Complex oppression towards sanikem as depicted in Toer's 'Earth of Mankind'

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background of the Study

1.2. Statement of the Problems

1.3. Objective of the Study

1.4. Significance of the Study

1.5. Scope and Limitation

1.6. Theoretical Background

1.7. Method of the Study

1.8. Definition of Key Terms

CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1. Theoretical Framework

2.1.1. Post-colonial Feminism

2.1.2. Cultural and Historical Aproach

2.1.2.1. Javanese Culture in the 19th Century

2.1.2.2. Java under the Dutch’s Colonization

2.2. Review of Related Studies

CHAPTER 3 ANALYSIS

3.1. Javanese’s Feudal System as the Root of Oppression towards Sanikem

3.1.1. Society’s Values about Ideal Image of Javanese Men and Women

3.1.2. Sanikem’s Father’s Domination

3.2. Oppression towards Sanikem by the Dutch’s Colonialism

3.2.1. Rejection by the European Society

3.2.2. Discrimination by the Dutch’s Colonial Laws

3.3. Shifting of Sanikem’s Personality and Her Awareness of the Oppression

3.4. Sanikem’s Struggle; Can the Subaltern Speak?

CHAPTER 4 CONCLUSION

Conclusion

Research Objectives and Themes

This thesis investigates the complex intersection of Dutch colonialism and Javanese feudalism, specifically analyzing how these dual structures systematically oppressed native women in 19th-century Indonesia. The primary research goal is to examine the character development of Sanikem (Nyai Ontosoroh) in Pramoedya Ananta Toer’s novel This Earth of Mankind to demonstrate her shifting personality, her dawning awareness of patriarchal and colonial subjugation, and the ultimate silencing of her struggle as a subaltern figure.

• The role of Javanese patriarchal structures and the "Ideology of Familialism" in marginalizing women.
• The impact of Dutch colonial laws and social hierarchy on the lives of indigenous concubines (nyai).
• Sanikem's internal transition from submissive subject to an aware, independent, and resistant woman.
• The application of Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak’s "subaltern" theory to illustrate the impossibility of native women's voices being heard under colonial power.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION: This chapter establishes the historical background of Dutch colonial impact on Javanese society and defines the research scope concerning the character of Sanikem.

CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW: This chapter provides the theoretical framework, combining feminist and post-colonial criticism to analyze the subaltern status of native women in the 19th century.

CHAPTER 3 ANALYSIS: This chapter examines the root of oppression against Sanikem through both the Javanese feudal system and Dutch colonial legal frameworks, while tracing her shift in consciousness.

CHAPTER 4 CONCLUSION: This chapter synthesizes the research findings, confirming the mutual reinforcement of feudalism and colonialism in the systematic silencing of indigenous women.

Keywords

Subaltern, Colonialism, Feudalism, Oppression, Feminism, Awareness, Nyai, Patriarchy, Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Javanese Culture, Post-colonialism, Silence, Resistance, Social Stratification, Identity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary focus of this thesis?

The thesis explores the systematic oppression of native Javanese women during the Dutch colonial era, specifically through the character of Sanikem in Pramoedya Ananta Toer's novel This Earth of Mankind.

What are the central thematic fields explored?

The central themes include the intersection of Dutch colonial power and Javanese feudal patriarchy, the concept of the subaltern, gender-based marginalization, and the struggle for personal autonomy.

What is the main research question of this study?

The study seeks to answer how the dual hierarchy of Dutch colonialism and Javanese feudalism contributed to Sanikem's oppression, and how she struggled against this reality.

Which scientific methodology is applied?

The research employs a qualitative method, conducting literary analysis through the lens of post-colonial feminist criticism and utilizing historical and cultural context.

What topics are covered in the main body?

The main body analyzes the patriarchal nature of Javanese society, the specific exploitation of women as concubines, the role of Dutch colonial laws in marginalizing natives, and the psychological shifting and awareness of the protagonist.

Which keywords define this work?

Key terms include subaltern, colonialism, feudalism, oppression, feminism, and awareness.

How did Sanikem’s status as a "nyai" affect her legal standing?

As a nyai (concubine), she possessed no legal status under Dutch colonial law, which denied her rights as a mother and excluded her from any claim to her master's property or legitimate social protection.

What is the significance of the "Ideology of Familialism" mentioned in the analysis?

This ideology constrained Javanese women to domestic life and absolute submission to their husbands or fathers, effectively facilitating their marginalization within the societal power structure.