An Analysis of the Main Female Character’s Efforts in John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath

Abstract

This research aims (1) to identify the main female character’s problems in her family related to gender roles; (2) to analyze her struggles in gaining equal roles in her family, and (3) to reveal the significant meanings behind  her  struggles.  This  research  was  a  descriptive-qualitative  study.  The  subject  of  this  research  was

Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. The primary data of this research were expressions in words, phrases, clauses,

sentences, and paragraph related to gender discrimination and stereotypes in the novel. The supporting data were

obtained from some sources, such as books, articles, and journals, related to gender discrimination, women’s stereotypes, and feminism. In collecting data, read-write technique was used. The data analysis was conducted using feminism approach. Trustworthiness was used to achieve dependability, conformability, transferability, and credibility. The results of this research show three important points. First, there are two gender problems experienced by Ma Joad: gender discrimination and stereotypes. Related to gender discrimination, there are three forms of gender discrimination: being prohibited to help her husband in leading family, being prohibited to share her opinion in family discussion, and being prohibited to take men’s duties. There are also two forms of women’s stereotypes; women are emotional and women are fearful. Second, there are five efforts done by the main character to face gender discrimination and stereotypes; taking an opportunity from Pa’s inability to lead the family, re- considering her husband’s decisions, actively participating in public sphere, having logical reasons in her orders and decisions, and having bravery to challenge men. Third, the significant meanings being her efforts are that women can participate in public sector which proves that women can take men’s roles, and women cannot be regarded as subordinate to men.

Keywords : feminism, gender discrimination, women’s efforts, The Grapes of Wrath.