Liberal Feminisme in Maya Angelou’s Selected Poems

Abstract

This research aimed to find out the liberal feminism depicted in Angelou's selected poems and the role of women in Angelou's Selected poems. This research was a qualitative design. The data was taken from selected poems, namely; Equality (1990), Phenomenal Women (1995), Memories (1978), and Women's Work (1969). The results showed that liberal feminism described in Maya Angelou's poem was, first, the poetry "Equality (1990)" was known as women who represented their race/society group fighting for the right to equality and against racism. Second, the poetry "Phenomenal Woman (1995)" was known women who were themselves because the women in this poem were black women who struggled against the assimilation of white dominant cultural aspects of racism and gender discrimination. Third, the poem "Remembrance (1978)" was known through women who got the loss, and there was no justice because deceitful feelings manipulated it. Lastly, the poem "Woman Work (1969)" was known through the existence of women who showed superiority over themselves, displayed their skills, and were responsible for their own volition. The roles of women in Maya Angelou's selected poems in the poems "Equality (1990)" and "Phenomenal Woman (1995) were known that there was a role for women who worked to make money. Meanwhile, in the poem "Remembrance (1978)" and "Woman Work", it was known that there was the role of women who carried out activities in the house. This research concluded that Maya Angelou's selected poems described liberal feminism, in which the poems showed the existence of women who struggled, defended equality of rights, fought racism, fought discrimination and showed their strengths through the efforts of the attitudes and willingness of those who dare to voice it, especially women, then the role of women in society.

This research aimed to find out the liberal feminism depicted in Angelou's selected poems and the role of women in Angelou's Selected poems. This research was a qualitative design. The data was taken from selected poems, namely; Equality (1990), Phenomenal Women (1995), Memories (1978), and Women's Work (1969). The results showed that liberal feminism described in Maya Angelou's poem was, first, the poetry "Equality (1990)" was known as women who represented their race/society group fighting for the right to equality and against racism. Second, the poetry "Phenomenal Woman (1995)" was known women who were themselves because the women in this poem were black women who struggled against the assimilation of white dominant cultural aspects of racism and gender discrimination. Third, the poem "Remembrance (1978)" was known through women who got the loss, and there was no justice because deceitful feelings manipulated it. Lastly, the poem "Woman Work (1969)" was known through the existence of women who showed superiority over themselves, displayed their skills, and were responsible for their own volition. The roles of women in Maya Angelou's selected poems in the poems "Equality (1990)" and "Phenomenal Woman (1995) were known that there was a role for women who worked to make money. Meanwhile, in the poem "Remembrance (1978)" and "Woman Work", it was known that there was the role of women who carried out activities in the house. This research concluded that Maya Angelou's selected poems described liberal feminism, in which the poems showed the existence of women who struggled, defended equality of rights, fought racism, fought discrimination and showed their strengths through the efforts of the attitudes and willingness of those who dare to voice it, especially women, then the role of women in society.