pISSN: 2723 - 6609 e-ISSN: 2745-5254

Vol. 5, No. 9 September 2024 http://jist.publikasiindonesia.id/

Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Teknologi, Vol. 5, No. 9, September 2024 3351

Analysis of Liberal Feminism According to Naomi Wolf in the

Novel Al Ajnihah Al Mutakassirah by Kahlil Gibran

Dimas Andrisesar Winarsoputra

, Iin Suryaningsih

, Sayyed Zuhdi Abdil Ghany

Universitas Al Azhar Indonesia, Indonesia

Email:

[email protected]

, [email protected]

[email protected]

*Correspondence

ABSTRACT

Keywords: liberal

feminism, naomi wolf,

novel, kahlil gibran,

broken wings.









         

, raises the issue

of women's helplessness against the influence of male power

at that time. The character of Salma Karamy, the daughter of

Faris Affandi, a wealthy man in Lebanon, is helpless in the

face of the influence of the power of Bishop Bolus Galib who

wants Faris's wealth by forcing the marriage of his nephew

Mansour Bey Galib to Salma. Salma and Kahlil Gibran's

love ran aground. This journal uses a qualitative-descriptive









 





,

and did not have equal rights with men. "A woman is like a

commodity that is bought, offered, and moved from one

house to another, then she will become like a piece of old

furniture placed in a corner of darkness".

Introduction

The history of gender differences between men and women has gone through a very

long process in the history of human civilization (Astrianti & Jayanti, 2018). The

occurrence of this gender difference is due to many things, including being formed and

socialized, strengthened, and even constructed socially and culturally through religious

Dimas Andrisesar Winarsoputra

Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Teknologi, Vol. 5, No. 9, September 2024 3352

teachings and by the state. Through a long process, gender socialization was once

considered to be God's provision (Divine Creation), which is static, rigid, and cannot be

changed, so gender differences are interpreted as the nature of men and women

(Rokhmansyah, 2016).

Gender injustice needs serious attention because so far in our society there has been

an inappropriate perception or understanding of gender misalignment. (Harimurti et al.,

2024). The term gender is often confused with the term gender. The difference between

the type of kela min and gender lies in its aspect. (Maulid, 2022). Gender refers to the

anatomical or physical shape between men and women, and this is the nature of Allah

SWT, while gene der is a difference in status, function, role, and responsibility of a

person. (Rokhmansyah, 2016). Gender issues are a separate thing in society at large and

are often justified without considering these factors. (Sastrawati, 2021). The difference is

so strong that it is felt necessary to discuss and discuss gender issues by including a more

complete picture of some of the things that are considered major gender issues in society.

According to Sugihastuti, gender problems arise due to a wrong perception of the

difference in the concepts of gender and gender. (Astuti et al., 2018). To conduct gender

analysis, it is necessary to have a deeper understanding of the social injustice that occurs

to women. Because between gender differences and gender injustice in society, there is

often a very close relationship with power. The greater the influence of power, the greater

the gender role inequality that occurs in society, where a person is measured based on his

ability and productivity (Arab & Nurjati, 2019). Women's productivity is considered less

compared to men, because women are considered a reproductive group that only takes on

domestic roles. So, women only want to be good wives and housewives, get pregnant,

and then give birth to offspring from their male partners and take care of and raise

children. Meanwhile, men are considered more productive so they can take on more

public roles. As a result, men are more dominant in society (Male Dominated Society/ al-

Mujtama' al-Abawiy). This misunderstanding and assumption ultimately makes the

dominance of men over women very strong in the sense of gender. One of the things that

do not contain a wrong or correct assessment of the understanding of Gen Der is a literary

work, in which there is the beauty of the value of life related to aesthetic beauty.

(Kurniawan & Kusumaningtyas, 2022). Literary works can also be seen as structural,

artistic, social-communicative facts, and intertextual facts. Max Eastman (a poet) argued

that truth in literary works is the same as truth outside literary works. But the fact is that

many of the literary works that we know in the past were written with pens and men's

points of view. Literary works by men often signify a binary opposition, which is more

in favor of male dominance. (Rokhmansyah, 2016).

A Mahjar-era writer from Lebanon named Kahlil Gibran made a breakthrough by

creating literary works that began to favor

, he tries to express the feelings of a woman named Salma Karamy who

feels hurt and deprived of her rights (Budianta, 2010). Salma is helpless in the face of the

dominance of her father, Farris Affandi, who loves her only child very much. Salma's

father could not resist the wishes of Bishop Bolus Ghalib, a priest who abused his power

Analysis of Liberal Feminism According to Naomi Wolf in the Novel Al Ajnihah Al

Mutakassirah by Kahlil Gibran

Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Teknologi, Vol. 5, No. 9, September 2024 3353

by proposing Salma to his nephew Mansour Galib to obtain Faris's fortune. The role of

religion in people's lives at that time was very dominant. A religious leader can easily

influence the way a person lives. By becoming the husband of Salma, who was Faris's

only child, Bishop Bolus Ghalib through his nephew Mansour Ghalib was able to control

Faris's wealthy property. Farris did not expect that the bishop would turn out to be in a

bad mood. The seeds of Salma and Kahlil's pure love ran aground. Kahlil Gibran tries to

express his partiality towards women (Ananda, 2022). He explores the feelings of a

woman who is hurt, something very rare in that era. The end of this story is a sadness that

can win the reader's heart. Readers become more aware of gender roles, where a woman

is not just an object, but also has rights that need to be considered.

Here, Kahlil Gibran wants to highlight the perception of the community at that time

towards a woman, where a woman is like a commodity that can be traded without having

the right to determine her own fate and life path. Women are only used as objects to

achieve a goal from a certain party, in this case, the character of Salma who represents

the gender of women is used as a tool by Bishop Bolus Ghalib to control Faris Affandi's

property through the marriage of his nephew named Mansour Bey Ghalib with Salma

Karamy, the daughter of Faris Affandi.

In Naomi Wolf's view, as one of the initiators of the theory of "Liberal Feminism",

"A woman should not be seen as a commodity that is bought, offered, and moved from

one house to another". Women as human beings have the same rights as men in social

and legal positions in society. According to Naomi Wolf, women must have the strength

to gain power. The power referred to in this case can be in the form of education, extensive

knowledge, possession of a lot of material or wealth, social status as a child of nobility

and an influential person, or, formidable physical strength, as well as charming beauty.

Furthermore, Naomi Wolf described that a well-managed power of women will be able

to gain power (The Power of Feminism, Power). With power, women will obtain equal

rights with men. If the power is not managed properly, it will become the force of "Victim

Feminism".

Method

This research uses a descriptivequalitative

pessimism so that the author

can know the implied meaning of this novel.





   

02 in Indonesian Language which focuses on gender issues. For Naomi Wolf's liberal

feminist theory, the researcher used a book by Free Hearty entitled "Gender Justice:

"Muslim Feminist Perspectives in Middle Eastern Studies" published by the Jakarta Obor

Foundation in 2015. Meanwhile, regarding liberal feminism, the researcher used a book

(Rokhmansyah, 2016) entitled "Introduction to Gender and Feminism: An Early

Understanding of Feminist Literary Criticism" published by Garudhawaca, Yogyakarta

Dimas Andrisesar Winarsoputra

Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Teknologi, Vol. 5, No. 9, September 2024 3354

in 2016. To discuss Kahlil Gibran's life lessons and life journey, the researcher used the

book "Kahlil Gibran in Indonesia" by Eka Budianta published by Ruas, Jakarta in 2010.

           

    









Results and Discussion

In Naomi Wolf's view, a woman's equality of rights can be achieved if she has

power. With strength, a woman can achieve power, so that with her power she will be

able to achieve equality or equal rights. Equality of rights can't be achieved without

strength and power. (Hearty, 2015).

The author tries to describe what is meant by power Naomi Wolf is:

1. The power of education and science.

With good science and education, a woman can achieve recognition or equality in

society in many ways. A woman can become a teacher, lecturer, legislative member

leader of a community organization, or even a state official.

2. Material strength

With material power in the form of owning a lot of property, a woman has a good

social position in society and eventually, she will be able to arrange for many people to

follow her orders.

3. Social forces

A woman who comes from an influential family such as the descendants of nobles

or kings or descendants of the ruler of a country, has its social power in society, so it is

not easy to be harassed and played.

4. Physical strength

A woman who has a charming beauty can be used as a force to conquer the men

who are in power to follow her wishes. Likewise, mighty physical strength can be the

capital to gain power to achieve equality of rights. History records that a mighty woman

from Aceh named Admiral Malahayati led the Inong Bale army which was feared by

opponents and respected by friends. In a single battle with the Netherlands colonizers,

Admiral Malahayati was able to defeat and kill Cornelis de Houtman, the commander of

the Netherlands expeditionary ship in a one-on-one fight on the deck of the ship. This

shows that physical strength can be used as a tool to gain power to achieve equality of

rights in society.

Sometimes the forces mentioned above cannot stand alone. Often one force must

be supported by another force to complement, for example, material power must be

supported by social power and physical power to obtain power to achieve equality of

rights.

Analysis of Liberal Feminism According to Naomi Wolf in the Novel Al Ajnihah Al

Mutakassirah by Kahlil Gibran

Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Teknologi, Vol. 5, No. 9, September 2024 3355

According to the author, Naomi Wolf tries to portray power as a social and legal

tool that can regulate and influence society and can be used as a tool to achieve the

ambitions of the owner of power.

The owner of power can gain power, but power that is not managed properly can

also bring problems. This kind of situation is described by Naomi Wolf as "the power of

victimization".

Material power in the form of wealth without being supported by social or scientific

forces will plunge a woman into a condition of victimhood as experienced by Salma

Karamy.









 be

given by the community. The Bishop's desire to marry his nephew Mansour Bey Galib to

Salma Karamy, the daughter of Faris Affandi, to obtain a fortune from Faris Affandi is

difficult to refuse. Faris Affandi did not want the marriage because he knew that his

daughter did not like Mansour Bey Galib who behaved badly, greedily, and deceitfully.

This is illustrated in the sentence in the novel which states:











 )

"Faris Affandi was forced to accept the Bishop's request and submit to his wishes even

though he did it all by force. He knew that he was a deceitful, greedy, and ill-tempered

person. (Gibran Kahlil, 2002, Chapter 6 Telaga Api p.43)".















"If Faris Affandi opposes the Bishop and rejects his wishes, then Salma's good name will

fall, she will always be mentioned by the lips and tongues of dirty people (Gibran Kahlil,



As a woman, Salma tried to resist and rebel. However, the culture of cultivation that

prevailed in society at that time placed the bishop in the position as if he were God's

representative who must be obeyed. He did not have the strength and courage to fight

back, so he had to sacrifice himself and destroy his future and his whole life. The situation

at that time put women in a weak position where women did not have the strength or

ability to determine their own fate and life path.





(  )

Dimas Andrisesar Winarsoputra

Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Teknologi, Vol. 5, No. 9, September 2024 3356

"A woman is like a commodity that is bought, offered, and moved from one house to

another. When its beauty is completely gone, then it will become like the crumbs of old

furniture placed in a corner of darkness" (Gibran Kahlil, 2002, Chapter 7 In Front of the

Throne of Death p. 64)".

Material forces, in this case, Salma's father's wealth, because they are not supported

by other forces, become negative forces or victim forces that plunge Salma into a position

of persecution or victimhood.











"My father's wealth put me as a slave sold in the market and this person bought me with

his money. I had never known this man let alone loved him. And I'll learn to love her. I

will give all that a weak woman can do to a mighty and strong man (Gibran Kahlil, 2002,

Chapter 6. Telaga Api p.50)".













(  )

"Salma Karamy is one of those who fell victim to her parents' wealth and the groom's

desires. If it weren't for her father's wealth, Salma would have lived happily (Gibran

Kahlil, 2002, Chapter 6. Telaga Api p.44)".

If Salma Karamy has the courage and sufficient knowledge, then she will be able

to manage the material power (her father's wealth) that she has into a positive force that

can be used to gain power to achieve equality of rights and justice in social life. With the

influence of material forces that are managed well, Salma will be able to achieve an

influential social position in the community. If she had enough knowledge and wanted to

emulate the story of Siti Khadijah, the wife of Bagin da Prophet Muhammad SAW, then

Salma would not have fallen into a difficult life. Siti Khadijah with her material strength

was able to gain power and had a great influence in the life of Arab society at that time.











"Fate has shackled Salma and made her no different from a despicable slave as the fate

of a miserable Eastern woman. Thus the great soul fell into a trap after flying freely for

the first time with its white wings of love in the sky sprinkled with moonlight and the

fragrance of flowers (Gibran Kahlil, 2002, Chapter 6). Telaga Api p.44)".

Mansour Bey Galib was a nephew of the then-ruling Bishop Bolus Galib. He easily

used his uncle's power to achieve his lust and ambition. Mansour Bey Galib's habits

Analysis of Liberal Feminism According to Naomi Wolf in the Novel Al Ajnihah Al

Mutakassirah by Kahlil Gibran

Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Teknologi, Vol. 5, No. 9, September 2024 3357

resemble those of his uncle who is thirsty for luxury. What distinguishes the two is that

Bishop Bolus Galib to obtain everything he wants is done vaguely and takes refuge under

the church robe and the golden cross worn on his chest, while his nephew does everything

openly. The goal of both is the same, namely the pursuit of worldly satisfaction.













(  )

"The bishop obtained everything vaguely, coming from under the protection of the church

robe and the golden cross worn on his chest. He went to church in the morning and

skipped his lunch break by looting the property of widows, the poor, and the innocent

(Gibran Kahlil, 2002, Chapter 7. Before the Throne of Death p.67)".

















"Mansour Bey Galib is a man who can get all forms of luxury and live so easily. But

behind it all, he never felt satisfied. After marrying Salma, he abandoned his father and

lived in loneliness, praying for her death. So that he can inherit the wealth of Salma's

parents (Gibran Kahlil, 2002, Chapter 7. Before the Throne of Death p.67)".

Bishop Bolus Galib considers himself a messenger of God who has great power and

he has abused that power by using it as a tool to fulfill his ambitions and evil passions.

With his power and strength, Bishop Bolus Galib created a rule where those who

disobeyed him were considered unkind. The quote in the novel can be seen in the

following sentence:

















 )

"In Lebanon, there is no Christian who opposes his bishop and he is still considered a

good man. No one denies the religious leader who is glorified by the community (Gibran

Kahlil, 2002, Chapter 6. Telaga Api p.43)".

To achieve his ambition, Bishop Bolus Galib is willing to do anything without

heeding the rules of religion and society.









(  )

Dimas Andrisesar Winarsoputra

Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Teknologi, Vol. 5, No. 9, September 2024 3358

"The Bishop's desire to choose Salma is not based on her beauty and clean soul, but to

obtain material benefits, namely the wealth of Salma's father who will guarantee Mansur

Bek to become an honorable person and will appoint her to be an important person in his

environment (Gibran Kahlil 2002, Chapter.6 Telaga Api p.42)".

According to the author, from the discussion above, Naomi Wolf views the need

for a woman to manage her power properly so that it can be synergized into a positive

force to





Conclusion

 



  



e

rules made by the holders of power that tend to benefit the rulers and men. At that time,

Arab women did not have the same rights as men in terms of social standing in society,

education, employment, and legal justice. Arab women at that time seemed to have no

right to determine their fate and future. According to Gibran, this situation must change.

Kahlil Gibran tried to raise this issue into a novel so that it was hoped that it would make

the people and rulers at that time aware and open the hearts of the people and rulers at

that time to be able to start respecting women's rights. According to Naomi Wolf one of

the initiators of liberal feminism, to achieve equality in rights and justice in society, a

woman must be willing to learn and transform herself to become a smart person and have

positive strength so that they can gain power. Because with the strength and power she

has, a woman can obtain the same rights and justice as men. According to Naomi Wolf,

power will be a positive thing if it is managed properly so that it can gain power (the

Power of Power Feminism), to

             









           



alib.

Analysis of Liberal Feminism According to Naomi Wolf in the Novel Al Ajnihah Al

Mutakassirah by Kahlil Gibran

Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Teknologi, Vol. 5, No. 9, September 2024 3359

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