In Indonesia and Pakistan, the phenomenon of forced marriage often occurs in society, not only in the social world but also in literary works. Literary works that discuss various matters regarding women have always been an interesting topic. So far there have been many female authors who have discussed the topic “women”. Literary works considered bold, vulgar, polite, and Islamic are becoming increasingly numerous in bookstores, both online and offline. Literary work is a representation of social life as explained by Swingewood, literary work is a reflection of the society towards which the literary work is produced (Zulfadhli & Syahrul, 2022). Literary works that present a lot about women’s issues in several countries still get high attention, especially in countries where the majority are Muslim. Women and patrimonial issues are topics that represent the conditions of each country. Patrimony is the power and ownership of women from the line of the father or male ancestors (Beauvoir, 2014). In Indonesia as well as in Pakistan, women activists like Riffat Hasan in Pakistan have never stopped fighting for gender equality and justice, and women novelists are no exception.
Two contemporary female novelists who consistently write and fight against gender bias and patrimonialism in their respective countries, namely Abidah El-Khalieqy (Indonesia) and Qaisra Shahraz (Pakistan). Both inserted messages about the suffering of women due to patriarchy and gender injustice practices that should be abolished. Abidah’s novel Perempuan Berkalung Sorban (Woman with a Turban) is a literary work that tells the life of women within an Islamic boarding school and resistance to the domination of patrimonial ideology. Not much different from the novel The Holy Woman by Qaisra Shahraz, which also contains resistance to such an ideology packed with Islamic overtones. The two literary works are interesting to study because of the similarities in showing oppression, forced marriage, and resistance to patrimonial ideology. The oppression of women contained in the story is the result of strong patrimonial domination. Gender bias is represented through the characters in both works which are depicted in patterns of discrimination, subordination, stereotypes, and violence against women. The works have also drawn criticism and controversy in their respective countries. They firmly and boldly criticize tradition which is mixed with women’s freedom which is shackled as a result of Islamization. The two writers™ criticism is on the tradition and the patriarchal domination practiced on behalf of Islam. Thus, there is a possibility that Islam is used as a foundation to legitimize patriarchal traditions and ideologies that are biased against women.
Author: Rima Firdaus, S.Hum., M.Hum.
Jurnal: Representation of Symbolic Violence and Social Inequality in High Society Film
