A FEMINIST ANALYSIS ON WOMEN’S STRUGGLES IN BREAKING GENDER INEQUALITY AS SEEN IN NEVIL SHUTE'S A TOWN LIKE ALICE

Abstract

Abstract

This research is aimed (1) to describe the kinds of gender inequality which are experienced by women, and (2) to explain the struggles of the women in breaking gender inequality in Nevil Shute’s A Town Like Alice. A qualitative content analysis method was used to conduct the research. The data of the research were the phrases, clauses, and sentences related to the kinds of gender inequality experienced by women, and the struggles of the women in breaking gender inequality in the novel. To ensure the data trustworthiness, peer debriefing was applied in this research. The trustworthiness of the data was gained through conducting peer debriefing that was applied through the researcher’s supervisor as the expert along with two students majoring English Literature Study Program. The first result of this research shows that there are four kinds of gender inequality practice experienced by women found in the novel. The practices of gender inequality analyzed in the novel are marginalization, subordination, stereotype, and violence which are experienced by women in the novel. The second result is the struggles done by women in breaking gender inequality, namely by expressing opinion, boosting self-esteem, establishing sisterhood, refusing to get married, and having a career in public sphere.

Keywords: gender inequality, feminism, feminist literary criticism, women, struggle.