From Cindelaras to Snow White: A Critical Analysis of Popular Children^s Literature with an Ecofeminist Perspective Radius Setiyawan, Holy Ichda Wahyuni, Uswatun Khasanah, Riska Rahayu Roisiah
Universitas Muhammadiyah Surabaya
Abstract
Children^s literature in Indonesia is a genre that is an important part of children^s growth and development. Children^s literature texts are not neutral stories with no ideological value. In Indonesia, many and varied folklore genres exist in children^s literature. Most of these types of children^s folklore are reproduced over time. Critically reading various children^s literary texts is an important thing to do. It is necessary because it is very likely that the content of the story, plot and characters contain gender-biased values and are not environmentally friendly. Gender and ecological problems have the same root problem, namely domination. Gender issues are related to patriarchal domination, while ecological issues are related to the dominant anthropocentric perspective. This research critically describes children^s literary texts or popular reading from an ecofeminist perspective. Through an ecofeminist perspective, this research seeks to describe (1) how male-female relations and human-environment relations are, (2) analyze the symbolic power of patriarchal and anthropocentrism discourses that exist in children^s reading. This research uses the critical discourse analysis method. The subjects of his research are folk tales and fables. The collection methods are documentation and literature review. The data obtained was analyzed using a critical approach. This research is important for two reasons. First, this research is important because the information and findings can be used to determine how children^s literature depicts gender and ecological constructions. This description can be used as a guide for parents, teachers and educational practitioners. Second, the results of this research can provide input to the government regarding children^s reading consumption.
Keywords: Children^s- Critically reading - literature
