ABSTRACT
Winarni, An Analysis of Gender Discrimination On The Four Main
Characters In The Novel Banat Al- Riyadh. A Thesis. Jakarta: English Letter Department, Faculty of Adab and Humanities, State Islamic University (UIN) Syarif Hidayatullah, April, 2010.
In this research, the writer analyzes a novel titled The Girls of Riyadh (English version) and written by a Saudi Arabian girl, Rajaa Al Sanea. The purpose of this research is to know how women in Saudi Arabia are treated by the society and culture through the gender discrimination as it has been described in The Girls of Riyadh. The research focuses on two problems: first, gender discrimination experienced by the four main characters. And the second, the four main characters’ attitudes toward the gender discrimination. The novel carefully and accurately analyzed using the theory of gender and kind of gender discrimination as a response to research problem and also the theory of feminism to see how women’s resistance toward discrimination.
APPROVEMNET
AN ANALYSIS OF GENDER DISCRIMINATION ON THE FOUR MAJOR CHARACTERS IN NOVEL BANAT AL-RIYADH
A Thesis
Submitted In The Faculty of Adab and Humanities in Partial Fulfillment Requirements for Strata One Degree (S1)
Winarni NIM: 105026000960
Approved by:
Advisor,
M. Supardi, M. Hum
ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF ADAB AND HUMANITIES
STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITIES (UIN) SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH
JAKARTA
LEGALIZATION
Name : Winarni
Nim : 105026000960
Title : An Analysis of Gender Discrimination on The Four Main
Characters in the Novel Banat Al- Riyadh (The Girls of Riyadh).
The thesis has been defended before the Adab and Humanities Faculty’s Examination Committee on. The thesis has already been accepted as a partial fulfillment of the requirement for Strata One Degree (S1).
Jakarta, June 17th 2010
Examination Committee
Signature Date
1. Dr. Muhammad Farkhan, M.Pd (Chair Person)
NIP: 19650919 200003 1 002
2. Drs. Asep Saefuddin, M.Pd (Secretary)
NIP: 19640710 199303 1 006
3. Muhammad Supardi, M. Hum (Advisor)
4. Drs. Asep Saefuddin, M.Pd (Examiner I)
NIP: 19640710 199303 1 006
5. Elve Oktafiyani, M. Hum (Examiner II)
DECLARATION
I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or written by another person nor material which to a substantial extent has been accepted for the award of any other or diploma of the universities or other institute of higher learning, except where due acknowledgement has been made in the text.
Jakarta, June 17th 2010
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
In the name of Allah, the most Gracious and the most Merciful
First of all, the writer would be especially grateful to Allah SWT, the Lord of the Heavens and the Lord of the Earth, there is no God but Him; and only in His mercy we seek succor. Peace and salutation to the Greatest Prophet Muhammad SAW, the Messenger of God, to His family, His companions and His adherents.
In this opportunity, the writer wants to express her heartfelt thanks to all people who have been helped her. The writer really thankful for their help, supports, suggestions, patience, and prays so that the writer can finish this thesis.
The writer would like to say her appreciation to:
1. Prof. Dr. Komaruddin Hidayat, MA, The Rector of State Islamic University (UIN) Syarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta.
2. Dr. H. Abdul Wahid Hasyim, MA, The Dean of Faculty of Adab and Humanieties.
3. Dr. M. Farkhan, M. Pd, The Head of English Letters Department.
5. M. Supardi, M. Hum, The Advisor, thank you for his time and suggestion and also his patience in guiding the writer.
6. And for all the lectures, thank you for the shared knowledge.
The writer’s special thank is dedicated to her parents who always encouraged her to finish this thesis, especially for her beloved tough mother ever. Her mother is the shining example for the writer to be a hard worker like her. Thank you so much for their support whether financial and morality support to the writer.
For her 2bis family, the motherly Dede, the rebellious Dhian, the slowae Prisca, the kind-hearted Emma, and the panic Eiyk (same with the writer) the writer is very happy to be gathered around with the crazy and wild girls like them! The writer hopes that the friendship is everlasting. And also for all her friends in BSI B class. Thank you.
A big thanks also dedicated to the writer’s soul mate, Nurhijrah. S. Thanks to God for sending him to the writer’s life. Thank you for his motivation and suggestion, and thanks for his believing that the writer can complete this paper.
CONTENT
ABSTRACT ... i
APPROVEMENT ... ii
LEGALIZATION ... iii
DECLARATION ... iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ... v
CONTENT ... vi
CHAPTER I- INTRODUCTION ... 1
1. Background of the Study ... 1
2. Focus of the Study ... 7
3. Research Question ... 7
4. Objective of the Study ... 7
5. Significant of the Study ... 7
6. Research Methodology ... 8
CHAPTER II-THEORITICAL FRAMEWORK ... 10
A. Definition of Sex and Gender ... 10
B. The Form of Gender Discrimination ... 11
1. Marginalization ... 14
2. Subordination ... 15
3. Stereotype ... 15
5. Job segregation ... 17
C. Feminism ... 18
1. The Definition of Feminism ... 18
2. Liberal Feminism ... 18
D. Woman’s right in Culture of Saudi Arabia ... 19
CHAPTER III-RESEARCH FINDINGS ... 24
A....G ender Discrimination on the Main Characters ... 25
1. Marginalization ... 25
2. Subordination ... 26
3. Stereotype ... 33
4. Violence against women ... 37
a. Physical Violence ... 38
b. Emotional or Psychological Violence ... 40
5. Job segregation ... 42
B...C haracters’ Attitude Toward Discrimination ... 43
CHAPTER IV-CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION ... 50
A. Conclusion ... 50
B. Suggestion ... 52
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Basically, human being can be differed as men and women sexually. The difference of human being as women and men is a God’s will of course. This condition cannot be changed and it is a permanent. But in fact, in society perception, if someone has attributed to women or men, it will affect at the
difference of role in social life.
The difference of gender happened caused by the order, tradition and the interrelation between masculine and feminine. These all cause the division of power between men and women, and then it can impact to other social life. For example, grows a myth that men have higher position than women because men are considered have more intelligent approach, strong, and they are not emotional.1 Besides, the patriarchal culture (power reside in men) also caused loss to women. Men hold special role in society because in assuming, they are stronger, productive and potential, whereas women who have production organ, in assuming to weaken, less potential and is unproductive.
1
Some factors which trigger appearance of women and men stereotype in dissociation of sector public and domestic for example is patriarchal culture which embraces some nation in the world such as in Arab world. Patriarchy is a social system in which the father or eldest male is head of the household, having authority over women and children. Patriarchy also refers to government system by males and to the dominance of men in social or cultural systems. It may also include title being traced through the male line.
Patriarchy is inclined in application of the view of life which predominated by men dominated), determined by men (male-identified), and centre on men (male-centered). The characteristic of this culture is its entirely sustaining each other to build this culture and also institutionalizing, so it becomes the base for the public motion space and the view of life in general2
Women in the Arab world have throughout history experienced discrimination and have been the subject of the restrictions of their freedoms and rights. Some of these practices are based on religious beliefs, but many of the limitations are cultural and emanate from tradition rather than religion.
Based on the reasons mentioned above, in the early of nineteenth century there was a movement from women to increase women dignity, which claimed for the equality of rights between women and men. For the first time
2
the word ‘feminism’ appeared to represent their movement. Feminism is the belief in the right of women to have political, social, and economic equality with men. There are some definitions about feminism, such as from Kamla Bhasin Ahmad and Night Said Khan (1955:5) describe that feminism is “an awareness of extortion and grind will to women in society at workplace and in family and also conscious action by men and women to alter the situation”.3
The term feminism can be used to describe a political, cultural or economic movement aimed at establishing equal rights and legal protection for women. Feminism involves political, cultural and sociological theories, as well as philosophical theories concerned with issues of gender difference. It is also a movement that advocates gender equality for women and campaigns for women's rights and interests.4
In this paper, the writer is interested to analyze one of the Islamic novels entitled The Girls of Riyadh. Written originally in Arabic, titled “Banat al Riyadh” is written by Rajaa Al Sanea. Al Sanea’s book follows the lives of four close school friends as they marry, get divorced and become mothers. It contains about kind of gender discrimination experienced by them and their feminist idea against the conservative culture which is very restrictive to women. What the novel speaks about are traditions that are not part of Shari’a and have simply hampered their way of life to the point that they have resulted
3
Tim Penulis PSW UIN Jakarta, Pengantar Kajian Gender. (Jakarta: PSW UIN Jakarta), p.60
4
in the misery and suffering of people in society. The novel describes four Saudi girls who are studying at the university in Riyadh, the Capital of Saudi Arabia. Their names are Sadeem, Gamrah, Lamees and Mashael (her name is similar to Michelle in pronunciation. She is half Saudi and half American. Her American mother and friends prefer to call her Michelle). The girls look for happiness but stymied by a system that allows them only limited freedoms and has very specific expectations and demands.
There are some different factors that have an impact on determining women’s rights in Saudi Arabia. The first factor is religion. Islam affects all aspects of life in Saudi Arabia. The Sunni Muslims country -- almost 90% of the population -- follow Wahhabism5. The Ulama6 strongly against the equality of the sexes. The second factor is society. Societal norms and rules are patriarchal and women are treated and seen as second-class citizens only. Males also have a clearly dominant role within the family and have full control over their wives or daughters. Females are expected to obey their male guardians. The third factor is government. The Mutaween7 enforce rules of strict gender segregation in the Kingdom and unrelated men and women are
5
Wahhabism is known for its conservative regulations which have impact on all aspects of life.
6
Ulama is religious authorities who have a great influence on the Saudi citizenry.
7
separated in all public places.8 The last is culture. The cultural setting of Saudi Arabia, promotes a strict Purdah9 system.
This novel is a corps of the continued e-mails that represents a real story of four Saudi girls. This novel becomes interesting to be read because in Arab society, women do not have freedom in deciding something, everything that concern their life is determined by men, including the marriage. Raja Al Sanea wrote this novel because she wanted to open the screen that covered the reality of part of woman in Riyadh through these e-mails. But in this novel, all the main characters do their own modes of resistance and self-determination toward the conservative tradition in their country. They attempt to find their true love and freedom in life without the shadow of men.
Gamrah, the first character who becomes to marry first. Like most of girls, Gamrah’s marriage also has been arranged by her family. All her friends are very regretting about this marriage because, after that, everybody knows that she is not happy with her marriage. Sadeem’s story, the second character, is not less tragic than Gamrah. Her emotional tragedy is caused by Firas whom she meets in London. He breaks his relationship with Sadeem just because she is a divorced woman.
8
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_rights_in_Saudi_Arabia, accessed on Dec 12th, 2010.
9
Meanwhile, Michelle, the third character, finds a visionary man named Faishal who can easily infiltrate cultural partitions of Arab society. But, Michelle is finally disappointed after knowing that Faishal’s family does not agree his relation with Michelle just because she is a half of American and Saudi Arabia. Law enforcement in Saudi Arabia is very tight. It experienced by Lamees, the last character. Police of Shari’a catch her and Ali when they are in a café. Their relation is separated, more than anything else because Ali a follower of Shiah which is in many things is different with Sunni. One by one their loves collapse to be punched by storm. Dishonesty, arranged marriage with an unwilling bride and groom, difference of religion become the reason of why their love is extinct.
But all the characters do not give up for looking what they want. They keep struggling to find their true happiness even though their movement always contradicts with the culture and tradition which restrict them. And they fall deeply in love just like women anywhere else. Little by little some of these women are beginning to carve out their own way - not the Western way, but one that keeps what is good about the values of their religion and culture, while allowing to reform. Based on the explanation above, the writer is interested to analyze kind of discrimination experienced by the four major characters and their attitude toward the discrimination in the novel The Girls of Riyadh.
In this research, the writer would like to analyze kind of gender discrimination who experienced by the four main characters and their attitude toward the gender discrimination in novel The Girls of Riyadh.
C. Research Question
Based on the focus of the study above, the research questions are:
1. What kinds of gender discrimination are experienced by the four major characters in the novel The Girls of Riyadh?
2. How do the four major characters’ attitudes toward the discrimination?
D. Significance of the Study
The writer hopes that this research can extend the student’s knowledge about gender and feminism and can become the agent of change by doing the other research in the same theme, to reach the purpose of the equality of right between women and men. Beside, for the continuation researcher, hopes this research can be the early knowledge, to dig deeper about the gender problems in the belles-letters.
1. The Objectives of the Research
Based on the research questions above, the objective of the study are:
1. To know kinds of gender discrimination suffered by the four major characters.
2. To know how the four major characters’ attitudes in facing and to overcome the discrimination.
2. Method of the Research
According to the research questions and the purpose of this research, the writer conducts the research by using qualitative method. Qualitative method is the research by using verbal and non-numeric data as an analysis base and as a problem solving for the problems investigated.10
3. Unit of Analysis
Unit analysis of the research is a novel The Girl of Riyadh by Rajaa
Al Sanea, 2007 published by The Penguin Press, New York.
4. Research Instrument
The research employs the writer herself as the instrument by reading novel The Girl of Riyadh and variety of source based on the
10
study of gender discrimination and feminism approach, identifying and classifying the information related to the story.
5. Technique of Analysis Data
CHAPTER II
THEORITICAL FRAMEWORK
A. Definition of Sex and Gender
To comprehend the concept of gender, previously we have to differentiate the word of sex and gender. The definition of sex is male or female biologically which have been determined by God. Therefore, it cannot be converted or altered. This rule is valid since ahead, for now, and forever. But gender is difference function and role in social life which is constructed by society, and also men and women’s responsibility. So that gender is not always the same in other place, and it can change from time to time.
Gender is an ideology sticking at public which construction socially cultural and causing difference of function of right, role, and responsibility based on gender. Differences of gender happened passing very long process and supported by the social institution in public causing the differences of right, role, and status in relationship of gender.11
Thereby, the difference of gender and sex are if gender: can change, can be commuted for, depended on time, local cultural, it is not a God’s will, but made in human being. Other the things of sex: cannot change,
11
inconvertiblely, going into effect during the time, going into effect in everywhere, and represent of God’s will. Socially, sexual differences have been used to justify different roles for men and women, in some cases giving rise to claims of primary and secondary roles.
B. The Form of Gender Discrimination
Discrimination is the differential treatment of a person or persons considered to belong to a particular social group. Discrimination is not just an attitude, belief or predisposition to act, as is prejudice. Discrimination is not a state of mind but entails overt actions by which members of a group are accorded unfavorable treatment on the basis of their religious, ethnic, or racial relationship.12
Discrimination may be part of the behavior of people who have strong prejudice. It may be the result of social or cultural expectations, customs, or laws. For example, a white hairdresser may not have any personal animosity or prejudice against blacks but still may refuse their trade because he or she believes their presence may hurt business. Here we have an example of an individual who is not prejudiced yet who discriminates against a minority. But there are also individuals who are prejudiced and who fail to translate their prejudiced into overt action. Many employers are prejudiced against minority groups but do not discriminate in their hiring procedures. Institutional policies,
12
common custom, or laws may prohibit such discriminatory action. Most of the time prejudice and discrimination are mutually reinforcing. Most people who are prejudiced also discriminate. In fact, there exist a correlation between discrimination and prejudice in that those who are more prejudiced are more likely to discriminate.13
The lameness of relationship and gender happened caused by the order, tradition and the relation of reciprocal social delimitating between masculinity and feminist. These all causing the division of power between men and women, and then it can impact to other social life. For example, grow a myth that men have higher position than women because men are considered have more intelligent approach, strong, and they are not emotional. Besides, the patriarchal culture (power reside in men) also caused loss to women.
Patriarchy is a social system in which the father or eldest male is head of the household, having authority over women and children. Patriarchy also refers to a system of government by males, and to the dominance of men in social or cultural systems. It may also include title being traced through the male line.14 Patriarchy is inclined in application of the view of life which in predominated by men dominated), determining by men (male-identified), and centre on men (male-centered). The characteristic of this
13
Ibid, p.284
14
culture is its entirety sustaining each other to build this culture and also institutionalizing, so it becomes the base for the public motion space and the view of life in general (Johnson, 1997).
Various differentiation of role, function, responsibility and duty and also domicile between women and men, and the impact of law and regulation and also policy have generated various inequalities because it has taken root in custom, norm and or society structure. Gender still interpreted by society as difference of sex.
To comprehend how the different of gender causes gender discrimination, it can be seen through the variation of gender discrimination. The existence of gender discrimination according to Mansour Faqih (1997) causing by social behavior and social treatment are marginalization, subordination, stereotype, violence against woman, and job segregation by sex.15
a. Marginalization
The process of marginalization that causes poorness, in fact, it happened in a lot of society and countries in this world. There are some different type and form, place and time, and mechanism of marginalization toward women because of gender difference itself. It can come from the
15
government policies, beliefs, religion interpretation, tradition and custom or even the assumption of science. 16
Marginalization toward women is not just happen in work place but also in family, society or culture and even country. Marginalization toward women has been happened since in family scope in form of discrimination family member between men and women. Marginalization also supported by tradition or religion interpretation so women always become the victims of these gender inequalities.
b. Subordination
In reality, the perspective of gender can generate subordination toward women. Ascription that women is irrational or emotional so that women cannot come up to lead, causing attitude that placing women in insignificant position. Subordination because of gender happened in all kinds of different form of place to place and from time to time.17
Subordination basically is a belief that one of sexes assume more important or more special than other. It has existed since ahead that there is an ascription to place women lower than men. There are many cases in tradition, religion teaching interpretation and also in bureaucracy order which is put women as subordination to men.
16
Dr. Mansour faqih, Analisis Gender dan Transfomasi Sosial. (Yogyakarta: Pustaka Pelajar, 1996), p.14
17
The facts show us that the society values still limiting the space for women in life. For example if a wife wants to study, or wants to go abroad, she has to get her husband permission first, but if husband wants to go elsewhere, he does not need his wife permission. Privileges owned by men due to gender construction place them to more superior of power against women. That kind of relationship patterns is called as patriarchal manifestation.18
c. Stereotype
Generally, stereotype is denoting or labeling to a certain group, tribe or certain nation that always have a negative connotation, so that it often causes the gender inequalities. Labeling which is related to the difference of certain sex (women) will cause the negative impression to the women’s characteristic.
For example, the assumption that considered women’s duty and function are always in domestic and household things. It is not only happened in household scope but also happened at work and society or even in governmental and state level.
If a man is angry, he is assumed to coherent, but if women are angry, it is assumed to emotional and incontinent. Standard assessment of men and women’s behavior is different, but it harms and judge women.
d. Violence Against Women
18
Violence is invasion or attack to physical or psychologically to someone. Violence to human being basically comes from various sources, but one of kind of violence to certain sex is because of the ascription of gender.19 Basically, gender violence happen because of there is inequalities in society. Many kinds and form of badness which can be categorized as gender violence. Including an ascription that men are the owner of domination and supremacy of various sector of life. Violence to women have some level, are:
a. Rapist
b. Hitting, murder and maltreatment
c. Prostitution as a form of woman exploitation
d. Pornography as a worthless form
e. Enforcing of sterilization in family planning
f. Sexual worthless
Those treatments above can be classified at the collision of human right which is it should be respected by whoever without reference to gender. The lowest action of violence form to women can bear several of social inharmonious that can pursue psychical growth of woman, so that they become inferior and not powerful.
19
e. Job segregation
Patriarchy culture which assumed that women have no right to lead household, on the contrary they are entitled to be arranged. Domestic work which is burdened to women, becoming identical to them. Generally, some activities related to household things, it should conduct by men and women. But according to the various observations, it shows us that women do almost 90% works in household.
Its consequence, many women must strive and take a long time for keeping clean her household and keeping everything all right then, start from cleaning and sweeping the floor, until looking after the child. On the other hand, men are not obliged culturally to elaborate that various domestic work. These factors have strengthened work burden to women culturally and structurally.
Currently, discrimination based on sex is defined as adverse action against another person that would not have occurred had the person been of another sex. This is considered a form of prejudice and is illegal in certain enumerated circumstances in most countries.
C. Feminism
a. The Definition of Feminism
the French word feminisme in the nineteenth century, either as a medical term to describe the feminisation of a male body, or to describe women with masculine traits. It soon became understood to denote a political stance of someone committed to changing the social position of women. 20
All the feminists agree that women suffer social and material inequalities simply because of their biological identity and they are committed to challenging this, but it might be various and many kind of challenges. All feminists agree that they are the main focus of women’s subordination, most feminists regard feminism heterogeneity as a sign of healthy debate – although feminism detractors tend to see it as a sign of feminism inbuilt weakness.
b. Liberal Feminism
Liberal feminism suggest all human being either men or women is crated in the equal position, harmonious, and having the same potency of rationality. Liberal feminism frequently critizes the family institution which place women in the domestic area, so emotional aspect of women is bigger than the rational aspect. The concept of liberal feminism suggests the
20
reformism and liberal thinking. Liberal feminist tend to think liberal in the paradigm which is more moderate and not revolutionary.
Liberal feminism try to aware women that they are oppressed faction. The thing that conducted by women in the domestic area is campaigned as unproductive matter and place women in subordinate. Liberal feminism argues the statement explicitly that there is the gender injustice which is constructed by both social and culture. The clear critics are frequently state toward patriarchal institution like a family which does not provide self-improvement freedom for both wife and daughters. The cause of the difference’s right between men and women is a patriarchal system. So, the liberal feminism assume that the patriarchal system must be destroyed and change the individuals’ attitude especially women’s attitude in relationship with men, so that the cooperation will be formed based on the equality.
D. Woman’s right in Culture of Saudi Arabia
a. Marriage, Family and Kinship
Traditionally, marriage is between paternal first cousins or other patrilineally related kin. It is customary for potential spouses not to meet before the wedding night, and marriages had to be arranged by fathers, mothers, and other relatives. These practices are changing slowly and unevenly, but the tendency is toward fewer close-cousin marriages and for the couple to communicate with each other before the wedding. Parents still arrange marriages but are more likely to manage indirectly and from the background. Men are allowed to have four wives at a time as long as they can treat them equally, but polygamy is uncommon in most of the population. Marriage is considered a necessary part of life, and almost all adults marry. Marriage is usually a costly affair. Divorce is relatively easy for men and difficult for women. Divorce rates are high, and remarriage is common, especially for men.
• Kin Groups.
Kinship is patrilineal, and women continue to remain members of their kin groups after marriage. Among Bedouin and many rural settlers, kin groups identified by ancestral names in larger aggregations include lineages, clans, and tribes and have major social significance. Genealogy is of great interest; although corporate kin groups have largely ceased to exist, many people continue to identify with and take pride in their lineage, clan, and tribal names and descent.
Social interaction is marked by strong gender segregation and respect for age differentials. An egalitarian ethos and a high valorization of polite behavior also prevail. Men and women seldom interact across the gender divide outside the domestic space of families, and many of the society's most powerful do's and don'ts aim to regulate such interaction beyond the confines of a home. Thus male-female interaction in a commercial shop should be formal and strictly limited to the process of buying and selling. Generally, men and women should refrain from making specific references to individuals of the other gender, although it is appropriate and common for one to inquire about the well-being of another individual's "family" or "house"—concepts which are understood as circumlocutions for significant others of the opposite gender. Deference should be shown to those who are older, and relations between generations are often characterized by strict formality and the maintenance of decorum in social gatherings.
c. Ethnic Relations
As Muslims, Saudi Arabians participate in a community (ummah) in which issues of race, ethnicity, and national origin should be of no significance and never form the basis for social action, political behavior, and economic organization. The identity of Muslim transcends the borders of states and ideally takes precedence over all other identities.
Muhammad and are known as Ashraf . Many others throughout the kingdom assert patrilineal descent from eponymous ancestors from ancient Arab tribes. Still others stress Arabian origins but without tribal connections. However, Saudi citizenship embraces people with historical origins outside the Arabian Peninsula. Considerations of origin are important markers and influence social interaction, including marriage, but do not translate directly into economic or power differentials in the national society. Moreover, the social significance of such considerations is waning, especially among younger people.
d. Social Problems and Control
Adherence to Islamic values and maintenance of social stability in the context of rapid economic change has been consistent goals of Saudi Arabia's development plans. Religion and society combine to foster significant social control. A powerful deterrent to deviant behavior is that such behavior brings shame to one's family and kin and is considered sinful. Crimes related to alcohol and drugs and to sexual misconduct sometimes are linked to rapid modernization. Theft is rare, and other economic crimes are relatively uncommon, with the exception of smuggling. Assault and murder are limited mainly to segments of tribal communities and usually involve issues of honor and revenge.
Sharia-prescribe punishments usually have a physical component. An individual arrested on a criminal charge is detained in a police station until a judgment is rendered by a court of first instance preside over by one or more Qadis. A court of cassation, or appeal court, also exists, and the king functions as a final court of appeal a person found not guilty is released. If a physical punishment is prescribed, it is carried out in a public place, usually outside a main mosque on Friday, where the criminal’s name and ancestral names are called out loudly for all to hear where the shame is said to be more painful than the physical blow. Prison sentences, typical for cases involving drugs, are less public. Foreigners convicted of crimes are punished and then deported.
e. The Relative Status of Women and Men
Men have more rights than do women. Women are not allowed to drive; cannot travel abroad without the permission or presence of a male guardian (mahram); are dependent on fathers, brothers, or husbands to conduct almost all their private and public business; and have to wear a veil and remain out of public view. Women have varying degrees of difficulty moving freely in Arab countries. Some nations prohibit women from ever traveling alone, while in others women can travel freely but experience a greater risk of sexual harassment or assault than they would in Western countries.
especially in the roles of mothers and sisters. Significant numbers of women have had high levels of success in academia, literary production, business, and other fields, yet their achievements go publicly unremarked and they are barred from most aspects of public life. The ability of women to travel or move freely within Saudi Arabia is severely restricted.
f. Religious Beliefs
CHAPTER III RESEARCH FINDINGS
A. Gender Discrimination on the Main Characters
a. Marginalization
Marginalization in general means the process of marginalizing. Women marginalization is related to patriarchal culture which locates women at domestic sector and men in public sector.
Marginalization toward women is not just happen in work place but also in several of life, such as in economy, government, and family circle. Marginalization toward women happened since in family scope in form of discrimination family member between men and women. Marginalization also supported by tradition or religion interpretation so women always become the victims of these gender inequalities.
Women are not welcomed in government and its political system. The society assumed that women are irrational and emotional, so women are not allowed to be a leader. Saudi Arabia is one of the countries which does not allow women to join public activities especially in government or political life or it called absolute monarchy.21 As it has been described in the novel The Girls of Riyadh and experienced by Sadeem, one of the major characters in the
21
story. When all Arab countries are protesting to show their support for the Palestinian Intifada, she and her classmates are prohibited from participating in those days.
“Sadeem: all of her classmates and everyone at their age were on the margin when it came to political life. They had no role, no importance. If only she understood politics!” (p.61)
We can see that Sadeem and her friends have no right at all to participate in politic. It is contradicted to some basic human right such as the right to political participation. Their movements to express their opinion have to be limited by the government.
b. Subordination
Societal norms and rules are patriarchal in Saudi Arabia, and women are perceived and treated as second-class citizens. As a result, women in Saudi Arabia continue to face discrimination in most areas of society. They have fewer rights than men in family matters, their freedom of movement is restricted and rights are limited. Women’s actions and choices frequently depend on the permission or wishes of their mahram.22
22
Based on the novel The Girls of Riyadh, women are presented as a person who has a limited freedom. All that considering to women have to be arranged according to command.
“You barely walk, you barely talk, you barely smile, you barely dance, be mature and wise, you always think before you act, you measure your words carefully before you speak and you do not behave like a child.” (p. 6)
We can see from the text above that the girls in their society, expected to talk, walk, behave and even breathe in a strained, instructed manner. They cannot do what they want to do.
Women in Saudi Arabia cannot move freely, more than anything else to unmarried women like Gamrah, she is forbidden to go outside without accompanied by her male relatives like her conservative family do to her.
“…while Gamrah wasn’t allowed to leave the house by herself. And in her rare visits to Sadeem’s house, her mother insisted that one of her brothers deliver her in person and bring her back even though the driver was always around.” (p. 165)
patriarchal view that men have power over women so women will not make any progress if the government does not end the policies like that.
The first main character is named Gamrah. Among her best friends, she is the first character who marries. The author, Rajaa Al Sanea said that for Saudi girls, marriage is the death of freedom, creativity and friendship. Saudi women face various restrictions within the family context such as about marriage. The girls are not involved in making decisions surrounding their own marriages. The marriage contract is officially between the husband-to-be and the father of the bride.
Gamrah has to face this treatment. She is told by her mother that there is a family who wants to apply her to their son. Her wedding is also planned by her family.
“Before the wedding, Gamrah saw Rashid only once, and that was on the day of the shoufa; the day set for the bridegroom’s lawful viewing of the bride to-be. The tradition of her family did not permit the man seeking the engagement to see the bride again before the contract signing.” (p. 49)
Subordination over women in The Girls of Riyadh also can be seen in Gamrah’s wedding. Subordination makes women at the second position after men. It proves with the corpus below.
“Suddenly the men came shooting through the door like arrows, the fastest arrow of all being the groom… The women retreated en masse, desperately searching for whatever they or their friends had that would conceal their hair and faces---not to mention any other revealing body part---from the eyes of those men on the march.” (p. 8)
After their marriage, Gamrah has to move to the United States because her husband has to finish his graduate school of Ph. D there. Not too long after their marriage, Gamrah feels that there is something wrong with her husband. Her husband does not treat her like his true wife. He is rude and harsh to her. Rashid does not care Gamrah at all as if she does not exist. He never has an initiative to help her in home. Women in Arab culture do not have right to involve the men in household things.
“Furthermore, she had no right to ask him for help in tidying up or preparing meals or washing dishes...” (p. 72)
controlled by their family. Like Gamrah’s and her sisters’ experience when they got to marry.
“As far as they were concerned, marriage was—as they always said—like the watermelon on the knife, you never knew what you were going to get. Her older sister Naflah’s watermelon had turned out to be one of those “extra-sweet”, while her own watermelon—and her sister Hessah’s—were more like dried out, empty gourd.” (p. 50)
Because of most of Saudi Arabian women have to marry with family’s choice like Gamrah did, each of her best friends hope that they will become the last who have to marry. Because marriage is sadness, regret and sorrow for them.
“Every last one of Gamrah’s girl friends was secretly hoping that the keepsake from her own wedding would be the next one to be added.” (p. 13)
Saudi woman usually must obtain permission from a guardian -- father, husband, or son -- to work, travel, study, marry, etc. Women in Saudi Arabia need to gain a male guardian’s consent to do almost anything. It happens with Michelle, when she asks her father in order to give his agreement for the job that she wanted.
that would be broadcast in the home of his relatives in Saudi Arabia.” (p. 197)
From the text above, we can see that women’s actions and choices frequently depend on the permission or wishes of their mahram such as in public business. They do not have personal freedom to decide what they want.
A third character, Sadeem also has to feel that she has been treated as a second class citizen. It can be seen when she get married with Waleed, a handsome civil servant from a prominent lineage.
“During the official proceedings Sadeem pressed her fingerprint onto the page in the enormous registry book after her protest about not being allowed to sign her name was dismissed… The Sheikh says fingerprint not signature. The men are the only ones who sign their names.” (p. 30)
From the quotation above, we can see that Saudi Arabia and its peculiar customs are considered that only men who can give his name and signature in registry book. It assures that women always have to be inferior minor under men’s rule. It is clearly that there is an ascription that women do not have an important position in society there.
that night and never shows up again. And a divorced paper finally comes to her. She does not know what had happened with him.
“Sadeem was afloat in a state of bewilderment, waiting for a call or visit from Waleed, dreaming that he would come to her on his knee begging for forgiveness. But he didn’t visit and didn’t call…. An answer did come from Waleed three week later, though: Divorced paper!” (p. 34)
According to the text above, in Saudi Arabia, men can easily divorce his wife without giving cause like happen with Sadeem. Her head is just full of questions about the reason why Waleed deserts her, because she thinks that he is her husband officially. It is different if women want to divorce. They have to go to the court to prove her case for divorce. Most Saudi Arabian women are treated nothing more than chattel.
Another setting where there have been claims of gender discrimination is about banking. In Saudi Arabia, women are forbidden to have an access to bank loans or to open a bank account. Sadeem has to ask her cousin, Tariq, to help her to take care of official tasks, obtaining a commercial license and other necessary documents since she start a business as a wedding planner. It is explained below.
Socially, sexual differences have been used to justify different roles for men and women, in some cases giving rise to claims of primary and secondary
role.
c. Stereotype
Generally, stereotype is denoting or labeling to a certain group, tribe or certain nation that always have a negative connotation, so that it often causes the gender inequalities. Labeling which is related to the difference of certain sex (women) will cause the negative impression to the women’s characteristic.
Traditionally, the female stereotypic role is to marry and have children. She is also to put her family's welfare before her own; be loving, compassionate, caring, nurturing, and sympathetic; and find time to be sexy and feel beautiful. The male stereotypic role is to be the financial provider. He is also to be assertive, competitive, independent, courageous, and career-focused; hold his emotions in check; and always initiate sex.
In The Girls of Riyadh, the narrator often uses the citations of the famous poet and Qur’an-Hadits and also from the song of the famous singer to depict how the situation of her girls friends in her country. Here is one of the Sanea’s favorite poetry which depict how the girls in her country to be treated by society.
“This culture we claim—
We swathe our women in cotton shrouds We possess them like the carpets beneath us, Like the cows in fenced fields. To flock home at night’s end,
For our due, bulls and steeds unpenned, Five minutes and no more,
Without feeling, without a core And then corpse-like we lie Our partners abandoned Left to burn in slow fire In mud, slime and mire,
Halfway down the path we leave them behind: Ah, the vulgarity of steeds!” (p.24)
In The Girls of Riyadh, there are some negative points of view about women. Many rules in society are implemented for women. Like or not, she has to follow those rules, if she does not want to be considered as a bad girl in society. The first example is about divorced women. Like Gamrah’s and Sadeem’s statue. Divorced women in Saudi society are associated with ill-reputation. Qamrah becomes a single parent and has to live at her father’s house in isolation. Her family prevents her from going out since she was divorced.
waiting for a single misstep and prepared to spread the most lurid rumors about her.” (p. 116)
“Dozen of times of every day, Gamrah heard that old tune: “What? Did you forget you are a divorcee?” Of course she hadn’t forgotten it, not for a single second.” (p.116)
The society’s perspective which is considering that divorced women only bringing badness so that her freedoms must be limited in order to avoid the bad gossip from the sick society, it is very contradictive with the Prophet’s hadith which is saying that: The virgin’s agreement to a marriage must be sought by her guardian, but the widow or divorcee has more right to her own person than does her guardian.
Sadeem also has to feel this treatment from her society like Gamrah. When she goes aboard to London, she meets with Firas, a Saudi Arabian man too. They plan to get married soon because both of them have already felt comfortable. But when Firas knows that Sadeem is a divorced women and the fact that he has never married before, it prevents him from getting married to a divorced women because it will bring him bad gossip which he does not need (divorced women in the Saudi society are associated with ill-impression especially if they travel outside the country and meet man as Sadeem did).
“Well, if he loves you as you say he does, then why hasn’t he proposed to you yet?”
“Didn’t you tell me you thought he changed after he found out that you have been previously married to Waleed?”
“He didn’t change, really, but… well, I sensed that he was a little different, maybe.” (p. 160)
It is very inversely proportional with the fact that only divorced women who treated so badly by the society and become the prisoner in her own home than divorced men. Like the narrator’s concern about her friends’ status.
”Is divorced a major problem committed by the woman only? Why doesn’t our society harass the divorced man the way it crushes the divorced woman? … Meanwhile, divorced men go on to live fulfilling lives without any suffering or blame?” (p. 163)
In Saudi Arabian culture, family ties are a priority and therefore a women's primary role is believed to be raising children a taking care of the household. Most Saudi Arabian daughters are raised to believe that a women's place is at home and a man's place is at workplace. This treatment also experienced by Gamrah when she marries with Rashid.
“It went on like that. Everyday, he would get her worked up about of this sort. And yet she would be in for a terrible time is she were to forget in the evening to prepare his clothes or to iron them firs thing in the morning before he was awake.” (p. 72)
“Why doesn’t this society respect the difference between my family and other Saudi family? Everyone consider me a bad girl just because my mother is American! How can I live in such an unjust society?” (p. 86)
A racial prejudice23 also comes from her lover’s mother. Faisal’s mother does not permit him to make a relationship again with Michelle after she knows that Michelle comes from the unknown family.
“Aah the girls of this generation! How awful they were! And aah for her young, green-son—she would never have expected him to fall into the trap of a girl such as this! She asked him who the girl’s maternal uncles were and as soon as she heard that the girl’s mother was American, she decided to bang the door shut FOR GOOD on this fruitless dialogue around this utterly ridiculous topic.” (p. 88)
d. Violence against Women
The definition domestic violence as a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. Domestic violence can happen to anyone regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion, or gender, and that it can take many forms, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional,
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economic, and psychological abuse. In this research, violence happen against women.
All forms of domestic abuse have one purpose is to gain and maintain total control over the victim. Abusers use many tactics to exert power over their spouse or partner are dominance, humiliation, isolation, threats, intimidation, denial and blame.
In this research, the writer wants to analyze those kind of violence
against women in the novel The Girls of Riyadh.
a. Physical Violence
Physical abuse is abuse involving contact intended to cause feelings of intimidation, pain, injury, overloaded work, limited freedom (communicating, expressing an opinion, and so on). In this novel, Gamrah is the one who has to suffer more intends than her other girl friends; she has to feel this kind of treatment from her own husband, Rashid, when she knows that her husband cheats on her with the Chinese girl.
“Yeah, right! So I’m the one who wasn’t raised properly! And what about you, mister! Cheating on me with the Asian housemaid!
The slap landed on her right check, and the sound of it echoed in her head.” (p.79)
that was never on her “life of her sexual expectations”! His response, which was shocking to both of them, was to slap her hard on the face then and there!” (p.26)
Based on the quotation above, Rashid’s behavior to his wife is very rude and harsh. He can slap and affront her as he likes. Gamrah, as a woman, only can accept it without interrupt or angry because a wife does not permitted to do that to her husband if she does not want to be divorced or being hanged.
Other character like Lamees also has to accept this treatment. In Saudi, the relation of different sexes who hasn’t married yet is prohibiting by the government.
“One day, as Lamees and Ali sat together in a café on Al-Thalatheen Street, a band of men from Al-Hai’ah24 swooped down on them and led the pair off swiftly to two separate GMC jeeps and headed immediately for the organization’s nearest bureau.” (p. 131)
From the text above we can see that it is one of the examples of physical violence because it limits someone to communicate to each others.
In Saudi Arabia, expressing an opinion about something which is related to government is forbidden. Freedom of speech and the press are
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restricted to forbid criticism of the government. It happens with Sadeem and her classmates.
“She recalled suddenly the demonstration she and her classmates had been prohibited from participating in, in those days, when all Arab nations were protesting to show support for the Palestinian Intifada… Had politics been accessible only to generals and rulers?” (p. 61)
We can see from the text above that Saudi Arabia’s monarchy has ruled with few opportunities for free political activities. Public demonstrations
to express opinion are forbidden.
b. Emotional or Psychological Violence
Emotional abuse (also called psychological abuse or mental abuse) can include humiliating the victim privately or publicly, controlling what the victim can and cannot do, withholding information from the victim, deliberately doing something to make the victim feel diminished or embarrassed, isolating the victim from friends and family, implicitly blackmailing the victim by harming others when the victim expresses independence or happiness, or denying the victim access to money or other basic resources and necessities.
“I’m sick of how we let everyone control us and lead us through this life. We can never do anything without the fear of being judged holding us back. Everyone steers us along according to what they want. What kind of life is that! We don’t have a say about our own lifes!” (p. 169)
Gamrah felt so much bad treatments from her own husband. Everything that she did always becomes wrong in Rashid’s eyes. It can be seen when Rashid gave his comment at Gamrah’s performance.
“Whenever she went out, Gamrah wore a long overcoat with a hair cover called hijab. Even her clothes became a source of irritation to her husband after a while “why don’t you wear ordinary clothes like the other women here? It’s as if you are trying to embarrass me in front of my friends with the thing you wear! And then wonder why I don’t take you out with me!” (p. 49)
The text above includes to verbal abuse (also called reviling) is a form of abusive behavior involving the use of language. It is a form of profanity that can occur with or without the use of expletives. Whilst oral communication is the most common form of verbal abuse, it includes abusive words in written form.
”As for Gamrah, she kept up a steady stream of complaints about her mother’s constant harassment; she moaned that her mother forbade her to go out the way she used to, just because she was now divorced and, her mother claimed, all eyes were fixed on her, waiting for a single misstep and prepared to spread the most lurid rumors about her.” (p. 116)
Gamrah’s mother is very strict women. She always forbids what her daughters want to do. Their movements are so limited in family.
“My mama is so old-fashioned and unsophisticated. Every time we asked anything of her, all she answered was NO! We couldn’t do this, we couldn’t say that! She always criticized everything.” (p. 165)
The government also play role to make woman so suffering. Lamees has to feel the intimidation by the Religious Police when she and Ali catch in café. It can be seen from the quotation below.
“There, they put Lamees and Ali into two separate rooms and began interrogations. Lamees could not bear the hurtful questions put to her. They asked her in detail about her relationship with Ali. They used coarse language and they forced her to hear words that have embarrassed her even in front of her most intimate girl friend.” (p. 130)
e. Job Segregation by Sex
private, production and reproduction, workplace and domestic sphere, and ultimately, masculine and feminine.
Examining gender relations in the household is also an important way of linking gender-based discrimination against woman in the domestic sphere and their marginal status in the workplace and public domain. The subordination of women in the household should be considered a human rights. In The Girls of Riyadh, Gamrah has to do all kind of household things. Her husband does not has an inisiate to help his wife.
“It went on like that. Every day, he would get her worked up about things of this sort. And yet she would be in for a terrible time if she were forget in the evening to prepare his clothes or to iron them first thing in the morning before he was even awake. Furthermore, she had no right to ask him for help in tidying up or preparing meals or washing dishes, even though he has been accustomed to living the bachelor life all those years of studying in America.” (p. 72)
Based on the description above about how women are treated especially in Saudi Arabia, it can be seen that patriarchal system is the root of women’s oppression. It arise the gender inequalities and increases the oppression and violation against women and kill women potential.
Almost women in the world experienced discrimination. It may be the result of social or cultural expectations, customs, or laws. Muslim women are one of those examples. Muslim women are still subordinated mostly on the basis of family laws, laws of marriage and divorce. Muslim religious laws perceive women as symbols of collective identity and as carries of the ‘burden of representation’ (Yuval-Davis 1997)25. Because of patriarchal perceptions of women’s fragile nature, their modesty and honor must be guarded more fiercely than men’s. The result is that – according to Muslim religious— women cannot be equal. Laws at family subordinate them and their place considered the private sphere of domesticity.
Gamrah as the first character has to follow her family’s choice about who is her husband to-be. She has no right to decide about the marriage. In fact, her marriage life does not go well. She suffers both physically and psychologically. Finally, she has to live as a divorced woman. Learn from the previous marriage, when her family wants to arrange her marriage again with Abu Musa’ed, an army general and a longtime friend of her uncle, she braves herself to refuse her family’s desire.
“Why? Why do I need a man to shield and protect me? Does your brother think I’m a disgrace, or I can not protect my own self? You people do not realize that I am grown woman now and I have a son! My word should count and I should be listened to! You think absolutely the opposite from how any reasonable family would
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think. That’s even worse than what you did to me in my engagement to Rashid!” (p. 182)
From the text above, we can see that Gamrah tries to fight her right to decide what kind of life that she wants. According to the corpus, Gamrah is a sufferer of the strict laws of marriage. It is clear that she is unhappy with the previous arranged marriage which her family does. As a human, she also wants her voice and opinions are heard by everyone especially her family and all choices related to her are her rights.
As a divorced woman, Gamrah’s action is so limited by her family. Because in Saudi Arabian culture, divorced woman considered only bring bad impression. So, her family has to make her just stay in home. If she wants to go outside, she has to accompany with her mahram. If divorced women still walk alone outside home, people in society will spread the most lurid rumors about them.
“Gamrah would begin working every night after she performed the evening Ramadan prayer at the huge Mosque downtown.” (p. 220)
wedding organizer. She just wants to be free to do her activities. She proves that she can participate fully in public activities.
Another character is Sadeem, she also does the same thing with Gamrah. When she gets divorce with Waleed, she plans to go London to escape her grief. Her father initiates to accompany her daughter but Sadeem refuses. She wants to prove that she can do what men usually do and she can take care of herself in everywhere she is.
“…her father proposed that the two of them would travel to London for some fun. Sadeem asked him, though, to let her go alone and stay their flat in South Kingston. She wanted to spend a stretch time by herself, she said.” (p. 57)
When the culture does not permit unmarried women to go outside without their guardian, the four girls do the opposite. They do a secret outing even though there are many people who hamper them.
“Women in the mall had an annoying way of following Gamrah, Sadeem and the rest of the girls with their eyes. It didn’t matter their face veils were in place: the girls could feel the sharp and threatening challenges of the women’s inspections.” (p. 16)
“Michelle had an international driver’s license she took charge: she drove the BMW X5 jeep with its dark-tinted window. She had managed to rent it through one of the lease car showrooms by putting the rental in the name of her family’s male Ethiopian driver. (p.15)
In public, women are forced to wear an abaya26 and also to cover her head and hair. The Mutawwa'in generally expected Muslim women to cover their faces because the notion of public and private had changed so that it limits their freedom to move in the public domain. Related to prohibition of driving, the girls have to make a tactic to deceive the Shari’a Police so they will not be arrest because of driving a car.
“The hostess greeted them wearing baggy trousers with lots of pocket an oversized jacket—gear that artfully concealed any sign of femininity—plus bandana that hid her hair. … Lamees wore a masculine-style flowing white thobe27 with a shimagh28 draped over her head and kept in place with a snugly fitting black iqaal.” (p. 14)
According to the corpus above, we can see that the girls need more space to make their movement. So they have a brave initiate to disguise as men
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Abaya is a long, loose black robe worn on top of clothes whenever a woman is outdoors
27
Men’s garment in Saudi Arabia; a thobe is a long white loose dress.
28
though crossed-dress is forbidden. They have right to make a choice what is the best for their life without the interference of men. Again, they keep struggle to claim for the equal treatment from the society.
Another restriction in Saudi Arabia is on male-female relationship. Unmarried men do not permit to make a relation with men unless their mahram. But in this novel we can see that the girls agree to meet men by themselves like Sadeem do when she meets Firas.
“…the two of us had an agreement not to meet in Riyadh. It’s just too difficult, dangerous and awkward. It wouldn’t be relaxing like it would be if we were abroad. Outside the country, you can loose up, you can breathe without worrying who’s watching you. Abroad I could meet him in anywhere, in any public place...” (p. 168-169)
Other character, Michelle –the most rebellious girl in this novel--, do the same things like Sadeem does. They meet with the boy by secret meetings. Because they want to feel their true love the same as any other around the globe. And they fall deeply in love just like women anywhere else.
The male-female relationship of these girls is different from the Western. They make a change but still keep the good value of their religion and culture, while allowing to reform.
Michelle is a very liberal girl among the others. She always talks about women’s rights, conventions imposed by society and her philosophy on relation between the sexes. When she feels that she is restricted by the cultural tradition, she decides to live her country in order to get freedom.
“It was a society riddle with hypocrisy, drugged by contradiction, and her only choice was to either accept those contradictions and bow to them, or leave her country to live in freedom.” (p. 106)
Experiencing and witnessing of her and her girl friends’ grief caused by strict tradition, she become more vocal to struggle women’s rights and the equalities of rights between men and women.
“She would not allow anyone to tell her what she could do and she could not do! Otherwise, what was the point of life? It was her life, only hers, and she was going to live it the way she wanted, for herself and herself only.” (p. 107)
“Working in the media opened up new horizons for Michelle, and for the first time she felt truly liberated from all the restrictions that had always been imposed on her.” (p. 196)
CHAPTER IV
CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION
A. Conclusion
The Girls of Riyadh is originally released in Arabic in 2005 title Banat al Riyadh; it was immediately banned in Saudi Arabia because of the controversial and inflammatory content, while black-market copies of the
