Ketidakadilan Gender dalam Oliver Twist karya Charles Dickens = Gender Inequality in Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

This study examines the gender inequality experienced by female characters in Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist. While the novel primarily focuses on the life of Oliver Twist, it also addresses various social issues affecting other characters, particularly women. The female characters analyzed in this study include Nancy, Agnes, Rose, Mrs. Corney (or Mrs. Bumble), and Charlotte. Using Robert Stanton’s structuralism approach, this research analyzes the intrinsic elements of the novel, such as story facts (plot, character, and setting), themes, and story devices (title, point of view, language style, tone, symbol, and irony). The study also applies Mansour Fakih’s theory of gender inequality to identify forms of gender inequality such as marginalization, subordination, stereotype, violence, and double burden faced by the female characters. The findings reveal that all five types of gender inequality outlined by Mansour Fakih are present in Oliver Twist, with women being treated unfairly in various aspects of their social, familial, and gendered lives. Among all the female characters, Nancy is the only one who dares to resist the injustices she faces, though ultimately she loses her life. Nancy is portrayed as a character who exhibits the courage to fight against gender inequality, despite being trapped in difficult circumstances, while other female characters, such as Agnes, Rose, Mrs. Corney (Mrs. Bumble), and Charlotte tend to be more passive in the face of injustice.

Keyword : Gender Inequality, Novel Oliver Twist, Female Characters, Structuralism.