THE RESISTANCE OF ARABIC WOMEN TOWARD PATRIARCHAL DOMINATIONS AS FOUND IN THE NOVEL PRINCESS: A TRUE STORY OF LIFE BEHIND THE VEIL IN SAUDI ARABIA BY JEAN P. SASSON

Abstract

This thesis is a feminist study toward patriarchal dominations in Saudi Arabiaas depicted in the novel Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia written by Jean P. Sasson. This study has two major purposes: (1) to describe about aspect of life dominated by patriarchal culture and (2) to analyze forms of resistance done by Arabic women against the patriarchal culture dominating their lives. To conduct this study, the writer applied Kate Millet’s theory of feminism which the emphasis is on father as patriarchy’s chief institution in a family. Furthermore, the writer did a technique of close-reading that requires her to read the whole novel several times to understand the content of the novel. The results of the study show that there are two important aspects dominated by patriarchal culture namely educational and cultural aspects. In educational aspect, men and women have different rights to choose the school setting and subject. In cultural one, the differences are in applying the rules of marriage, law, and Arabic custom. Therefore, women in Saudi Arabia resist against the patriarchal culture in forms of joining formal school, taking philosophy subject and ignoring father’s authority.

Key words: feminism, patriarchal dominations, aspects of life, resistance