GENDER AMBIGUITY AS SEEN IN DAVID LEVITHAN’S EVERY DAY

Abstract

This research is aimed to (1) show how gender ambiguity is portrayed in David Levithan’s Every

Day and (2) find out the implications of gender ambiguity in the novel. Therefore, this research applied queer theory in relation to the representation of same-sex desire and queer in the novel.

To analyze the data, this research used qualitative descriptive content analysis. The data of the research  were  the  expressions  related  to  (1)  gender  ambiguity  and  (2)  the  implications  of  gender ambiguity in the work of David Levithan’s Every Day. The primary instrument of in this research was the

researcher himself while the data sheet functioned as the secondary instrument. To ensure the data trustworthiness, triangulation was applied in this research.

The results of this research show the representation of gender ambiguity in the novel through the main character and the main character love’s experience. A, the main character in the novel, happens to be genderless and has to move from one body into another every day. Because of it, A is able to see many

different lives from many different perspectives, including being a male or female, a man and woman. Furthermore, the story develops since the day A meets the girl named Rhiannon and falls in love with her.

Both of them then encounter so many problems due to their love relation. Although at first Rhiannon cannot believe that this kind of relationship would last long, she finally accepts A for whatever A is. The

study also reveals that there are two implications of gender ambiguity in the novel: distinguishing gender and sex and excluding gender in love relation.

Keywords: gender, gender ambiguity, queer, Every Day, David Levithan