Woman's Problems And The Struggles Against Man Domination As Reflected In The Color Purple

CHAPTER II

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

2.1 Background of Feminism

Human civilization is made by and for both the man and woman. They both live here in a coordinated social system. Both the species have their own right and needs to live with modest admiration. But the history of human society does not tell us the equivalent existence of both man and woman. Man always dominate on women and women had no way to complaint against it. But in time gradually a change come into women’s brains and they understood that they need to be conscious about their own right. So women move up their voice against women oppression. To do so they had no way but to take some practical actions. All these actions are known as women’s movement against oppression. And the scheme to achieve the goal is called feminism.

Women’s position was changed in various times in the history. Their position did not flow in the same current at all the time. Today oppressed, suffered, violated, ignored. Dominated and so on negative terms are often used to describe women’s position in society. But if we look back to our history, we will get an elegant and striking story of women when women played as significant role as played by men now. And at time we have to confess that women did not give any pressure on men and men live a fair and free life like now they do. Probably this kindness let the men to alter the ruling system and to take over the power from women and turn the free and lively women into their subject. Men put their own made system in such a

way that it seems the women are by nature and from the beginning of the history were in this oppressed and subjugated position.

French philosopher “Rousseau” in his book Social Contract (Book I : Chapter II )said “Man is born free, but everywhere they are in chains” This comment is completely true for women in society. By nature women born free, but continue their life as a subject of men in society.

How the free and lively women turn into men’s subject, how their relation to men positioned against nature, how women become inferior to men is some unanswered questions in society which have no clear and dependable evidence. In almost all the civilizations women gradually lost their power and men took the power. Men turned all in one in the society. Men did it by a special social system known as patriarchy.

Patriarchy is such a type of society where male control of the public and private worlds and everything done according his will. Patriarchy is the structuring of society on the basis of welfare of the family and have the authority of his family. The concept of patriarchy is often used by extension (i the expectation that

The word patriarchy comes from twpatēr (father) and archē (rule). In Greek, thepatēr is patr-os, which shows the Greek word archē is actually "beginning" (hence

first words ofEn archē ("In the beginning"). However, archē is also use things.

Different scholars defines Patriarchy from their own point of view. Allan G. Johnson said in his ‘The Gender knot’ (1997, 2005: 14) that - “Patriarchy is an obsession with control as a core value around which social life is organized. As with any system of privilege that elevates one group by oppressing another, control is an essential element of patriarchy: men maintain their privilege by controlling women and anyone else who might threaten it.” Elizabeth Cady station said in her ‘The Women’s Bible’ (1895) that - “Women was made after man, of man and, for man, an inferior being, subject to man.” Sylvia Walby said in her ‘Theorizing Patriarchy’ (1990 : 19) that -“A system of social structures and practices in which men dominate, oppress and exploit women.”

Patriarchy create such a social environment where all manly behavior e.g. – assertiveness, aggressiveness, hardiness, rationality or ability to think analytically and abstractly, ability to control emotion, high ambition, independence are considered as positive for social development, beneficial and control. On the other hand all feminine traits e.g. – gently, modesty, humanity, sportiness, sympathy, compassionateness, tenderness, naturalness, sensitivity, intuitiveness, emotionality, dependence are considered as negative, faulty and against social development, control and stability. Developing a gender difference in society and putting men in higher position than women patriarchy established a false concept that, men should be the leader in society and women should stay under men’s subjugation, this system

is good for society as its definitely defined by nature and the natural relationship between men and women.

2.2

First-wave feminism refers to a period of "first-wave," was coined retrospectively after the term to be used to describe a newer feminist movement that focused as much on fighting social and cultural inequalities as further political inequalities. In Suffragettes campaigned for the women's vote, which was eventually granted − to some women in 1918 and to all in 1928 − as much because of the part played by British women during the the championing women's right to vote. Other important leaders include range of women, some belonging to conservative Christian groups (such as diversity and radicalism of much of Anthony, which Stanton was president). In the to have ended with the passage of the

2.3

Second-wave feminism refers to a period of early 1960s & lasting through the late 1980s. Second Wave Feminism has existed continuously since then, and continues to coexist with what some people call Third Wave Feminism. The second wave feminism saw cultural and political inequalities as inextricably linked. The movement encouraged women to understand aspects of their own personal lives as deeply politicized, and reflective of a power. If first-wave feminism focused upon absolute rights such as suffrage, second-wave feminism was largely concerned with other issues of equality, such as the end to discrimination.

The Third-wave of feminism began in the early 1990s. The movement arose as responses to perceived failures of the second-wave. It was also a response to the backlash against initiatives and movements created by the second-wave. Third-wave feminism seeks to challenge or avoid what it deems the second wave's definitions of experiences of upper middle class white women. A of gender and sexuality is central too much of the third wave's ideology. Third wave feminists often focus on "micro-politics," and challenged the second wave's paradigm as to what is, or is not, good for females. In 1991, Anita Hill accused Clarence Thomas, an African-American man nominated to the Supreme Court, of sexual harassment that had allegedly occurred a decade earlier while Hill worked as his assistant at the U.S. Department of Education. Thomas denied the accusations and after extensive debate, the Senate voted 52-48 in favor of Thomas. In response to

this case, Rebecca Walker published an article in a 1992 issue of Ms. titled "Becoming the Third Wave" in which she stated, "I am not a post-feminism feminist. I am the third wave." Hill and Thomas’ case brought attention to the ongoing presence of sexual harassment in the workplace and reinstated a sense of concern and awareness in many people who assumed that sexual harassment and other second wave issues had been resolved. The history of Third Wave feminism predates this and begins in the mid 1980s. Feminist leaders rooted in the second wave like voice. They sought to negotiate prominent space within feminist thought for consideration of race related subjectivities. This focus on the intersection between race and gender remained prominent through the Hill-Thomas hearings, but began to shift with the Freedom Ride 1992. This drive to register voters in poor minority communities was surrounded with rhetoric that focused on rallying young feminists. For many, the rallying of the young is the emphasis that has stuck within third wave feminism.

2.5 The History of Feminist Theory

A feminist is to advocate or to support the right and equality of women. Hooks, Bell. (2000). Feminism is for Everybody: Passionate Politics. Pluto Press. Feminist theory is the extension of feminism into theoretical or philosophical fields. It encompasses work in a variety of disciplines, including anthropology, sociology, economics, women's studies, literary criticism, art history, psychoanalysis and philosophy. Feminist theory aims to understand gender inequality and focuses on gender politics, power relations, women's rights and sexuality.

The history of differed in causes, goals, and intentions depending on time, culture, and country, most Western feminist historians assert that all movements that work to obtain (or do not) apply the term to themselves.

Nancy Cott draws a distinction between modern feminism and its antecedents, particularly the struggle for suffrage. In the United States she places the turning point in the decades before and after women obtained the vote in 1920 (1910-1930). She argues that the prior woman movement was primarily about woman as a primarily concerned with social differentiation, attentive diversity. New issues dealt more with woman's condition as a gender identity, and relationships within and between genders. Politically this represented a shift from an ideological alignment comfortable with the right, to one more radically associated with the left. In the immediate postwar per provided a Deuxième Sex than activist, she did sign one of the Movement de Liberation des Femmes manifestos. The resurgence of feminist activism in the late 1960s was accompanied by an emerging literature of what might be considered female associated issues, such as concerns for the earth and spirituality, and environmental activism. This in turn created an atmosphere conducive to reigniting the study of and debate on

Matricentricity, as a rejection of of capitalis having a number of phases. The first she calls "feminist critique" - where the feminist reader examines the ideologies behind literary phenomena. The second Showalter calls "the language; the trajectory of the individual or collective female literary career [and] inscription and the literary effects of the model has been criticized by account of the situation for women outside the west.

2.6 Theory of Feminism

Feminism is a collection of movements and ideologies that share a common goal: to define, establish, and achieve equal political, economic, cultural, personal, and social rights for women. This includes seeking to establish equal opportunities for women in education and employment (Hawkesworth, 2006:25-27 ; Bealey 1999:3-11). Or we can say that feminism is a process that aims to create a better relationship between both genders to improve and better to the society (Nugroho, 2008:61). Mary Wollstonecraft, the first feminist who wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792), encourages woman writers to insert feminism in their literary works. Finally, feminism has been widely spreading.

Feminism is defined diferent by different feminist. They define feminism according their own point of view. As they think differently so their definition too is different from others. But all the definition is almost same in the main point. Here the writer is going to put some definition of the most popular feminist in the world.

• Estelle B. Freedman (2003:285) said in his book ‘No Turning Back’: “Feminism is a belief that women and men are inherently of equal worth. Because most societies privilege men as a group, social movements are necessary to achieve equality between woman and man.”

• Rosalind Delmar (1986:13) said in her book ‘What is feminism’ that :“Feminism is usually defined as an active desire to change women’s position in society.”

• Christina Hoff Sommers (1994: 22) said, in the book ‘Who Stole Feminism’ that : “a concern for women and a determination to see them fairly treated” • Ratna (2004:184): "Dalam pengertian yang paling luas, feminisme adalah

gerakan kaum wanita untuk menolak segala sesuatu yang dimarginalisasikan, disubordinasikan, dan direndahkan oleh kebudayaan dominan, baik dalam bidang politik dan ekonomi maupun kehidupan social pada umumnya." (In its broadest sense, feminism is a women’s movement which rejects the marginal, subordinated and underestimated things by the dominating culture either in politics, economics or social life in general). • Awuy (2002:1) in his essay Feminisme di Persimpangan Jalan states:

"Feminisme merupakan sebuah fenomena kultural. alasan kemunculannya ialah berdasarkan ketidakpuasan terhadap realitas yang dianggap sebagai

konstruksi patriarkal". (Feminism is a cultural phenomenon of unsatisfactory to the reality of patriarchal construction).

From above definitions it’s clear to us that feminism is a doctrine, a thought, a movement that tell us the oppressed position of women in the world, it is such a philosophy in where women’s worked are valued and their political, economic and social rights are preserved. Feminism is for women’s equality in world. It let the women to prove their power to work in the same rhythm of men in society.

Feminism has altered predominant perspective in a wide range of areas within Western society, ranging from culture to law. Feminist activists have campaigned for women's legal right (rights of contract, property rights, voting rights); for protection of women and girls from domestic violence, sexual harassment and rape; for workplace rights, including maternity leave and equal pay; and against other forms of gender-specific discrimination against women. Simone de Beauvoir wrote that " The first time we see a woman take up her pen in defense of her "sex" was Christine de Pizan who wrote Epitre au Dieu d'Amour (Epistle to the God of Love) in 15th century. Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa and Modesta di Pozzo di Forzi worked in the 16 century. Marie Le Jars de Gournay, Anne Bradstreet and Francois Poullain de la Barre wrote during the 17th ".

2.7 Types of Feminism

Feminist ideology have developed over the years. They vary in goals, strategies, and affiliation. They often overlap, and some feminists identify themselves with several branches of feminist thought. There are liberal feminism, radical feminism, socialist feminism, Marxist feminism, cultural feminism,

multiracial feminism, post-colonial feminism, third-world feminism, new age feminism, post-structural feminism, post-modern feminism, etc. But in this thesis, the writer only use three types of feminism in analyzing the problem of Celie; the main character in " The Color Purple". They are liberal feminism, radical feminism, multiracial feminism and socialist feminism which the definition of each will be explained below.

2.7.1 Liberal Feminism

Liberal feminism asserts the equality of men and women through political and legal reform. It is an individualistic form of feminism, which focuses on women's ability to show and maintain their equality through their own action and choices. Liberal feminism uses the personal interactions between men and women as the place from which to transform society. According to liberal feminists, all women are capable of asserting their ability to achieve equality, therefore it is possible for change to happen without altering the structure of society. Issues important to liberal feminists include reproductive and abortion rights, sexual harassment, voting, educati bringing to light the frequency of sexual and domestic violence against women.

2.7.2 Radical Feminism

Radical Feminism considers the male-controlle describes as sexist, as the defining feature of women's oppression. Radical feminists believe that women can free themselves only when they have done away with what they consider an inherently oppressive and dominating patriarchal system. Radical feminists feel that there is a male-based authority and power structure and that it is

responsible for oppression and inequality, and that, as long as the system and its values are in place, society will not be able to be reformed in any significant way. Some radical feminists see no alternatives other than the total uprooting and reconstruction of society in order to achieve their goals.

2.7.3 Socialist and Marxist Feminism

exploitation, oppression and labor. Socialist feminism is a branch of feminism that focuses upon both the public and private spheres of a woman's life and argues that liberation can only be achieved by working to end both the economic and cultural sources of women's oppression. Socialist feminists think unequal standing in both the workplace and the domestic sphere holds women down. Socialist feminists see prostitution, domestic work, childcare, and marriage as ways in which women are exploited by a patriarchal system that devalues women and the substantial work they do. Socialist feminists focus their energies on far-reaching change that affects society as a whole, rather than on an individual basis. They see the need to work alongside not just men but all other groups, as they see the oppression of women as a part of a larger pattern that affects everyone involved in the capitalist system.

2.8 Woman's Problems as Reflected in Celie

We use the word problem to describe a wide range of situation of different importance. Problem can be defined as a matter or situation regarded as unwelcome or harmful and needing to be dealt with and overcome. Problem also can be defined broadly as situations in which we experience uncertainty or difficulty in achieving what we want to achieve or those where the current situation is not what was

expected. In this thesis will be analized about woman's problems as reflected in Celie, the main character of The Color Purple which her problems are focused on her sexual abuse, physical abuse, psychological abuse, and lack of education.

The use of physical force or or against a group or community, which either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, male development, or deprivation", but acknowledges that the inclusion of "the use of power" in its definition expands on the conventional meaning of the word. This definition involves intentionality with the committing of the act itself, irrespective of the outcome it produces. However, generally, anything that is excited in an injurious or damaging way may be described as violent even if not meant to be violence (by a person and against a person).

There are nine distinct forms of violence and abuse: Physical violence, Sexual violence, Emotional violence, Psychological violence, Spiritual violence, Cultural violence, Verbal abuse, Financial abuse, and neglect. But in this thesis will only discuss about the sexual abuse, physical abuse, and psychological abuse associated with Celie's problem which the definition of each will be explained below:

Sexual violence is unwanted sexual activity, with perpetrators using force, making threats or taking advantage of victims not able to give consent. Most victims and perpetrators know each other. Immediate reactions to sexual abuse include shock, fear or disbelief. Long-term symptoms include anxiety, fear or post-traumatic stress disorder. While efforts to treat sex offenders remain unpromising, psychological interventions for survivors especially group therapy appears effective.

Physical violence is an act of a person involving contact of another person intended to cause feelings of

Psychological abuse which also referred to emotional abuse or mental abuse is a form of abuse characterized by a person subjecting or exposing another to behavior that may result in psychological trauma.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_abuse)

2.9 Hermeneutics Theory

Hermeneutics is the theory of text interpretation, especially the interpretation of very different approaches to social explanation since the nineteenth century, and they differ most fundamentally over a distinction between explanation and understanding or cause and meaning (von Wright 1971). This distinction divides over two ways of understanding a why question when it comes to social events. Why did it happen? may mean : what caused it to happen? or it may mean : why did the agents act in such a way to bring it about?.

The hermeneutic approach holds that the most basic fact of social life is the meaning of an action. Social life is constituted by social actions, and actions are meaningful to the actors and to the other social participants. Moreover, subsequent actions are oriented towards the meanings of prior actions; so understanding the later action requires that we have an interpretation of the meanings that various participants assign to their own actions and those of others. So the social sciences (or

the human sciences) need to be hermeneutic. researchers need to devote their attention to the interpretation of the meanings of social actions.

konstruksi patriarkal". (Feminism is a cultural phenomenon of unsatisfactory to the reality of patriarchal construction).

From above definitions it’s clear to us that feminism is a doctrine, a thought, a movement that tell us the oppressed position of women in the world, it is such a philosophy in where women’s worked are valued and their political, economic and social rights are preserved. Feminism is for women’s equality in world. It let the women to prove their power to work in the same rhythm of men in society.

Feminism has altered predominant perspective in a wide range of areas within Western society, ranging from culture to law. Feminist activists have campaigned for women's legal right (rights of contract, property rights, voting rights); for protection of women and girls from domestic violence, sexual harassment and rape; for workplace rights, including maternity leave and equal pay; and against other forms of gender-specific discrimination against women. Simone de Beauvoir wrote that " The first time we see a woman take up her pen in defense of her "sex" was Christine de Pizan who wrote Epitre au Dieu d'Amour (Epistle to the God of Love) in 15th century. Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa and Modesta di Pozzo di Forzi worked in the 16 century. Marie Le Jars de Gournay, Anne Bradstreet and Francois Poullain de la Barre wrote during the 17th ".

2.7 Types of Feminism

Feminist ideology have developed over the years. They vary in goals, strategies, and affiliation. They often overlap, and some feminists identify themselves with several branches of feminist thought. There are liberal feminism, radical feminism, socialist feminism, Marxist feminism, cultural feminism,

multiracial feminism, post-colonial feminism, third-world feminism, new age feminism, post-structural feminism, post-modern feminism, etc. But in this thesis, the writer only use three types of feminism in analyzing the problem of Celie; the main character in " The Color Purple". They are liberal feminism, radical feminism, multiracial feminism and socialist feminism which the definition of each will be explained below.

2.7.1 Liberal Feminism

Liberal feminism asserts the equality of men and women through political and legal reform. It is an individualistic form of feminism, which focuses on women's ability to show and maintain their equality through their own action and choices. Liberal feminism uses the personal interactions between men and women as the place from which to transform society. According to liberal feminists, all women are capable of asserting their ability to achieve equality, therefore it is possible for change to happen without altering the structure of society. Issues important to liberal feminists include reproductive and abortion rights, sexual harassment, voting, educati bringing to light the frequency of sexual and domestic violence against women.

2.7.2 Radical Feminism

Radical Feminism considers the male-controlle describes as sexist, as the defining feature of women's oppression. Radical feminists believe that women can free themselves only when they have done away with what they consider an inherently oppressive and dominating patriarchal system. Radical feminists feel that there is a male-based authority and power structure and that it is

responsible for oppression and inequality, and that, as long as the system and its values are in place, society will not be able to be reformed in any significant way. Some radical feminists see no alternatives other than the total uprooting and reconstruction of society in order to achieve their goals.

2.7.3 Socialist and Marxist Feminism

exploitation, oppression and labor. Socialist feminism is a branch of feminism that focuses upon both the public and private spheres of a woman's life and argues that liberation can only be achieved by working to end both the economic and cultural sources of women's oppression. Socialist feminists think unequal standing in both the workplace and the domestic sphere holds women down. Socialist feminists see prostitution, domestic work, childcare, and marriage as ways in which women are exploited by a patriarchal system that devalues women and the substantial work they do. Socialist feminists focus their energies on far-reaching change that affects society as a whole, rather than on an individual basis. They see the need to work alongside not just men but all other groups, as they see the oppression of women as a part of a larger pattern that affects everyone involved in the capitalist system.

2.8 Woman's Problems as Reflected in Celie

We use the word problem to describe a wide range of situation of different importance. Problem can be defined as a matter or situation regarded as unwelcome or harmful and needing to be dealt with and overcome. Problem also can be defined broadly as situations in which we experience uncertainty or difficulty in achieving what we want to achieve or those where the current situation is not what was

expected. In this thesis will be analized about woman's problems as reflected in Celie, the main character of The Color Purple which her problems are focused on her sexual abuse, physical abuse, psychological abuse, and lack of education.

The use of physical force or or against a group or community, which either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, male development, or deprivation", but acknowledges that the inclusion of "the use of power" in its definition expands on the conventional meaning of the word. This definition involves intentionality with the committing of the act itself, irrespective of the outcome it produces. However, generally, anything that is excited in an injurious or damaging way may be described as violent even if not meant to be violence (by a person and against a person).

There are nine distinct forms of violence and abuse: Physical violence, Sexual violence, Emotional violence, Psychological violence, Spiritual violence, Cultural violence, Verbal abuse, Financial abuse, and neglect. But in this thesis will only discuss about the sexual abuse, physical abuse, and psychological abuse associated with Celie's problem which the definition of each will be explained below:

Sexual violence is unwanted sexual activity, with perpetrators using force, making threats or taking advantage of victims not able to give consent. Most victims and perpetrators know each other. Immediate reactions to sexual abuse include shock, fear or disbelief. Long-term symptoms include anxiety, fear or post-traumatic stress disorder. While efforts to treat sex offenders remain unpromising, psychological interventions for survivors especially group therapy appears effective.

Physical violence is an act of a person involving contact of another person intended to cause feelings of

Psychological abuse which also referred to emotional abuse or mental abuse is a form of abuse characterized by a person subjecting or exposing another to behavior that may result in psychological trauma.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_abuse)

2.9 Hermeneutics Theory

Hermeneutics is the theory of text interpretation, especially the interpretation of very different approaches to social explanation since the nineteenth century, and they differ most fundamentally over a distinction between explanation and understanding or cause and meaning (von Wright 1971). This distinction divides over two ways of understanding a why question when it comes to social events. Why did it happen? may mean : what caused it to happen? or it may mean : why did the agents act in such a way to bring it about?.

The hermeneutic approach holds that the most basic fact of social life is the meaning of an action. Social life is constituted by social actions, and actions are meaningful to the actors and to the other social participants. Moreover, subsequent actions are oriented towards the meanings of prior actions; so understanding the later action requires that we have an interpretation of the meanings that various participants assign to their own actions and those of others. So the social sciences (or

the human sciences) need to be hermeneutic. researchers need to devote their attention to the interpretation of the meanings of social actions.