Anastasya, Citra
(2023)
The Gilded Cage: Oppression Experienced by Upper-Class Women in
Novel The Widows of Malabar Hill (2018) by Sujata Massey.
Skripsi thesis, Universitas Negeri Padang.
Abstract
This analysis explores the issue of oppression towards women as a result of
patriarchal practices, traditional traditions, gender roles, and social expectations in
the novel The Widows of Malabar Hill (2018) by Sujata Massey. This is
qualitative research that relies on text and applies feminist literary criticism to
analyze the issue in the novel. This analysis uses oppression theory by several
theorist including Frye, Cudd, Young, and Panades and Chris Drew to find out the
forms of oppression experienced by the upper-class women in the novel. This
research found that upper-class women experienced several forms of oppression
which are gender-based discrimination, gender-based marginalization,
powerlessness, restricted access to formal education, restriction on property sales
rights, being forbidden to work in public, limitation in freedom of mobility,
cultural and religious practices, gender-based violence, and lack of legal rights.
On the surface, they appear to live a comfortable and luxurious life, yet their
freedom and potential are confined or limited as they live in “the gilded cage.”
Despite the oppression imposed upon them, these upper-class women display a
remarkable degree of agency. By applying the agency theory of several theorists
such as Meyers, Barker, Abrams, Isaac, Kabeer, Burke, and Sen, this study finds
that women show their agency in several forms including exercising autonomy,
challenging gender norms and expectations, resistance to oppression, legal
advocacy, awareness of the oppression, deception, and positive respond on
religious understanding.
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