Women's mindset in Indonesian novels in the pre and post-independence era

• Author: Suroso
• Pages: 207-215

207

Vol. 3 No. 2

September, 2017

Balkan Journal of Interdisciplinary Research

IIPCCL Publishing, Graz-Austria

ISSN 2410-759X

Acces online at www.iipccl.org

WomensmindsetinIndonesiannovelsinthepreandpostindependenceera

Suroso

Abstract

This study aims to describe womensmindset in Indonesian novels in the pre and post

independence era related to the characterization represented by the female characters in

terms of how they think how they act and their independence as women The subject of

thisstudyiswomensmindset in Indonesian novels published betweensSeven

samplesofthenovelswereselectedpurposivelyrepresentingtheperiodtheywerepublished

namely Salah Asuhan, Belenggu, Layar Terkembang, Pada Sebuah Kapal, Keluarga Permana, Burung-

Burung Manyar, and Bekisar MerahThe datawere collectedby readingand recordingThey

wereanalysedbyusingcontentanalysismethodTheresultsshowthatwomeninIndonesian

novelsaresmartemancipatedwomentakingroleasprofessionalcareerwomenanddesiring

genderequalityor equalstatusbetweenmenandwomenboth athomeand insocietyThey

criticizethedominanceofmeninhouseholdandinsocietyHistoricalfactsshowthatwomens

participation in the society and in the state has existed long ago, both in the pre-colonial and

post-colonial era.

KeywordsmindsetwomenIndonesiannovel

Introduction

Nowadayswomenincreasinglyhaveimportantrolesindeveloping theircountries

Many ideas related to national progress are born from women In the context of

IndonesiathereisabigjumpofwomenrolesinthestateTheelectionofMegawati

SoekarnoPutriasthehpresidentaerthefallofPresidentAbdurrahmanWahid

GusDurbytheMPRtheappointmentofseveralwomenministerssuchasMinister

of Maritime Aairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti Finance Minister Sri Mulyani

IndrawatiandfemaleactivistKhofahIndarParawansatobecomeSocialMinisterin

governmentshowagreatappreciationfor Indonesianwomen inthe governmental

eldNeverthelesstheexistenceideasandthoughtsofIndonesianwomenhavenot

beenfullyrecognizedinthesocietyTheyarestillconsideredmalesubordinates

InthehistoryofIndonesiainHinduBuddhisterawomeninthepreandpostcolonial

erahadmanyimportantrolesasaqueenprimeministeradmiralwarherofemale

activistand ghterAfewexamplesare QueenShima intheKingdom ofKalingga

andSyriJayanatungggawayaofMedangKingdomInadditiontherearewarheroes

suchasNyiAgengSerangMarthaKristinaTiahahuTjutNyakDienandmovement

guressuchasNyiAhmadDahlanDewiSartikaRAKartini

aswellasmanyotherfemalemovementguresinIndonesiaRegarding

therolesofwomentheresearchconductedbyHelwigillustratestheimageof

womeninIndonesiannovelsincolonialandpostcolonialeraTheauthordescribes

carefullyaboutherbackgroundandworldviewuponthemeaningofbeingaJavanese

whichinuencethewayshedevelopsthefemalecharacters

InIndonesianliteraturetheworldviewuponwomenisdividedintotwocategories

Therst oneisthe rolesof womenseenfrom theirbiological naturewifemother