DIANTHA’S STRUGGLES IN PURSUING WOMEN’S EMANCIPATION IN GILMAN’S WHAT DIANTHA DID

摘要

The objectives of this research are (1) to analyze the problems that Diantha faces in pursuing women’s emancipation in society, and (2) to reveal how Diantha encounters the problems she faces when she struggles in pursuing women’s emancipation. The researcher uses feminist literary criticism and some supporting theories to answer the formulated research questions. udThe method used in this research is qualitative content analysis. The subject of this research is a novel entitled What Diantha Did by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. The data were some phrases, clauses, and sentences related to problems Diantha faces in pursuing women’s emancipation and her struggles to encounter the problems. The data analysis was conducted through four steps: identifying, reading and re-reading, interpreting, and categorizing the data. To gain the trustworthiness, the researcher used data triangulation technique by crosschecking the data with her consultants and other researchers. udThe findings of the research show the problems Diantha faces in pursuing women’s emancipation. The first problem is women’s economic marginalization consisting of: women are not allowed to run a business, and women only undertake feminine works. The second problem is women’s subordination consisting of: limitation of ideas and limitation of mobility. The third problem is women’s stereotyping: women are dependent, women do not need money, and women are incapable. The last problem is women’s workloads: women are in charge of housework although they work outside. The struggles that Diantha performs to encounter the problems are strengthening herself, moving to other places that is conducive, bonding sisterhood by establishing women’s clubs and educating women through the clubs, and building a company.