ix ABSTRACT
PAULUS GENTUR UTOMO. Feminism Values as Reflected in Esperanza’s Response to Male Domination in Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2010.
Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street tells about the main adolescence Chicana character Esperanza who lives in Mango Street. It is poor Chicano neighborhood. Living in the neighborhood, she learns many things and faces experiences from the surroundings. She finds fact that there are many women and girls who are trapped in male domination and they do not have courage to come out from the domination.
The research focuses on finding feminism values that are reflected through Esperanza’s response to male domination. There are three questions related to the topic. The first question is about Esperanza’s characterization, the second question is about the presentation of male domination in the novel, and the last question is about feminism values that are reflected through Esperanza’s response toward male domination.
The writer uses library research method as the primary source. The writer also collects the data from the internet to support the thesis. The approach that is used in this thesis is feminism approach. The reason why the writer uses feminism approach is because the main goal of this thesis is to find feminism values, so feminism approach is suitable to use.
x ABSTRAK
PAULUS GENTUR UTOMO. Feminism Values as Reflected in Esperanza’s Response to Male Domination in Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2010.
Novel yang berjudul The House on Mango Street karangan Sandra Cisneros menceritakan tentang tokoh utama remaja Chicana bernama Esperanza yang tinggal di Mango Street. Tempat ini adalah lingkungan orang – orang Chicano yang miskin. Hidup di lingkungan ini, Esperanza belajar banyak hal dan mengalami banyak pengalaman. Dia menemukan realita bahwa banyak wanita dan gadis terjebak dalam dominasi pria dan mereka tidak punya kemauan untuk lepas dari dominasi tersebut.
Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menemukan nilai feminism yang tercermin melalui respon Esperanza pada dominasi pria. Ada tiga pertanyaan yang berhubungan dengan topik. Pertanyaan pertama adalah tentang penokohan Esperanza, pertanyaan kedua adalah tentang pemaparan dominasi pria dalam novel ini, dan pertanyaan terakhir adalah tentang nilai feminism yang tercermin melalui respon Esperanza pada dominasi pria.
Penulis menggunakan metode studi pustaka sebagai bahan utama. Penulis juga mengumpulkan data dari internet untuk mendukung skripsi ini. Pendekatan yang digunakan adalah pendekatan feminism. Alasan mengapa penulis menggunakan pendekatan tersebut adalah karena tujuan utama dari skripsi ini adalah untuk menemukan nilai feminism. Maka dari itu, pendekatan ini cocok untuk digunakan.
FEMINISM VALUES AS REFLECTED IN ESPERANZA’S
RESPONSE TO MALE DOMINATION IN SANDRA
CISNEROS’
THE HOUSE ON MANGO STREET
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
PAULUS GENTUR UTOMO Student Number: 064214050
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
i
FEMINISM VALUES AS REFLECTED IN ESPERANZA’S
RESPONSE TO MALE DOMINATION IN SANDRA
CISNEROS’
THE HOUSE ON MANGO STREET
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
PAULUS GENTUR UTOMO Student Number: 064214050
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
iv
Yesterday's the past, tomorrow's the future, but today is a
gift. That's why it's called the present
~Bil Keane
Our greatest glory is in never failing, but in rising up every
time we fail
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
If you have made mistakes, there is always another chance
for you. You may have a fresh start any moment you
choose, for this thing we call 'failure' is not the falling
down, but the staying down
~ Mary Pickford
Risk more than others think is safe. Care more than others
think is wise. Dream more than others think is practical.
Expect more than others think is possible
v
I DEDICATE MY
UNDERGRADUATE THESIS TO
JESUS CHRIST, MY SAVIOR AND
GUIDANCE
MY BELOVED PARENTS
MY DEAREST BROTHER AND SISTER,
vi
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN
PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTIGAN AKADEMIS
Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma:
Nama : Paulus Gentur Utomo
Nomor Mahasiswa : 064214050
Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul:
Feminism Values as Reflected in Esperanza’s Response to Male Domination in Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street
beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan kepada Perpusatakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelola dalam bentuk pangkalan data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di Internet atau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya maupun memberikan royalti kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya sebagai penulis.
Demikian pernyataan ini yang saya buat dengan sebenarnya. Dibuat di Yogyakarta
Pada tanggal : 04 Oktober 2010
Yang menyatakan
vii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to express my biggest gratitude to Jesus Christ for the blessings throughout my life and for guiding me in writing and completing my undergraduate thesis.
My deep gratitude goes to my advisor, Ni Luh Putu Rosiandani, S.S., M.Hum who never stops encouraging me to finish my undergraduate thesis. Without your patience and kindness in advising me, I cannot finish my undergraduate thesis. My deep gratitude also goes to my co-advisor Elisa Dwi Wardani, S.S., M.Hum who has given her precious time to read and check my undergraduate thesis.
I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to my beloved parents, FX. Joko Pitoyo and CA. Rusliyatiningsih, for all their affection, trust, support, and prayer. For my younger brother Winengku Aji and my younger sister Leela Laksita who never end to support me. Also my grandmother Soekirmo, my aunt Retno and my cousin Seto and Mas Dibyo who always give motivation to me.
My special thanks for my best friends Handoko, Wulan, Gaby, Tere, Sukma, Achied, Siska, Pipit, Asti, Ketut, Feby, Mbak Sasha and Mas Rilo. Thanks for your endless support to make me finish this undergraduate thesis.
Finally, I want to say thank you for all my friends in English Letters Department especially for the students of 2006. Thanks for accompanying me as my friend and I would never forget our friendship.
viii
CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW ……….. 7
A. Review of Related Studies ……… 7
B. Review of Related Theories ……….. 11
1. Theory of Character and Characterization ……….. 11
2. Theory of Patriarchy and Theory of Violence ……… 14
3. Theory of Feminism ……..……... 17
C. Theoretical Framework ……….. 23
CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ………... 25
B. Presentation of Male Domination in The House on Mango Street 41 C. Feminism Values Reflected through Esperanza’s Response toward Male Domination……… 49
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION ………... 59
BIBLIOGRAPHY ……… 63
APPENDIX ……….. 65
ix ABSTRACT
PAULUS GENTUR UTOMO. Feminism Values as Reflected in Esperanza’s Response to Male Domination in Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2010.
Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street tells about the main adolescence Chicana character Esperanza who lives in Mango Street. It is poor Chicano neighborhood. Living in the neighborhood, she learns many things and faces experiences from the surroundings. She finds fact that there are many women and girls who are trapped in male domination and they do not have courage to come out from the domination.
The research focuses on finding feminism values that are reflected through Esperanza’s response to male domination. There are three questions related to the topic. The first question is about Esperanza’s characterization, the second question is about the presentation of male domination in the novel, and the last question is about feminism values that are reflected through Esperanza’s response toward male domination.
The writer uses library research method as the primary source. The writer also collects the data from the internet to support the thesis. The approach that is used in this thesis is feminism approach. The reason why the writer uses feminism approach is because the main goal of this thesis is to find feminism values, so feminism approach is suitable to use.
x ABSTRAK
PAULUS GENTUR UTOMO. Feminism Values as Reflected in Esperanza’s Response to Male Domination in Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2010.
Novel yang berjudul The House on Mango Street karangan Sandra Cisneros menceritakan tentang tokoh utama remaja Chicana bernama Esperanza yang tinggal di Mango Street. Tempat ini adalah lingkungan orang – orang Chicano yang miskin. Hidup di lingkungan ini, Esperanza belajar banyak hal dan mengalami banyak pengalaman. Dia menemukan realita bahwa banyak wanita dan gadis terjebak dalam dominasi pria dan mereka tidak punya kemauan untuk lepas dari dominasi tersebut.
Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menemukan nilai feminism yang tercermin melalui respon Esperanza pada dominasi pria. Ada tiga pertanyaan yang berhubungan dengan topik. Pertanyaan pertama adalah tentang penokohan Esperanza, pertanyaan kedua adalah tentang pemaparan dominasi pria dalam novel ini, dan pertanyaan terakhir adalah tentang nilai feminism yang tercermin melalui respon Esperanza pada dominasi pria.
Penulis menggunakan metode studi pustaka sebagai bahan utama. Penulis juga mengumpulkan data dari internet untuk mendukung skripsi ini. Pendekatan yang digunakan adalah pendekatan feminism. Alasan mengapa penulis menggunakan pendekatan tersebut adalah karena tujuan utama dari skripsi ini adalah untuk menemukan nilai feminism. Maka dari itu, pendekatan ini cocok untuk digunakan.
1 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
There are many benefits of reading literary works. Moral value, social life, and historical background can be learned through literary work. It will give more understanding to the reader throughout the content in literary works. The way the author views the world, the idea and the ideology are presented through literary works. So, literary works can be said as the representation of the way the author views the world.
It is a fact that for centuries women are treated unequal. They are trapped in male domination where men gain more power than women. Women are limited in many aspects of life such as social aspects, political aspects, economic aspects, legal aspects, etc. It seems to be culturally conditioned. Ashley Montagu in The Natural Superiority of Women stated that “In most of the cultures of which we have any knowledge, women are considered to be a sort of lower being, a creature human enough, but not as quite so human as male; certainly not as wise, nor as intelligent […] ” (1953:27).
the countinghouse and on the board of directors” (1953:23). Furthermore, she also stated that:
Women bear children and nurse them, they are forced to be much sedentary than men. Woman is the cricket on the hearth; man is the eagle on the wing. Women stay at home to nurse and care for their children, to prepare food. Men leave the hearth for the hunt (1953:28).
From the quotation above, the discrimination between men and women become clearer. Realizing this subordinate condition to men’s power, there is a term called feminism. Feminism is a weapon to fight men’s domination in society. It fights men’s domination in order to release women from inferiority. Maggie Humm in The Dictionary of Feminist Theory stated that:
A fundamental goal of feminist theory is to understand women’s oppression in terms of race, gender, class and sexual preference and how to change it. Feminist theory reveals the importance of women’s individual and shared experiences and our struggles. It analyses how sexual difference is constructed within any intellectual and social world and builds accounts of experiences from these differences (1990: x).
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros is a novel which consists of many parts. At the first glance, this novel is like a collection of short stories. But actually each part of the novel is connected each other. Ellen McCraken in Breaking Boundaries Latina Writing and Critical Reading stated that “The book has been classified as a novel by some because, [….], there is character and plot development throughout the episodes” (1989:63).
In this novel, Esperanza is a protagonist and also the narrator of the story. She is a Mexican-American girl (Chicana)
Chicana refers to a woman who embraces her Mexican culture and heritage, but simultaneously, recognizes the fact that she is an American. It is a self-selected term that usually applies to those Mexican-American women who acknowledge a dominance of males in society, and a history of discrimination and neglect in both the household and the workplace.
(www.umich.edu/~ac213/student_projects07/.../whatisit.html )
From the quotation above, Mexican-American women or so called Chicana embrace the Mexican culture and heritage. They acknowledge the domination of men in society, whereas a Mexican-American man is called Chicano. Harry H. L Kitano in Race Relation stated that “At the present a great number of terms are used to refer to persons of Mexican descent. […] The most commonly used term currently is Chicano, which refers to a multiracial group with Spanish and Indian roots” (1985: 164-165).
The pattern of Mexican-American family allows the men to have more authority than women. The father’s duty is to work and protect his wife and daughters, whereas wife’s duty is to manage everything related to the house hold matter such as cook, raising children, and serve the husband.
The traditional family is arranged hierarchically: the father occupies the top, followed by the sons; together they shelter and protect the wife and daughters. The women are expected to cook, raise the children, and serve the needs for the men. Male and female roles tend to be clearly proscribed; masculinity (machismo) is a great of importance, even outside marriage (1985:172).
and domination toward women and girls. She discovers that many girls and women in the novel do not have intention to defy the male domination. In this thesis, the writer will show the attitude of Esperanza as a young Chicana who responds the male domination portrayed in her society that confronts her idea.
The story begins when she and her family have moved in many places by renting a house before finally they decided to live in Mango Street. She lives with her mother, father, Carlos, Kiki, and her sister Nenny. Mango Street is a poor Chicano neighborhood. In this neighborhood, men are more superior to women. They have authority toward women because of practicing patriarchal culture in the neighborhood. Male domination is the manifestation of the patriarchal culture in this novel. The dominant form of male domination that is portrayed in the novel is violence. Women and girls are limited in the house hold sphere and often get violence from men. Furthermore, they often get the violence in the neighborhood either.
B. Problems Formulation
These are problems formulations which are the guidance to analyze this novel. 1. How is Esperanza characterized?
2. How is male domination presented in the story?
3. How is feminism value reflected through Esperanza’s response toward male
domination?
C. Objectives of the Study
Related to the problem formulation that the writer has been stated above, the study on Feminism Values as Reflected in Esperanza’s Response to Male Domination in Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street aims primarily at
finding the feminism values as reflected in Esperanza’s response to male domination in this novel.
D. Definition of Terms
In order to avoid ambiguity, the writer will list and explain some terms that will be used in this thesis.
1. Feminism Value
Maggie Humm in The Dictionary of Feminist Theory stated her point her point of view about feminism as quoted below.
So, Feminism is an ideology or belief that women and men should be treated equal in gaining their rights and opportunity.
According to Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of The English Language, value is “to consider with respect to worth, excellence, usefulness, or importance” (1989: 1578). So, feminism value is the idea that contains the equality between women and men in society.
2. Response
According to Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of The English Language, response is “an answer or reply, as in words or in some action” (1989: 1222).
3. Patriarchal
According to Maggie Humm in The Dictionary of Feminist Theory, patriarchy is “A system of male authority which oppresses women through its social, political, and economic institutions” (1995: 200). So, Patriarchal is related to or being patriarchy.
4. Male Domination
According to Maggie Humm in The Dictionary of Feminist Theory, Male dominance is “a part of a system of dual or multiple systems of dominance: capitalism, patriarchy, heterosexism, racism, imperialism” (1995: 69). In this thesis, the concept of Male Domination is on the patriarchy.
7 CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
A. Review of Related Studies
Janet Sarbanes in his essay stated that Sandra Cisneros, the author of The House on Mango Street, is a Chicago-born Chicana activist, poet, and fiction writer. She has published two collections of poems, Bad Boys (1980) and My Wicked Wicked Ways (1987), and a collection of short stories entitled Woman Hollering Creek (1991). Her novel, The House on Mango Street (1983), was awarded the Before Columbus American Book Award. (http://www.answers.com/topic/the-house-on-mango-street-novel-7). He also stated that:
The House on Mango Street is the fictional autobiography of Esperanza Cordera, an adolescent Mexican American girl who wants to be a writer. Unlike the chapters in a conventional novel, the forty-four vignettes, or literary sketches, which make up the novel could each stand on its own as a short story. Read together, they paint a striking portrait of a young Chicana struggling to find a place in her community without relinquishing her sense of self. (http://www.answers.com/topic/the-house-on-mango-street-novel-7)
or incident,” but since this vignettes put together to tell a story, it is also very similar to a short novel” (2006:10).
(http://scholarship.rice.edu/bitstream/handle/1911/17868/1435715.PDF?sequence =1)
Each part of the story can stand on its own but it also has connection with other parts. Esperanza, an adolescence Chicana, is the central character in this novel. She is the protagonist and also the narrator of the story.
In this story, the characterization of Esperanza is evolved throughout the story. Cisneros shows us that Esperanza’s characterization is developed through each part of the story. The experiences that she faces in the neighborhood make the character developed.
(http://www.iona.edu/faculty/dwilliams/130/charactersA.html)
James Errera also states about the example of character that does not change. It is Sally. Because of the fact, she is considered as a static character. Sally’s father always uses physical abuse to her and he controls everything she does. Once, Sally married a man just like her father who always abuses her. Sally’s husband does not let her talking on the phone and look out the window. Sally leaves her home but ends up in the same situation.
(http://www.iona.edu/faculty/dwilliams/130/charactersA.html)
The quotations above show that there are two kinds of character in the The House on Mango Street. They are static and dynamic character. James Errera
shows that the character Esperanza is a dynamic character. Dynamic character means that the character undergoes changes throughout the story. Esperanza is an example of dynamic character because from the very beginning until the end of the story, her characterization changes. For example, in the first half of the novel she is still innocent, whereas in the second half of the novel she starts to grow her maturity. Another kind of character in this novel is static character. It is a character which is static throughout the novel. The example of static character in The House on Mango Street is Sally. She often gets violence from her father and when she leaves home, she married with a man but the situation still same for her. She often gets violence from her husband too. That is why she is considered as an example of static character.
two cultures Mexican-American culture and American culture. Those two cultures have different point of view toward the life of women. This condition causes problem to Esperanza in her introduction to womanhood.
Esperanza is a Mexican American girl also hovering in that grey area between two cultures, the Mexican culture inherited through her parents and the American culture that she lives in. This constant juggling of two cultures poses problems for Esperanza in her introduction to womanhood because the Mexican ideals of women as wives and mothers compete with the American ideals of individuality and the ability for women to pursue a career (2006:11).
(http://scholarship.rice.edu/bitstream/handle/1911/17868/1435715.PDF?seq uence=1)
Esperanza as the protagonist of the story views many women and girls in her community as her role models. There are positive and negative female role models. Ellen McCraken in Breaking Boundaries Latina Writing and Critical Readings stated that
The House on Mango Street presents clusters of women characters through the sometimes naive and sometimes wise vision of the adolescent protagonist. There are positive and negative female role models and, in addition, several key incidents that focus the reader’s attention on the contradictions of patriarchal social organization (1989:66).
Furthermore, Ellen McCraken in the same book also stated that Sandra Cisneros does not only show women victimization in this story, but she also points several positive role models that help Esperanza to develop.
Cisneros does not merely delineate women’s victimization in this collection, however. Several positive female role models help to guide Esperanza’s development. Minerva, for the example, although a victim of her husband’s violence, makes time to write poetry (1989: 69).
experiences. She observes many girls and women as her role models. There are positives and negatives role models in this novel that contributes to Esperanza’s characterization and encourages her to respond the male domination in her community. This thesis is development of those review and criticism above. This thesis is different because the writer will analyze the feminism value that is reflected through Esperanza’s response toward male domination in her community. Since the writer raises the feminism value as the theme, this thesis will be viewed through feminism point of view. Hopefully, this thesis will help the reader to understand this novel better.
B. Review of Related Theories
1. Theory of Character and Characterization
Character in literary works is one of intrinsic elements which are significant. It can be in form of human being, animal, etc. According to M. H. Abrams in A Glossary of Literary Terms, characters are “the persons presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral, dispositional, and emotional qualities that are expressed in what they say and by what they do” (1985: 23). He also stated another point of view about characters. There are two kinds of characters as quoted in the following.
From the quotation above, a flat character is defined as a character which is presented generally without much individualizing detail. The emphasis is not in the individual depth and details but in the general characterization of the character. So, it is possible to be described in a one sentence even a phrase. On the contrary, round character is defined as a character which is more complex than flat character. The complexity is in term of motivation, and temperament. Round character is able to surprise the reader because its complexities. It is a character which is not stable.
Murphy in Understanding Unseen: An Introduction to English Poetry and the English Novel for Overseas Student stated nine ways how the author presents
the character in literary works as quoted below:
(a) Personal description. The author can describe the character’s appearance and clothes (1972:161).
(b) Characters as seen by another. The author can describe the character through the eyes and opinions of other characters, so that the reader will get the reflected image (1972: 162).
(c) Speech. The author can give us an insight into the characters in the book through what the character says. It can be seen wherever he speaks, having conversation or giving opinion (1972: 164).
(e) Conversation of others. The author gives the reader clues to a person’s characters through the conversation of other people and the things they say about the character (1972: 167).
(f) Reactions. The author gives the reader clue to a person’s character by
knowing how the character reacts to various situations and events (1972: 168).
(g) Direct comment. The author can describe or comment on the character
directly (1972: 170).
(h) Thoughts. The author can give the reader direct knowledge of what a
person is thinking about. In this respect the character is able to do what we cannot do in real life. The character can tell us what different people are thinking. In the novel the readers accept this (1972: 171).
(i) Mannerism. The author describes a person’s mannerism, habits or idiosyncrasies which may also tell us something about the character (1972: 173).
Holman & Harmon in their book A Handbook to Literature stated that characterization is the creation of the imagery persons who exist for the readers as lifelike. Both character and characterization are related each other. There are three basic method of characterization in fiction:
2. The presentation of the character in action; therefore the reader will be able to conclude the attributes of the character from its actions.
3. The presentation from within a character – without comment on the
character by the author – of the impact of actions and emotions on the character’s inner self, with the expectation that the readers will come to the clear understanding of the attributes of the character (1986: 81).
2. Theory of Patriarchy and Theory of Violence
In writing these theories, the writer refers to a book. It is entitled Fifty Key Concepts in Gender Studies by Jane Philcher and Imelda Whelehan. These
theories will explain two parts, which are theory about Patriarchy and the theory about Violence. It is needed to show the presentation of male domination in this novel. Male domination is the manifestation of patriarchal culture in this novel. That is why Theory of Patriarchy is necessary to give general overview about patriarchy. It will also explain that the practice of patriarchal culture is different among social groups.
As mentioned in Chapter I that violence is the dominant form of male domination portrayed in the novel, it is necessary for the writer to review about Theory of Violence.
a. Theory of Patriarchy
patriarch, typically a societal elder, has legitimate power over others in the social unit especially younger men, all women and children. However, since the early twentieth century, feminist writers have used the concept to refer to the social system of masculine domination over women (2004: 93).
According to Jane Philcher and Imelda Whelehan in the same book, masculinity itself is the set of social practices and cultural representations associated with being a man. The plural ‘masculinities’ is also used in recognition that ways of being a man and cultural representations about men vary, both historically and culturally, between societies and between different groupings of men within any one society (2004: 82-83). Since Patriarchy is defined as a social system of masculine domination over women and since masculinities is different among social groups both culturally and historically, it can be said that each social group has their own way in practicing their patriarchal culture in their communities. It can also be said that the existence of male domination is the result of practicing patriarchal culture.
household sphere and have limited participation in public life. In Public patriarchy, women are not excluded from public life but face inequality and discrimination within it, for example, in paid work (Walby in Philcher & Whelehan, 2004: 95).
b. Theory of Violence
Jane Philcher and Imelda Whelehan in the same book stated that violence may be narrowly defined, as in the legal sense of it being the unlawful use of physical force by an individual against others. A broader approach defines violence as behavior which harms others, either physically or emotionally. Whether a narrow or broader concept of violence prevails, however, it remains the case that violence is gendered. Meaning to say, it exhibits pattern of difference between men and women, being especially associated with the behavior of men (2004: 173).
Connell identifies a range of ways in which men ‘predominate across the spectrum of violence’, whether as members of the armed forces, as violent criminals under the law, as abusers of family members, or as participants in and audiences of the various contact sports which centre around the use of physical force (Connell in Philcher & Whelehan, 2004: 173).
behavior in contemporary constructions of masculinities (Brenies in Philcher & Whelehan, 2004: 173).
It is men’s violence against women that has especially been the concern of feminist researchers. Conceptualized as a broad range of men’s harmful behavior toward women, including rape, domestic violence and sexual harassment, violence has been identified as a key mechanism in the subordination of women by men (Philcher & Whelehan, 2004: 173).
One manifestation of the subordinating effect of violence against women is indicated by survey evidence which shows that women are more fearful about violent crime than men, and that this fear impact upon their freedom of movement when outside the home. (Simmons in Philcher & Whelehan, 2004: 173).
3. Theory of Feminism
This theory is divided into four parts that will explain about The First Wave of Feminism, The Second Wave of Feminism, The Third Wave of Feminism, and Feminism of Color. The theory about First Wave, Second Wave, and Third Wave of Feminism will explain about the development of feminism goals, whereas the Feminism of Color will explain about Chicana Feminism. Maggie Humm in her book entitled Feminism: A Reader stated that
a. First Wave Feminism
The earlier period (dating from at least the mid to late nineteenth century up until about the 1920s), became First Wave Feminism. The concern of The First Wave Feminism is women’s attainment of equality with men. It struggles to gain the right of women in political aspects such as gaining political identity for women, legal advance, and public emancipation. Therefore feminist analyses and campaigning centered on securing legislational change (Philcher & Whelehan, 2004: 52).
It is supported by Maggie Humm in Feminism: A Reader who stated that First Wave Feminism created a new political identity of women and won for women legal advances and public emancipation. The struggle for the vote, and the later battles for family allowance, contraception, abortion and welfare rights, twists around several axes: women’s domestic labor, the endowment of motherhood, protective legislation, and women’s legal status (1992: 14).
b. Second Wave Feminism
Second wave feminism is a term used to describe a new period of feminist collective political activism and militancy which emerged in the late 1960s. Whereas the first wave lobbied for women’s enfranchisement via the vote and access to the professions as well as the right to own property, the second wave feminism talked in terms of ‘liberation’ from the oppressiveness of a patriarchal society. Second wave feminists were committed to building a body of knowledge which specifically addressed the ways in which women have historically been marginalized, both culturally and socially (Philcher & Whelehan, 2004: 145).
In the first moment women are objects, sometime victims of mistaken social knowledge. In the second moment women are challenging that ‘knowledge’ from the strength of their own experience (Humm, 1992:11). Yet what remains constant throughout both waves of feminism is the idea that women are unequal to men because men create the meaning of equality. (Humm, 1992: 13).
c. Third Wave Feminism
The above quotation shows that the Second Wave Feminist movement does not accommodate all of the feminist movement. It only covers the white and middle class women. Realizing the fact, the Third Wave Feminist movement emerges a kind of feminist movement that is called Feminism of Color. It is supported by Jane Philcher and Imelda Whelehan in the same book who stated that much of the impetus of the Third Wave Feminism movement derives from the writings of women of color (2004: 170).
d. Feminism of Color
Deborah L. Madsen in her book entitled Feminist Theory and Literary Practice stated her point of view about Feminism of color quoted as follow.
“Feminist of colour point to the emergence of Black Feminism, Chicana/Hispana Feminism, Native Feminism, and Asian Feminism as distinct theoretical perspective upon the oppression of women by virtue of their racialized sexuality” (2000: 213). Since the writer will only focus on Chicana/Hispana Feminism, in this theory the writer will only write the theory about Feminism of Color that is related to Chicana/Hispana Feminism.
Yvonne Yarbro-Bejarano stated about the principle of Chicana feminist criticism that the most important principle of Chicana feminist criticism is the realization that the Chicana’s experience as a woman can not be separated from their experience as a member of an oppressed working-class racial minority and a subordination within their own culture which is not the dominant culture (Yarbro-Bejarano in Madsen, 2000: 216-217).
It is supported by Karen Anderson in A History of Racial Ethnic Women in Modern America. Referring to the social background, she stated that Chicana have complicated position as working-class, minority women within the dominant Anglo culture and their problematical gender status within their own and larger culture (1996: 92). So, it can be said that Chicana has been subordinated both in working class ethnic minority and in their own ethnic group.
For women, the experience of feminine sexuality is different according to ethnic or racial identity: to take the example of religion, Chicanas may be subject to the traditional gender constraints of Catholicism (Madsen, 2000: 217).
the traditional Hispanic family structure strictly regulates feminine behavior, especially sexual behavior. Correspondingly, masculinity is constructed differently according to each racial or ethnic group – for example, Chicanos invented the term ‘machismo’ – and femininity is defined in opposition to these dominant images of masculine gender identity (Gloria Anzaldúa in Madsen, 2000: 217).
Gloria Anzaldúa explains the manner in which Chicanas are oppressed by the cultural imperatives that women remain silent, unquestioning, invisible, within traditional Chicano culture; even the language that is available to these women expresses masculine rather than feminine consciousness: ‘Chicanas use nosotros
whether we’re male or female. We are robbed of female being by masculine plural (Gloria Anzaldúa in Madsen, 2000: 219).
accommodate other feminist movement and the result is the emergence of Feminism of Color.
Feminism of Color points to many emergences of feminist movements such as Black Feminism, Chicana/Hispana Feminism, Native Feminism, and Asian Feminism. The writer will only focus on Chicana Feminism. The principle of Chicana Feminism is a realization that Chicana has been subordinated both in working class ethnic minority and in their own ethnic group.
C. Theoretical Framework
The first theory is Theory of Character and Characterization. It is used to answer the first problem formulation that is to describe Esperanza’s characterization. By using these theories, the writer will be able to know the characterization of Esperanza in this novel. The writer uses many sources to write this theory. The writer uses theory of character from M. H. Abrams and theory of characterization is taken from M. J. Murphy and Holman & Horman.
The second theory is theory of Patriarchy and Violence. It is used to answer the second problem formulation in this thesis that is to show how male domination is presented in the novel. The writer uses theory of Patriarchy and Violence from Jane Philcher and Imelda Whelehan.
25 CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
The object of the study is a novel entitled The House on Mango Street written by Sandra Cisneros. This novel consists of 110 pages divided into 44 chapters. It is a novel made of interconnected vignettes. At the first glance, this book seems like a collection of a short story, but actually each part of the story is connected each other. It is the style of the author in writing this book. The House on Mango Street is written by Sandra Cisneros and published in 1984. After the publication of the book, The House on Mango Street was awarded “The Before
Columbus American Book Award”. That is why the book is worth to be studied. The novel itself tells us about the portrayal of adolescent Mexican – American girl (Chicana) named Esperanza that lives in Mango Street. Her characterization develops throughout the course of the novel. In the first half of the novel, Esperanza is described as a shy and innocent girl. But in the second half of the novel, she starts to be more mature in her way of thinking and realize what her goal of her life is.
develop her artistic talent in writing poetry, understand the concept of heaven and hell, etc. But, there are also negative examples of female characters that do not have intention to come out from the male domination. Esperanza is different from other female characters in this story that do not have intention to defy the male domination. The male domination that she has faced through her experiences and the male domination that she has seen through other female character’s experiences will encourage her to respond it. Esperanza’s response toward male domination in this story reflects feminism value. Later in the analysis, the writer will show how male domination is presented and how feminism value is reflected through Esperanza’s response toward male domination in this novel.
B. Approach of the Study
Since the primary objective of the analysis is to find feminism values, the approach that will be used by the writer in this analysis is feminism approach. It is to find feminism value in the protagonist character Esperanza. Her response toward male domination reflects feminism value. Therefore, feminism approach is suitable to be used in the analysis.
Feminism approach is used to explore the literary works in which it contains the women’s role and position in society that is marginalized and oppressed by patriarchal culture.
Lizbeth Goodman in Approaching Literature: Literature and Gender stated that “Feminism literary criticism is an academic approach to the study of the literature which applies feminist thought to the analysis of the literary texts and the contexts of their production and reception” (1996: xi).
Furthermore, Deborah L. Madsen in Feminist Theory and Literary Practice stated that “feminist perspectives focus upon how women’s writing attempts to create a feminist consciousness of the oppression and injustice suffered by women” (2000: 37). So, the key of feminism approach is the consciousness of the subordination and the marginalization of women in society.
C. Method of the Study
Concepts in Gender Studies by Jane Philcher and Imelda Whelehan and theory of Feminism is taken from Feminism: A Reader by Maggie Humm, Feminist Theory and Literary Pratice by Deborah L. Madsen, and also from Fifty Key Concepts in Gender Studies by Jane Philcher and Imelda Whelehan. A book entitled Race Relation by Harry H. L. Kitano is used to know the social background of the Chicano social group.
29 CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
In this chapter, the writer will answer the questions that have been formulated in Chapter I. This chapter is divided into three parts based on the number of the problems formulation. In the first part of the analysis, the writer will examine the characterization of Esperanza as the protagonist and also the narrator in the story. In the second part of the analysis, the writer will discuss how male domination is presented in this story. In the last part of the analysis, the writer will answer the question about how is the feminism value reflected through Esperanza’s response toward male domination.
A. Esperanza’s Characterization
Esperanza is the protagonist and she is also the narrator of the story. She is an adolescent Chicana who views her society through the eye of an adolescence girl.
According to the theory of Flat and Round Character by M. H Abram, Esperanza is defined as a round character because she is complex in motivation and temperament and her characterization changes throughout the course of the story. In this analysis, the writer will show the progression of Esperanza’s characterization from the first half of the novel until the second half of the novel.
writer will only use four of them to describe Esperanza’s characterization. The characterization of Esperanza in this novel can be seen through her speech, reaction, thought, and her conversation to other characters. Since Esperanza is the narrator of this story, the dominant characterization that is presented by the author can be seen through her speech. Here the writer will show the characterization of Esperanza in the first half of the novel.
In the first chapter of this novel, Esperanza feels disappointed with the housing condition in her house on Mango Street. It is not the house which she dreams of.
It’s small and red with tight steps in front and windows so small you’d think they were holding their breath. Bricks are crumbling in places, and the front door is so swollen you have to push hard to get in. There is no front yard, only four little elms the city planted by the curb (1991: 4).
Feeling disappointed with this housing condition, she has a dream to have a house of her own. “I knew then I had to have a house. A real house. One I could point to. But this isn’t it. The house on Mango Street isn’t it” (1991: 5).
She lives with her mother, father, Carlos, Kiki, her sister Nenny. It can be seen from her speech that Esperanza is described as a person who has close and intimate relationship with her mother. In the chapter “Hairs” Esperanza describes about her family who has different hair. She describes about her hair, her father’s hair, Carlos’ hair, Nenny’s hair, and Kiki’s hair.
But, when she comes to describe her mother’s hair, she describes it differently. Through her description of her mother’s hair, it can be seen that she admires her mother’s hair. She feels comfortable and safe when she closes to her mother. A figure of a mother can give her comfortable and peaceful feeling.
But my mother’s hair, my mother’s hair, like little rosettes, like little candy circles all curly and pretty because she pinned it in pincurls all day, sweet to put your nose into when she is holding you, holding you and you feel safe, is the warm smell of bread before you bake it, is the smell when she makes room for you on her side of the bed still warm with her skin, and you sleep near her (1991: 6-7).
Furthermore in the chapter “And Some More”, when Esperanza and her friends playing game about mentioning different names of clouds, Esperanza is angry when her friend named Lucy says that Esperanza’s mother has an ugly face. It proves that mother is important figure for Esperanza. She is also the person that she admires. In this case, the characterization of Esperanza can be seen through her conversation to another character and her reaction.
Not you. Your mama, that’s who. My mama? You better not be talking like that….else you can say goodbye to being my friend end forever. I’m saying your mama’s ugly like….ummm…..like bare feet in September! That does it! Both of yous better get out of my yard before I call my brothers (1991: 37).
As an older sister, Esperanza is described as a responsible girl. It can be seen in the chapter “Boys and Girls” when she does not let Nenny play with Vargas kids. “She can’t play with those Vargas kids or she’ll turn out just like them. And since she comes right after me, she is my responsibility” (1991: 8).
horse woman who would not want to marry. Until one day, there was a man who threw a sack over her head. She never forgave him in her whole life and every day she only looked out the window and hopeless.
And the story goes and she never forgave him. She looked out the window her whole life, the way so many women sit their sadness on an elbow. I wonder if she made the best with what she got or was she sorry because she couldn’t be all the things she wanted to be. Esperanza, I have inherited her name, but I don’t want to inherit her place by the window (1991: 11).
She thinks that if her grandmother forgave him, her story will be different. Although Esperanza is inherited her grandmother’s name, she does not want to be identified as a hopeless person like her grandmother. It proves her strong will of her.
Like the other usual adolescence, Esperanza is described as an innocent girl at her age who likes to play child games and arguing about child matter. It can be seen in the chapter “Our Good Day”. Esperanza and her friends decided to take turn about who will ride their new bicycle.
This bike is three ways ours, says Rachel who is thinking ahead already. Mine today, Lucy’s tomorrow and yours day after. But everybody wants to ride it today because the bike is new, so we decide to take turns after tomorrow. Today it belongs to all of us (1991: 15).
Furthermore, it can be seen in the chapter “And Some More”. Esperanza and her friends are arguing about how many different names for clouds.
There are different kinds of clouds. How many different kinds of clouds can you think of? Well, there’s these already that look like shaving cream…And what about the kind that looks like you combed its hair? Yes those are clouds too. […] there are clouds that look like big fields of sheep, Rachel says. Them are my favorite (1991: 36).
characters. Esperanza learns many positive and negative things from them. It can be seen in the chapter “Marin”. Esperanza knows a person called Marin. She is older than Esperanza and Marin tells her many things. Esperanza learns many things from Marin. She knows how a woman gets pregnant and what cream is best to taking off moustache from Marin.
I like Marin. She is older and knows lots of things. She is the one who told us how Davey the Baby’s sister got pregnant and what cream is best of taking off moustache hair and if you count the white flecks on your fingernails you can know how many boys are thinking of you and lots of other things I can’t remember now (1991: 27).
Although she learns many things from Marin, she also learns that Marin is a dependent girl. In this story, Marin is described as a girl who concerns about her physical appearance. Her dream is getting a job in downtown where she can find a man to marry and where she can attract other people by using her physical appearance.
Marin says that if she stays here next year, she’s going to get a real job downtown because that’s where the best jobs are, since you always get to look beautiful and get to wear nice clothes and can meet someone in the subway who might marry you and take you to live in a big house far away (1991: 26).
It seems that she is only waiting for the hands of man to change her life. She does not have courage to do something for her life. This fact is learned by Esperanza and the proof is quoted as follow. “Marin, under the streetlight, dancing by herself, is singing the same song somewhere. I know. Is waiting for a car to stop, a star to fall, someone to change her life” (1991: 27).
to identify the positive and negative side that she can find in Marin. In the writer opinion, this fact shows that Esperanza actually is a wise girl because she can identify the positive and negative side in one person. In this chapter, it can also be said that Esperanza is aware that there is another female character that is dependent in the hands of men.
Esperanza is described as a shy girl that is too afraid facing verbal conflict. She prefers to avoid facing conflict although she knows that it is not what she intends to say. The proof can be seen in the chapter “A Rice Sandwich”. This chapter tells us about how Esperanza wants to have lunch in her school canteen. Unfortunately, only those whose house is far from the school are allowed to eat. Esperanza’s house is not far but it is not close either. When the nun starts to question Esperanza, she does not say anything.
Everything is fine until the nun who knows all the canteen kids by heart looks at me and says: You, who sent you here? And since I am shy, I don’t say anything, just hold out my hand with the letter. This is no good, she says, till Sister Superior gives the okay. Go Upstairs and see her. And so I went (1991: 44).
Esperanza is questioned by the Sister Superior to point which is her house. To avoid confrontation with her, she admits what Sister Superior says to her. Esperanza admits that the house which Sister Superior points to is her house although it is not her house. It proves that Esperanza is afraid to face verbal conflict by admitting what other people say, although it is not true. She is too shy and scare to argue to the Sister Superior. That is why she prefers to avoid problem and admits what Sister Superior says to her.
ashamed to go into. Yes, I nodded even though I knew that wasn’t my house and started to cry (1991: 45).
Entering the second half of the novel, the characterization of Esperanza shows the progression. As have discussed in the first half of the novel, Esperanza is described as an innocent and shy girl. As an older sister, she is described as a responsible girl to her sister Nenny. She is described as a girl who has strong will and she is also described as a wise girl who is able to identify the positive and negative side in one person. In the first half of the story, Esperanza is aware that there is another female character that is dependent in the hands of men.
In the second half of the novel the characterization of Esperanza shows progression. For example, Esperanza becomes more responsible and mature in her way of thinking and from a shy person, she becomes a brave person. There are other progressions of Esperanza’s characterization that the writer will show in the next paragraphs. Throughout some chapters of the second half of the novel, the writer will show the detail of the progression of Esperanza’s characterization.
In the chapter “The First Job”, Esperanza realizes that her family faces financial problem.
It wasn’t as if I didn’t want to work. I did. I had even gone to the social security office the month before to get my social security number. I needed money. The Catholic high school cost a lot, and Papa said nobody went to public school unless you wanted to turn out bad (1991: 53).
(1991: 54). As it is explained in the first half of the novel, Esperanza is described as innocent girl at her age who likes playing child games and arguing child matter. In the first half of the novel Esperanza is also described as an older sister who is responsible for her younger sister Nenny. However, in this chapter she starts to think about her family financial problem. She is not an innocent girl anymore who likes to play child’s game and arguing about child matter; however she is more mature in her way of thinking. It is proved by her effort to help her family solving the financial problem. Esperanza feels that she is not only responsible for her younger sister, but also she feels responsible as a family member who helps to solve financial problem in her family. At this point, the writer can say that Esperanza’s level of responsibility has progressed.
As mentioned before, Esperanza learns many good and bad things from other female characters in her neighborhood. There are positives and negatives things that can be learned by Esperanza. In the second half of the novel, there is one example of female character that gives positive advice for Esperanza. It can be seen in the chapter “Born Bad”, Esperanza admires her aunt Guadalupe. She is a beautiful woman. But it is told that she is sick. “Her name was Guadalupe and she was pretty like my mother. Dark. Good to look at. In her Joan Crawford dress and swimmer’s legs. Aunt Lupe of the Photographs” (1991: 58).
Esperanza. You must keep writing. It will keep you free, and I said yes” (1991: 61). Her advice is a good thing for Esperanza to follow. Her advice can motivate her to keep her talent in writing.
In the first half of the story, Esperanza is described as a shy girl that is afraid to face verbal conflict, whereas in the second half she tries to be a brave girl. Although she feels scare, she does not want to show it. She does not let other people know her weakness. The proof can be seen in the chapter “Sire”. It is when Esperanza meets a boy whose name is Sire and she stares his eyes.
They didn’t scare me. They did, but I wouldn’t let them know. I don’t cross the street like other girls. Straight ahead, straight eyes. I walked past. I knew he was looking. I had to prove to me I wasn’t scare of nobody’s eyes, not even his (1991: 72).
She tries to prove to herself and to other people that she is not a girl who is usually scared to face such situation. She proves that as a girl she also has power and courage to overcome her fear.
In the first half of the novel, Esperanza is described as a girl who has strong will. In this chapter, her sense of strong will can also be seen. Her attitude that she does not want to grow up like the other women and girls in her neighborhood who are dependent and confined by men shows her strong will in the second half of the story. In the first half of the story, she is only aware that there is another female character that is dependent in the hands of men. However in the second half of the story, she is not only aware about the fact but she also decides her attitude of her life. As mentioned in the first half of the story, the example of a character that is dependent to the hands of man is Marin. She is only waiting for someone that can change her life.
In the second half of the novel, another example can be seen in the chapter “Rafaela Who Drinks Coconut and Papaya Juice on Tuesday”. It tells about a woman called Rafaela that is afraid to come out from her house because her husband forbids her. “And then Rafaela, who is still young but getting old from leaning out the window so much, get locked indoors because her husband is afraid Rafaela will run away since she is too beautiful to look at” (1991: 79). Rafaela is limited by her husband and does not have courage to change her life.
trudged up the wooden stairs, her sad brown shoes taking her to the house she never liked” (1991: 109).
With her artistic talent in writing, one day she dreams to go away from Mango Street. “One day I will pack my bags of books and paper. One day I will say goodbye to Mango. I am too strong, for her to keep me here forever. One day I will go away” (1991: 110).
In the very beginning of the novel, Esperanza’s dream is to have a house of her own. But it can be noticed in last chapter of this story that her dream is not merely having the house of her own, but she also thinks about other female characters that are trapped in the male domination in the neighborhood. She decided to leave Mango Street one day, but she will come back for those people. It is another progression of Esperanza’s characterization in her motivation of life. “They will not know I have gone away to come back. For the ones I left behind. For the ones who cannot out” (1991: 110).
In the second half of the novel, Esperanza becomes more responsible and mature in her way of thinking. She is not an innocent girl anymore who likes to play child games and arguing about child matters. She feels that she is not only responsible for Nenny as an older sister, but also she feels responsible as a family member who helps to solve financial problem in her family. If in the first half of the novel Esperanza is described as a shy girl who is afraid to face verbal conflict, in the second half of the novel she tries to be brave girl and she tries to overcome her fear. In the first half of the story, Esperanza is aware that there is another female character that is dependent by men. Because of seeing more facts and facing more experiences about other female characters who are dependent and confined by men, in the second half of the novel she is not only aware but also she has decided her own attitude of her life that she does not want to grow up like the other female characters who do not have intention to come out from the male domination. It can also be said as a proof of her sense of strong will in the second half of the story. Her motivation of life is also developed. In the beginning of the novel, Esperanza’s dream is to have a house of her own. However, it can be seen in last chapter of this story that her dream is not merely having the house of her own, but she also thinks about other female characters that do not have intention to come out from the male domination.
described as a girl who has strong will both in the first and in the second half of the novel.
B. Presentation of Male Domination in The House on Mango Street
In this part of the analysis, the writer will show how male domination is presented throughout the story. There are many examples of male domination toward women and girls in the story. According to Maggie Humm in The Dictionary of Feminist Theory, Male dominance is “a part of a system of dual or multiple systems of dominance: capitalism, patriarchy, heterosexism, racism, imperialism” (1995: 69). The male domination that is presented in this novel is the manifestation of patriarchal culture and the dominant form of the male domination is violence toward women and girls. Since the neighborhood in Mango Street is Chicano neighborhood, the male domination that is portrayed in this novel contains Mexican norms and heritage.
Walby in the theory of patriarchy identifies patriarchy into two which are Private Patriarchy and Public Patriarchy (2004: 95). In this novel, the practice of patriarchal culture is categorized into Private Patriarchy where women and girls are confined to the house hold sphere and have limited participation in public life, whereas the violence toward women and girls is in the form of physical and sexual violence.
state that violence toward women has been identified as a key mechanism in the subordination of women by men (2004: 173).
The male domination is obviously shown in the second half of the novel. It happens within the family life and in the neighborhood of Mango Street. From some chapters in the second half of the novel, the writer will show the manifestation of male domination in the novel.
The neighborhood that is described in this novel is a kind of neighborhood where there is much violence happens toward women and girls. In this passage, the writer will show the manifestation of male domination in the form of sexual violence. In the chapter “First Job” when Esperanza takes her job break time, she is with an older oriental man in the lunch room. They have a nice chat before finally, he asks Esperanza to give a kiss to him because it is his birthday. “Then he asked if I knew what day it was, and when I said I didn’t, he said it was his birthday and would I please give him a birthday kiss” (1991: 55).
It may be assumed that from the beginning the oriental man has intention to do something to Esperanza. The man pretends to say to Esperanza that it is his birthday. By doing this lying, Esperanza is willing to kiss him. Esperanza kissed him in his cheek, but he grabs her hard and kisses her mouth. “I thought I would because he was so old and just as I was about to put my lips on his cheek, he grabs my face with both hands and kisses me hard on the mouth and doesn’t let go” (1991: 55).
Esperanza who is still adolescence does not know his intention. The other example of sexual violence that is faced by Esperanza can be seen in the chapter “Red Clowns”. In this chapter, it is told that Esperanza goes to the carnivals with her friend, Sally. In the middle of the carnival place, Sally leaves Esperanza alone and finally Esperanza is assaulted by a man.
Sally Sally a hundred times. Why didn’t you hear me when I called? Why didn’t you tell them to leave me alone? The one who grabbed me by the arm, he wouldn’t let me go. He said I love you, Spanish girl, I love you, and pressed his sour mouth to mine (1991: 100)
The examples of sexual violence above are manifestation of women subordination in this novel. Treated weaker than men, women are the object of male domination. There will be more example of male domination that can be seen in other chapter in this novel. If the male domination that is discussed above happens in the neighborhood, in the next passage the writer will show the male domination that happens within the family life.
In the chapter “Rafaela Who Drinks Coconut & Papaya Juice on Tuesdays”, it is reflected an example of male domination that happens within the family life. As mentioned in the previous analysis, Rafaela is a young married woman that is too scare to come out from her house because her husband forbids her. “And then Rafaela, who is still young but getting old from leaning out the window so much, gets locked indoors because her husband is afraid Rafaela will run away since she is too beautiful to look at” (1991: 79).
culturally and historically and between different groupings of men (2004: 82-83, 93). Since Rafaela’s husband is a Chicano, the male domination that he practices in his family contains Mexican norms and heritage.
As a Chicano, Rafaela’s husband practices the patriarchal culture of Chicano social tribe. Chicano is a social tribe who embrace the pattern of Mexican heritage. In the Mexican family, men have authority toward women. They hold power as a patriarchal agent and apply the norms and patterns of Mexican family. It is supported by Karen Anderson in her book entitled Changing Woman: A History of Racial Ethnic Women in Modern America. In her book, she stated that “Within the Mexican family system, authority and prestige were allocated on the basis of an ascribed age/gender status with male authority over women receiving a strong ideological sanction” (1996: 93). It is the norms of Mexican heritage that must be applied by men within the family.
According to the theory of patriarchy by Walby, the male domination that is reflected through Rafaela’s story is the manifestation of private patriarchy. She is confined to the house hold sphere and she has limited access to the public life for example the restriction to go to work outside. Karen Anderson in the same book quoted the statement of a Mexican printer in Chicago as follow “if our wives went to work, they would meet some other men and would go away with them; I would not blame my wife, I would blame myself, because I have control of her” (1996: 104).
The same with Rafaela’s husband, the Mexican printer also has sexual control over his wife. As mentioned before, men’s reputation is tied to their sexual control over women within their families. So, it is their responsibility to control and supervise women outside the house. That is why the Mexican printer will not blame his wife but he will blame himself because he has the responsibility and sexual control over his wife. And so does happen to Rafaela’s husband. His reputation is tied to the sexual control of her wife. He does not let his wife go outside in order to apply the norm within the family. He tries to keep his reputation as the head of the family by preventing something happen to his wife such as run away with another man or having affair. It will influence his reputation as a man who apply patriarchal pattern of Mexican heritage.
told in some chapters. Throughout those chapters, the writer will show how she faces male domination in this novel.
In the chapter “Sally”, Sally is described as a beautiful and attractive girl. However, according to her father that practices the norm of the Chicano patriarchal culture, he says that to be beautiful is trouble. “Her father says to be this beautiful is trouble” (1991: 81).
Furthermore, in the chapter “What Sally Said”, the presentation of male domination that is faced by Sally is obviously shown. In this chapter, it is told that Sally often gets physical abuse from his father. “But Sally doesn’t tell about that time he hit her with his hands just like a dog, she said, like if I was an animal. He thinks I’m going to run away like his sisters who made the family ashamed” (1991: 92).
The quotation above shows the physical violence toward girl. Having ashamed with the sister of Sally’s father that is run away from the house, Sally’s father applies physical violence to Sally. It is another proof about the reflection of sexual control toward woman. As mentioned before, the reputation of Chicanos is tied to the sexual control over women. Sally’s father tries to prevent the same thing that happens to his sister by doing physical violence to Sally. If the same thing happens to Sally, it will influence his reputation as the head of the family who applies the Chicano patriarchal culture within the family.
Still in the same book, Karen Anderson states about another norm of Mexican heritage quoted as follow:
home whenever possible and male relatives supervised her when she was outside the house hold (1996: 93).
Besides having sexual control over women, men as a head of the family also have a responsibility to supervise their daughter when they are outside the house. It is done to accomplish the norm that ideally a girl should be pious and virgin until marriage. It is also faced by Sally. In this novel, she is limited to go outside from her house by her father.
Sally was going to get permission to stay with us a little and one Thursday she came finally with a sack full of clothes and a paper bag of sweetbread her mama send. And would’ve stayed too except when the dark came her father, whose eyes were little from crying, knocked on the door and said please come back, this is the last time. And she said Daddy and went home (1991: 93).
In the chapter “Linoleum Roses”, it is told that Sally is married to a man. Even when she has married, she also faces the same situation. Sally’s husband forbids her to go outside from her house except from his permission. “She sits at home because she is afraid to go outside without his permission. She looks at all the things they own: the towels and the toaster, the alarm clock and the drapes” (1991: 102).
Sally is the same person as Rafaela who is afraid to come out from the house without the permission from their husband. Both of them are trapped by the male domination within their family. They do not have courage and intention to come out from the male hegemony.
