Residu Patriarki dalam Teks Feminis: Kajian Écriture Féminine Atas Gadis Kretek Karya Ratih Kumala

Abstract

This study aims to examine the traces of patriarchy in Gadis Kretek, a novel by Ratih Kumala that is generally regarded as a feminist work. Using Hélène Cixous’s écriture féminine approach, this research explores how the female body and women’s experiences are written, as well as how women’s narratives are either expressed or silenced within a discursive structure that still contains patriarchal patterns of thought. The data are analyzed through three main focuses: sexual relations between men and women, the representation of women as “victims” (woman in trouble), and the construction of men as saviors (man as hero). The findings reveal that although the novel attempts to provide space for women’s voices and experiences, it still implicitly reproduces patriarchal values—such as the depiction of the female body through the male gaze, the glorification of male roles in conflict resolution, and the limited agency of female characters in negotiating their desires. These findings indicate that even in texts written by women and considered progressive, the legacy of patriarchal culture remains ingrained and continues to shape narratives unconsciously. Thus, this study underscores the importance of critical readings of literary works labeled as feminist to avoid falling into false assumptions about gender awareness in contemporary literature. Theoretically, this study extends the application of écriture féminine not merely as a tool for textual liberation, but as an analytical lens to dismantle the ambivalence of patriarchy that remains deeply rooted in women's writing. The scientific contribution of this research lies in mapping the boundaries of feminism in Indonesian popular literature, offering a new perspective that even progressive texts can become arenas for the contestation of gender-biased ideologies.