Ketidakadilan Gender dan Strategi Bertahan Perempuan dalam Cantik Itu Luka karya Eka Kurniawan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37296/esci.v6i1.365Abstract
Literary works function not only as aesthetic expressions but also as reflections of social realities, including issues of gender inequality. This study examines gender injustice and women’s survival strategies in Cantik Itu Luka by Eka Kurniawan, with a particular focus on the character of Dewi Ayu as the central figure. The research aims to identify the forms of gender-based injustice experienced by the female protagonist and to analyze her strategies for survival within the context of colonial patriarchy. Employing a qualitative descriptive method, this study applies feminist criticism and a sociological literary approach. Data were collected through library research and close textual analysis of relevant narrative excerpts, which were then interpreted critically. The findings reveal that Dewi Ayu experiences multiple forms of gender injustice, including negative stereotyping, sexual violence, physical and emotional abuse, and the objectification of the female body within a patriarchal colonial system. Rather than portraying resistance through overt physical rebellion, the novel represents the protagonist’s struggle through survival strategies such as bodily negotiation and endurance in oppressive circumstances. This study concludes that Cantik Itu Luka portrays women as subjects who endure layered oppression while simultaneously articulating a strong social critique of patriarchal domination.
References
Aulia, R., Nugroho, Y. E., & Supriyanto, T. (2024). Analisis feminisme liberal pada tokoh utama dalam novel Amba karya Laksmi Pamuntjak. Lingua Rima: Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa dan Sastra Indonesia, 13(1).
Ayu, A. S., Jaya, W. S., & Alfiawati, R. (2023). Ketidakadilan gender pada tokoh perempuan dalam novel Perempuan yang Menangis kepada Bulan Hitam karya Dian Purnomo (kajian feminisme). Warahan: Jurnal Ilmiah Mahasiswa Pendidikan Bahasa dan Sastra Indonesia, 5(1), 53–64.
Febrianti, N. L. A., Artika, I. W., & Artawan, G. (2023). Ketidakadilan gender dalam novel Cantik Itu Luka karya Eka Kurniawan. Jurnal Pendidikan dan Pembelajaran Bahasa Indonesia, 12(1), 34–43.
Hartati, D., Amelia, R., Nanda, S. P. D., Sulistyani, S., Harahap, S., Nazra, Y., & Sipayung, A. W. (2025). Kritik sosial puisi “Sia-Sia” karya Chairil Anwar dengan pendekatan feminisme. eScience Humanity Journal, 5(2), 502–510. https://doi.org/10.37296/esci.v5i2.279
Luh, A. F. N. (2023). Analisis feminis citra perempuan dalam Cantik Itu Luka. Jurnal Linguistik & Sastra (UNWMataram).
Meivitasari, Y., & Widyatwati, K. (2023). Bentuk ketidakadilan gender dan perlawanan tokoh Kinanti dalam novel Layangan Putus (kajian feminisme eksistensialisme Simone de Beauvoir). Diglosia: Jurnal Kajian Bahasa, Sastra, dan Pengajarannya, 6(4), 1071–1080.
Namang, K. W. (2024). Kajian feminisme dalam novel Cantik Itu Luka karya Eka Kurniawan. Pragmatik: Jurnal Rumpun Ilmu Bahasa dan Pendidikan.
Padmasari, L. O., Dewi, N., & Nugraha, S. T. (2025). Perlawanan terhadap diskriminasi perempuan dalam novel Cantik Itu Luka: Kajian feminisme Marxis. Jurnal Onoma: Pendidikan, Bahasa, dan Sastra, 11(2), 15–20.
Plain, G., & Sellers, S. (Eds.). (2007). A history of feminist literary criticism. Cambridge University Press.
Putri, S. P. (2022). Perjuangan tokoh utama dalam novel Belenggu karya Armijn Pane: Kajian feminisme liberal. Literasi: Jurnal Bahasa dan Sastra Indonesia serta Pembelajarannya, 6(2), 291–300.
Rahmadini, S. N., Alsunah, A. A., & Nurwahidah, L. S. (2025). Analisis ketidakadilan gender terhadap tokoh perempuan Laura dalam film Laura menggunakan kajian feminisme. eScience Humanity Journal, 6(1), 37–43. https://doi.org/10.37296/esci.v6i1.329
Rahman, F., & Faisal, A. (2025). Women's Resistance to Religious Values in Several Indonesian Novels of the 2000s: A Feminist Literary Criticism Review. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 15(8), 2651-2660.
Rahman, F., & Saguni, S. S. (2021). Supremasi perempuan dalam novel Renjana Dyana karya Adimodel: Kajian feminisme radikal. INTERFERENCE: Journal of Language, Literature, and Linguistics.
Rosita, I., Hudiyono, Y., & Hanum, I. S. (2021). Perjuangan tokoh utama perempuan dalam novel Ibuk karya Iwan Setyawan: Kajian feminisme sosialis. Ilmu Budaya: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Budaya, 5(2), 383–393.
Sandy, A. A. (2019). Marginalisasi-subordinasi perempuan dalam novel Gadis Pantai karya Pramoedya Ananta Toer: Kajian feminisme. Jurnal Penelitian, Pendidikan, dan Pembelajaran.
Tsya, A. A. (2021). Kajian feminisme dalam novel Bumi Manusia karya Pramoedya Ananta Toer. Jurnal Simki Pedagogia.
Zuraida, T. R. (2013). Pemberontakan perempuan dalam novel Perempuan Badai karya Mustofa Wahid Hasyim: Kajian feminisme. Jurnal Sastra Indonesia.Smith, J., & Rea, K. (2016). The structure of an article. In D. O. Pete & S. M. Trevor (Eds.), Language for specific purposes (pp. 112–150). Town: Publisher.
