GENDER DISCRIMINATION

FOUND ON THE NOVEL ANNA AND THE KING

Manisa
152120119
Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris
Universitas Muhammadiyah Purworejo
Abstract
Gender discrimination against women is frequently found in social life. It refers to the
unfair treatment that women experience both in family and in larger social life. There are, at
least, three effects of gender discrimination against women. They are, marginalization of
women, the existence of violence toward women, and the burden of duties and responsibilities
of women.
This study deals with the novel Anna and The King written by Elizabeth Hand in 1999.
It embodies the issue of gender discrimination experienced by women characters in Siam. It is
aimed at finding out the existence inequality of different status social between men and women,
and also identifying the ways in dealing with inequality, which is represented by women
characters in this novel. In conducting the study, the writer uses gender and feminism approach.
Using the approach, this study focused on the issue of gender discrimination experienced by
Anna, the King’s wives, and Tuptim.
The result of this study finds that Anna and women in Siam got the unfair treatments
from their society based on their different status social with men. The discrimination can be
found on some aspects of social life, such as matrimony, law, and language.

Key words : Gender, discrimination, novel Anna and The King.

A. INTRODUCTION

Gender is always interesting to be discussed. It is because gender is the issue that people

frequently face in their lives. It always relates to the problem of human rights. That is why people

throughout the world put emphasis on this issue.

At the very beginning, gender is the term used to make the difference between men and women.

It is differed by their sex types. Arliss (1991:6) states that sex refers to a biological category. Each of us can

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be labeled of female and male at birth based on observable physical evidence. Gender is the term used to

describe socially constructed categories based on sex. It means gender is the creation of society in certain

place and culture which is aimed at showing the difference of nature, characteristics and function between

men and women.

The concept of gender is frequently manipulated for certain purposes. It makes the impact on the

existence of gender discrimination in society. Women frequently become the victims of gender

discrimination. There are at least three effects of gender discrimination toward women. First,

marginalization of woman. In this kind of society, women’s access to larger social life is limited. They are

bound to domestic area and cannot enter the public area such as education, social professions, business, etc.

In this sense, culture directly places women subordinate to men.

Second, the existence of the violence. It is generally known that some terms – sexual abuse,

pornography, rape – usually related to the women’s lives. In most cases, women are in the position of

victims. It is because physically women are more fragile in the relation to men. Such a condition is reflected

on the inability of women to free themselves from the violence conducted by men. In certain places, culture

justifies such a condition. It can be found in some traditional society which still believes that women are the

second class people.

Third, the inequality of duties and responsibilities. Gender manipulation also causes the

inequality of duties and responsibilities. The duties of women are the ones related to the household matters

such as cooking, cleaning, and child rearing while men do the work outside the house which make the

income for the family.

Anna and The King is a novel written based on diaries of Indian-born British school teacher, Anna

Leonowens. The novel published in 1999 written by Elizabeth Hand. It has two versions; the first published

in 1944 entitled Anna and the King of Siam by Margareth London. The second version written by Elizabeth

Hand referred to a playwright Anna and The King by Steve Marson, Peter Krikes, Andy Tenant, and Rick

Parks.

The novel tells us about the British school teacher, Anna, who came to Thailand or Siam to teach

English to the children of the King of Siam. The King of Siam asked for her to be the governess in his

kingdom. In this case, the King who has invited her to teach about modern world but he still resists

changing some traditional roles in his kingdom which makes the gender discrimination on women. The

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existing inequality of the different social status between men and women on this novel invites the writer to

analyze it on this study.

B. Research Methodology

The previous researches on gender discrimination illustrate that women face a variety of
discrimination in their lives. The main aim of this research is to know the causes and consequences
of gender discrimination against women with different aspects matrimony institution, languange,
and law in film Anna and the King in the Siam.
1. The method of the Research
The writer uses the qualitative method in analysis of novel. The writer would like to
analysis gender descrimination found on novel Anna and the King in the Siam.
2. Research Design

In this part, the researcher would like to explain about the type of research that is
used qualitative. According to Creswell (2009: 22), qualitative research is a means for
exploring and understanding the meaning individuals or groups ascribe to a social or
human problem. Based on the information above, in conducting this research, the
researcher uses qualitative research to analysis gender descrimination found on novel
Anna and the King in the Siam.
C. A BRIEF OF RELATED THEORY
1. Gender

Arliss (1991:7) defines gender as a behaviorally determined category. It is socially and culturally

constructed and not assigned at birth. For example, there is an opinion commonly accepted that household

works are women’s concerns and men do the works outside the house which make the income for the

family. Such division of duty is not assigned at birth but is constructed by society in certain place and time.

2. Discrimination

Encyclopedia of Americana (1955:545) defines discrimination as negative behaviour directed

toward some groups. It is behaviour that is unfair to a target group. Discrimination can be practiced by an

individual or an institution. Individual discrimination is carried out by people acting on their own.

Institutional discrimination occurs when some large organizations engage in practices that are unfair to

member of some groups and put them at a disadvantage. In most instances, discrimination is directed

against a relatively powerless group by members of a powerful dominant group.

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3. The Causes of Gender Discrimination

The existence of gender discrimination goes through a long process. It can be best understood by

considering various explanations. The explanations can be used as the theoretical basis in understanding the

causes of gender discrimination experienced by women in society.

a. Historical Explanation

The explanation suggests that originally economic factors led to gender discrimination. In

prehistoric time, when agriculture developed and animals were domesticated, men took the role of

animal herders and women that of farmers. After the invention of some tools on caretaking of the

animals become involved in agriculture. It made the impact on the declination of the status of women

because their roles of food providers diminished. In other hand, men were more dominant due to their

more involvement in herding and agriculture works.

Moreover, the development of industries in 19 th century needed the growing number of

workers especially in the newly established industries. Under the capitalistic economy, the exploitation

of women became stronger. They had to support the achievement of profit for the owner of the

factories. Because the owner (bourgeoisie) always wanted the profit as much as possible, they needed

the workers with the lowest pay. Women became more significant because of reproducing the low-paid

workers. Besides, the women workers were significant in capitalistic economy because they were paid

lower than men workers (Fakih, 1996:88)

b. Biological Explanation

The causes of gender discrimination experienced by women can also be explained by the

theory of biological determinism. Ingold (1994:813) describes that the differences established in social

life between women and men as originating in biology.

The explanation based on the assumption that the characteristics of ambitious, competitive,

rational, dominant, aggressive, etc. are male characteristics. Some public matters requiring these

characteristics such as economics and political activities are better suited for men and not for women,

since biologically women do not posses the characteristics above.

4. The Manifestations of Gender Discrimination

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 a. Marginalization and Subordination of Women

Marginalization of women is a process of leading women to a marginal position in economic

area. Their roles in economic activities become less significant because of excluding them from the

important positions. Marginalization of women are allowed to exist by the governmental policies,

religious, and cultural interpretations, social norms, and scientific considerations (Fakih, 1996:14). It

makes the impact on the existence of poverty in society because women who account for great number

of society are not allowed to participate in economic activities that make the income. Marginalization of

women does not only take place in workplace but also in household, societies, and states. In some

cultures that still keeps tightly the patriarchal values, women do not get the inheritance from their

parents. It can be implied that their status in social life is lower that that of men.

While the term ‘subordinate’ generally means underneath or in support of and is seemingly

analogous to the stereotypic female position in American society (Arliss, 1991:172). The subordination

manifests itself in professions opportunities, access to occupations and education, decision making, etc.

Women usually get lower positions than men in political, social, and economic profession. They rarely

gain the top positions that women are regarded as emotional so they are not suited to become leaders.

Women just play the support role in relation to men.

b. Violence toward Women

Violence is a physical and mental strike or assault toward individual(s). The violence based

on gender differences is usually suffered by women since thay are physically weaker than men. Fakih

(1996:18-20) states that these violence takes place in various different forms such as rape, prostitution,

pornography, enforced sterilization, and sexual emotional harassment.

c. Burden Duties and Responsibilities of Women

The stereotypes which impose to women as emotional, submissive, gentle, and quiet,; has

forced women are better suited to conduct the domestic duties. The duties make the women burdened.

Furthermore, the social and cultural norms justify women’s concern on domestic area only.

D. GENDER DISCRIMINATION ON THE NOVEL ANNA AND THE KING

1. Matrimony Institution

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 The cultural background of this novel is Siam which still keeps patriarchal system. One of the

special characteristics of this system reflected in Siamese is that men are allowed to have more than one

wife (polygamy). Moreover, men are also allowed to have concubines and do not need to ask for their

wife’s admission.

This is also reflected on novel Anna and The King which the King Mongkut has some wives and

concubines. On the gender view, we can see that men do not have to pay attention and care about their

wives’ thought and feeling. The King Mongkut is at once the patriarchal and despotic leader. “Twenty-three

wives, forty two concubines, fifty-eight offsprings, and ten more on the way. Each unique.” Said King

Mongkut proudly. “Each one my hope for the future.”(Hand, 1999:48)

It can be implied that each of his wives or concubines gets a little time to share their feeling, to

talk about everything with their lovely husband. The status as the wives of the King can not eliminate the

status as civilians or every woman in front of the husband. Their position is lower than men.

Besides, there is Tuptim, one of the Siamese women who had to marry the King. Her father

presents her to be the King’s concubines as the gift. Tuptim does not want to be the King’s concubine,

however she can do nothing to help her even her family. In this case, there is a subordination of women on

Siamese marriage institution since men enforce women to be the wife without any love. “The noblemen,

Thak Chaloemtiarana…Siam’s most prosperous tea merchant, who pledges eternal loyalty and who wishes

to present his most beautiful daughter, Tuptim, for His Majesty’s Royal favor.”(Hand, 1999:73)

2. Language

The patriarchal system in Siam presented on this novel is really vivid. It can be implied from the

language used by the men and women. Women do not have right to express their own opinion without

men’s permission. They are forbidden to speak before men. When the Prince Chulalongkorn has a quarrel

with Louise, Anna’s son, there were no one tell the truth before asked by the King. Then, Lady Thiang who

finally speaks to the King explains the reason of event with a low voice and looks doubtful. It is implied

that she has not brave enough to show her feeling with her own language to men, even her husband.

On the other side, men in Siam have to have a high voice, firmly, and rather command to women

as their strength. It can be seen from the King’s answer when Anna asked for the King promise to let her

have her own house.

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 The King tilted his head. “It is my pleasure that you live in the palace”, he said firmly.
Anna’s resolve echoed her own. “But it is not mine, Your Majesty.”
The King’s eyes flashed. He stepped toward her, his voice booming across the tranquil garden.
“You do not set conditions of your employment and you shall obey!” (Hand, 1999:54-55)

From the quotation above, we can see that woman is subordinate of man in Siamese culture. It

puts women to be underneath men’s power.

3. Law

From the novel Anna and The King, we can see that there is no women participating in the King’s

Council or any office. The King rules society, moreover men enforce laws and government regulation. In

this case, there is a marginalization of women position on social life, especially on the strategic or important

position. Thus, every treatment toward social life is viewed from the men’s world.

The unfair treatment on law between men and women is also found from the Prince

Chulalongkorn’s statement that men in Siam never ask women’s apologize, even toward their mother. “In

my country,” the Prince shouted, “man never tells woman he is sorry about anything, ever! If you had

father, you would know that.” (Hand, 1999:71). From the quotation, we find that women become the

blamed one, although man is the person who makes the mistake.

Besides, the unfair treatment is also found from Tuptim’s case. She had to get punishment for

betraying her marriage with the King. She has no right to defense herself on the court. “Why say anything if

I am not to be judged fairly?” (Hand, 1999:233). As the women, she can do nothing to make her release

from the punishment or regulation made by men.

E. CONCLUSION

From the analysis above, we can get some final remarks as follows:

1. This novel is a reflection of gender inequality which happens because of different social status between

men and women in Siamese culture.

2. Women in Siam, on this novel, are showed as the marginal people who often get unfair treatment or

discrimination on their social life.

3. The gender discrimination experienced by women characters on this novel can be seen from the

matrimony institution, law, and language aspects.

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 Works Cited

Arliss, Laurie P. 1991. Gender Communication. New Jersey: Prentice Hall Inc.

Fakih, Mansour. 1996. Analisis Gender dan Transformasi Sosial. Yogyakarta: Pustaka Relajar

Hand, Elizabeth. 1999. Anna and The King. New York: Harper Collins Publisher.

Ingold, Tim (ed.). 1994. Companion Enciclopedia of Anthropology: Humanity, Culture, and Social Life.
London: Routledge