Institutional Repository | Satya Wacana Christian University: Canting by Arswendo Atmowiloto: The Potrayal of Javanese Patriarchy and Women’s Challenge Towards the Patriarchal System

Abstract
Patriarchy is one of the phenomena that are found in the Javanese society, who believe and
do the patriarchal practices. The inequality between men and women and oppression is the
problem that women must face because of the idea of the men’s authority, and women should
be subject to the authority of men. Canting, a novel written by Arswendo Atmowiloto, is one
of very interesting novels which reflects the phenomena that happen in the society. It portrays
how the patriarchal practices work in Javanese society and the effort from a woman
character, Ni, to fight for her rights as the reaction to the oppression towards her. This study
is aimed to analyze how the novel portrays Javanese patriarchy and how it challenges
Javanese patriarchy through the characters in the novel. Feminist criticism is used to conduct
this research and this novel is analyzed using characters analysis. The finding is that
patriarchy is still a culture that is held by the Javanese society represented by the character
Pak Bei. He becomes the head of the family and thus he rule over his entire family member,
and has the power over his wife’s live to decide everything in her life. Bu Bei, is the victims
of the patriarchal practices. Though, through the character Ni, it shows that within the
oppression of the system, women can fight against the patriarchy, and struggle so that their
lives are not driven by the men authority. Education becomes important factor that brings Ni
to the point where she struggle and protest against the system, to open Ni’s mind to see the
gender unfairness and redefining herself as an equal creature compares to men.
Keywords: Javanese Patriarchy, Feminism, Patriarchal Challenge