by feminist writers can be used to
raise women‟s self-esteem. In other words, literature can open the world‟s eyes about unequal treatment women experience and inspire women to fight
for their rights. Due to the fact that literature can portray the problems of humankind and
at the same time can inspire people, feminists use literature as a medium to spread feminist movement. Therefore, a theory which is widely known as
feminist literary criticism emerges with the focus on the analysis towards women in literature.
b. Feminist Literary Criticism
According to Cuddon 1999:315, feminist literary criticism is an attempt to
evaluate women‟s lives and experiences which are portrayed in any kind of literature, such as novel, drama and poetry. It questions male domination
within literature, criticizes men‟s representations and male authors, and
privilages female writers. Furthermore, it also challenge women‟s images that
have been created by male writers. In the history of literature, men have brought literature into their own
world. Male authors made the images of women based on their perceptions;
