Ecofeminism Representation in a Collection of Childrens Stories by Child Writers
Sujinah, Muhammad Arfan, Ali Nuke Affandy

Muhammadiyah University of Surabaya

Abstract

The purpose of this study describes the representation of ecofeminism in the collection of childrens stories and their realization (the ten best manuscripts of the 2015 childrens story contest) by childrens authors. Feminists believe that human beings are interconnected with one another, and are also related to non-human beings, such as nature. Women and nature have symbolic similarities because they are both oppressed by humans who are masculine in character. Efforts to save the environment according to ecofeminism are a way to re-promote womens traits. The data source of this study is a collection of childrens stories by childrens writers published by the Ministry of Education and Culture. The collection of childrens stories was determined by purposive sampling. The research data was obtained by reading the collection of childrens stories repeatedly, recorded, and classified according to the research focus categories related to ecofeminism issues. Data were analyzed using a framework of feminist literary criticism. The results of the study show that there are ecofemist representations in the short story collection, among others, in the story entitled mencari ujung pelangi by Kalyana Adzhara. In the title found eleven sentences that represent expressions / words / actions criticizing environmental destruction by female characters (Alfi) and only three sentences found revealed by male characters (Ferdi). It is proven that in caring more about the natural environment, which has the responsibility to preserve nature and its balance (ecofeminis), is a woman. Women have more involvement than men in life-sustaining jobs. Women pay attention to elements: water, air, earth and fire.

Keywords: ecofeminism, collection of childrens short stories, oppression, representation

Topic: Gender Studies