Contesting the Patriarchal Authority: Portrait of Millennial Women in the Indonesian Novel

This study aimed to describe and analyze the claim of millennial women against the patriarchal authority represented in the Indonesian novels. To achieve this goal, this study applied descriptive-qualitative research using feminist methods. The data of this study are in the form of phrases, words and sentences containing the thoughts and actions of millennial female characters towards patriarchal authority. The data sources of this study were 9 (nine) Indonesian novels (published in the 2000s) written by female authors. The data were analyzed using content analysis techniques, which began with identification, classification, comparing, and interpreting of phrases, words, sentences containing the speech, thoughts and actions of the story characters. Based on these steps, it was found that the problems that were being criticized by millennial women were related to the problem of (1) discrimination against women (especially the lower class), (2) the security and welfare of life for women, (3) patriarchal capitalists, (4) Cultural traditions that shackle women, (5) men as superior beings, and (6) issues of sexual harassment. The opposition made by the of female figures is majority caused by the practice of patriarchal power which is full of gender injustice.