Gender Inequality in The Color Purple

CELLIE’S STRUGGLE AGAINST GENDER INEQUALITY IN ALICE WALKER’S THE COLOR PURPLE

MELDA YANTI PANJAITAN

082154248

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LANGUAGES AND ARTS
STATE UNIVERSITY OF SURABAYA

Prof. Dr. Fabiola D. Kurnia, M.Pd.

NIP. 19450926 197903 2 001
FACULTY OF LANGUAGES AND ARTS
STATE UNIVERSITY OF SURABAYA

Hujuala Rika Ayu, SS, M.A

NIP. 19811214 200604 2 001
FACULTY OF LANGUAGES AND ARTS
STATE UNIVERSITY OF SURABAYA

Abstrak
The Color Purple meneliti tentang posisi, peran perempuan yang diabaikan berjuang untuk melawan
ketidaksetaraan gender. Cellie sebagai karakter utama mampu mengubah statusnya dari seorang budak
wanita yang dilecehkan secara seksual dan akhirnya berhasil membebaskan diri secara ekonomi dan secara
fisik. Cellie melawan ketidaksetaraan gender dengan memperoleh kesadarannya yang membawanya ke
kebebasan. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah: (1) Menggambarkan ketidaksetaraan gender di Alice Walker,
The Color Purple, (2) Mengungkap Perjuangan Celie melawan ketidaksetaraan gender di Alice Walker,
The Color Purple. Dalam mengeksplorasi penelitian, menggunakan beberapa konsep feminisme menjadi
kunci untuk menganalisis apa yang tersembunyi di dalam cerita seperti kekerasan, patriachy dan jender,
dan hal lain yang berhubungan dengan penelitian ini.
Analisis ini menemukan bahwa novel ini menunjukkan penderitaan yang dihadapi oleh cellie sebagai
karakter utama yang menghadapi penderitaan dari peindasan, pria dominasi, diskriminasi, kekerasan,
ketidakadilan gender. Dia diabaikan oleh laki-laki hitam, terutama Pa dan suaminya. Namun, dengan
memiliki hubungan yang baik di antara perempuan yaitu Nettie, Sofia, dan Shug Avery, dia bisa
mengembalikan kesadarannya yang membawanya ke dalam kebebasan. Hidup dalam masyarakat
patriarkal, Celie harus bertahan penindasan dan kebodohan dari karakter laki-laki. Dia harus patuh pada Pa
dan suaminya. Selain itu, ia juga didiskriminasikan oleh suaminya menjadi seorang istri. Keberhasilannya
menjadi independen dipengaruhi oleh hubungan baik dirinya di antara perempuan dalam masyarakatnya
(Shug).

Kata kunci: feminisme, kekerasan, patriachy, dan ketidaksetaraan gender

Abstract
The Color Purple examines about the positions, role ignored women who struggles for independency of gender
inequality. Cellie the main character is able to change her status of a sexually abused slave woman and free herself
economically and physically. Cellie against gender inequality by gain her consciousness that bring her to independence.
The purposes of this study are: (1) Depicting gender inequality in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple; (2) Revealing
Celie’s Struggle against gender inequality in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple. In exploring the study, some concepts of
feminism becomes the key to analyze what are hidden in the story such as violence, patriachy and gender, and any
other article which are related with the study.

The analysis finds that the novel shows miseries faced by Cellie as the main-character who face sufferings
from abused, male domination, discrimination, violence, gender inequality. She is ignored by black men, especially her
Pa and her husband. Yet, by having good relationship among women namely Nettie, Sofia, and Shug Avery, she could
gainher consciousness that brings her into independent. Living in patriarchal society, Celie must endure oppression and
ignorance from the male characters. She must be obedient to her Pa and her husband. In addition, she is also

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 Gender Inequality in The Color Purple

discriminated by her husband of being a wife. Her success of being independent influenced by her good relationship
among women in her society (Shug).

Keywords: feminism, violence, patriachy, and gender inequality

discussion about the problem above, this study
INTRODUCTION takes Alice Walker, The Color Purple as the data
source. The data used in this study are in form of
Essentially, men and women are created in pairs, quotations taken from the play related Alice
they created in same level, the dignity of the same despite walker’s The Color Purple. In conducting this
having different functions whose purpose is to study, there were some steps taken. First reading
complement each other. But many people's journey and
was the first step to do to gain the idea of the novel
status change the role of both, especially in a society
which gradually become habitual and entrenched. It intends to convey. Having got the idea to analyze,
triggers the creation of discrimination against either sex. close reading was the next step to hold. This step
employs to find quotations related to the topic and
Gender explained that men and women term of
values and behaviors are considered to positions and the which are going to analyze. Close reading was
roles. Women are considered inferior and always done many times. The first close reading was to
underestimated by many existing civilization. On term of understand how the story means and then find the
roles, women and men have different roles in the family. quotations related to Gender Inequality through its
Women’s roles are often considered lesser. Women are plot. The data got from the novel were analyzed
traditionally the ones to stay at home and take care of the according to the statement of the problems. It is
family and do the household chores. The men
synchronized with theory of Gender Inequality and
traditionally work outside the home in the paid
workforce. The notion of women’s work as lesser stems the concept Gender taken from books, critical
from this gender based division of labor in the family. essays and some other references. The
Women who work outside the home have been subjected synchronized data were useful to take the final
to domestic and service sector labor. conclusion. Therefore, the significance of the
All the cases above are men and women roles in study can be achieved well.
general but gender issues here will discuss how women’s
role as a housewife who is dominated by her husband ANALYSIS
trough Cellie’s characterization in The Color Purple. In
The Color Purple convey Cellie as women was exploited, In this chapter , this study will discuss and
who is married off to Albert to look after his children and analyze the problem of this study how cellie as the main
is expected to work on the farm and submit without character is describe towards gender inequality. In this
objection to all of Albert's demands and those of the study reveal gender, sexual, male domination, patriachy.
children. She is also meant to accept Albert's affair with Furthermore, in order to ease the analysis, the term of
Shug Avery, which extends even to him sleeping with her gender inequality will be continued by evaluating the
under the same roof. In fact fidelity is not seen as an impact of gender inequality to others character.
important quality by men. Using feminist approach, Some feminists seem to explain the oppression
Cellie in The Color Purple struggle to gain her of women from the relations of production associated
consciousness to brings her into independence and fight with the patriarchal system. Many theorists seek an
her status as a woman in family and social status. explanation of male dominance within the framework of
exploitation of labor, from orthodox Marxists who
associate with women's subordination to capitalist radical
feminists who believe that modern society production
RESEARCH METHOD process involves both capitalist and patriarchal relations
(Jackson, 1998). This chapter will explain more about
In producing a good understanding of Gender the feminism of the status of women under male
Inequality, this study applies feminism approach in dominated which is make gender inequality towards
analyzing the problem. To portray the first female character reflected to Cellie. The next are the
statement of problem about gender inequality, discussion which will be explored more about women’s
close reading on the play is chosen. The theory of struggle against gender inequality of the listed problems.
feminism gender theory is taken.
Gender Identity and Gender Role.
While to reveal second statement of the
problem, this study discuss the struggle against Based on a psychological theory that women
Gender Inequality. By concept, Marx’s struggles will give birth needs attention because it helps women in
make her get the independence. In further childbirth. It shows cellie role as a mother and also a
father for her baby.

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 Gender Inequality in The Color Purple

Harpo, she say. Harpo the oldest boy. the color purple is the negative stereotypes. Here are the
Harpo, don't let Celie be the one bring in all details.
the water. You a big boy now. Time for you
to help out some. Women work, he say. An Ideal Woman Is Physical Beauty.
What? she say. Women work. I'm a man.
(Walker, 2003: 12) One of the characteristics of an ideal
African woman that walker emphases throughout
As a son harpo should do a job helping his the novel is a physical beauty. We can see that
mother but Harpo as a boy let Cellie working alone. Walker places several beautiful women opposite
Except harpo still a little kid he musn’t doing a liitle bit Cellie; such as Shug Avery, Nettie. Each of these
hard job. Harpo is a big boy and grow up become mature women is considered ideal and even Cellie forces
person but he don’t helping for Cellie. Harpo thought as a herself to accept that Shug is more deserving of
men he don’t need to work and doing hard job whereas as and more likely to receive Mr. Albert's affections
a men he must help his mother doing a work. In his mind seeing from her beauty.
women and men have a different class in working and
men only controling and seeinbg. Here gender inequality All the men got they eyes glued to Shug’s
aim to work class. The novel's message is that women bosom. I got my eyes glued there too. I feel
must stand up against the unfair treatment they receive at my nipples harden under my dress. My little
the hands of men and that they must do this by helping button sort of perk up too. Shug, I say to her
one another. in my mind, Girl, you looks like a real good
Principles of women lead them to power of time, the Good Lord knows you do.
structures, women more weak than men but in this (Walker, 2003: 44)
context walker show Cellie as a strongger women in class
of work. Men should do what Cellie has done like bring Though Celie compares herself to males in that
all the water. Based on power structures man more strong she’s attracted to Shug, Walker makes it clear that Celie
than women. is in no ways masculine. Celie is sexually excited by
Well that's no excuse, say the first one, Her Shug in ways very specific to females.
name Carrie, other one name Kate. When a
woman marry she spose to keep a decent She go with me in the store. I think what
house and a clean family. Why, wasn't color Shug Avery would wear. She like a
nothing to come here in the winter time and queen to me so I say to Kate, Somethin
all these children have colds, they have purple, maybe little red in it too. But us
flue, they have direar, they have look an look and no purple. Plenty red but
newmonya, they have worms, they have the she say, Naw, he won't want to pay for red.
chill and fever. They hungry. They hair ain't Too happy lookin. We got choice of brown,
comb. They too nasty to touch. I touch 'em. maroon or navy blue. I say blue. (Walker,
Say Kate. And cook. She wouldn't cook. 2003: 11)
She act like she never seen a kitchen.
(Walker, 2003: 10) According to Cellie the appearance of women
whoe named Shug was outstanding views that Shug’s
Women are exploited very seriously, especially appearance looks like a queen. Like the queen wearing a
Celie, who is married off to Albert to look after his
fancy dress. According Cellie appearance also support a
children and is expected to work on the farm and submit woman's beauty. Here cellie also want look like Shug.
without objection to all of Albert's demands and those of Cellie realized she was not like Shug which beautiful and
the children. Cellie works cleaning the house, prepare admired by many men including her husband Albert then
food for Albert and his children. As usually children when she was with shug in store cellie even want the
sometimes getting sick, so as a mother Cellie have to same as Shug.
treat them till they get well. In this context before Cellie
Subordination
married to Albert, his children never got attention from
Women Inferiority: Domination of man
Albert. They doing what they want to do, but after One of the forms of the subordination
married they are more dicipline then before. Their is the domination of males over females. Example
tousled hair comb by Cellie. Their food, fever, colds, for this is the actions of Mr. Albert, which
school, cleaning their clothes Cellie take responsibility indicates that the african women in The Color
for all those as a new mother for the children. Purple was that of male domination, in which
woman tends to be controlled by man. It can be
Gender Inequality proved from the novel’s narratives exposing both
Stereotypes Mr. Albert attempts as well as success in
Negative Stereotype of Women dominating Cellie, both physically and mentally.
For clearing instance, here is the excerpt
The second result of gender inequalities found in

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 Gender Inequality in The Color Purple

describing such control of the male over the One of the significant forms of
female characters of the novel: subordination on women is that women of
Well, you know wherever there's a man, Victorian have no equality in getting education.
there's trouble. And it seem like, going to According to the novel, it is true that only women
Memphis, Grady was all over the car. No of the higher class who have a chance of getting
matter which way us change up, he want to better education. While the poor are usually sent
sit next to Squeak. to a charity school, a kind of school that was
Mr.??? try to act like he don't care I'm originally a type of elementary school for poor
going. children, established in a variety of parishes, by
You'll be back, he say. Nothing up North the voluntary contributions of the inhabitants.
for nobody like you. Shug got talent, he Nevertheless, Cellie Who never get beter
say. She can sing. She got spunk, he say. education because of her situation that raped and
She can talk to anybody. Shug got looks, he contoling by her step father. Cellie never took
say. She can stand up and be notice. But school, cannot write and read, so it make Albert
what you got? You ugly. You skinny. You force and oppress her by her education
shape funny. You too scared to open your background. Look at the following except:
mouth to people. All you fit to do in She ain't smart either, and I'll just be fair,
Memphis is be Shug's maid. Take out her you have to watch her or she'll give away
slop-jar and maybe cook her food. You not everything you own. But she can work like
that good a cook either. And this house ain't a man. (Waker, 2003: 4)
been dean good since my first wife died.
And nobody crazy or backward enough to Albert degrading cellie through education
want to marry you, neither. What you gon by saying cellie not equal smart either. Albert
do? Hire yourself out to farm? He laugh. statement by saying Cellie ain’t smart is one of
Maybe somebody let you work on the subordination that cellie was not an educated
railroad. (Walker, 20003: 111) woman. This evident see from Cellie’s family
background from the lower classes. Cellie as
Further on Mr. Albert decidedly uses his women should have an education in schools.
dominance to put Celie down. Obviously, this Educational background cellie affect Cellie ability
quote illustrates well how Mr. Albert is in various aspects of life especially as a wife.
domineering his wife and weakens her position Albert stated that cellie will not be able to work
and individuality. His superiority over her is once like men. Here show very clear educational
again symptomatically expressed by him. In one differences lead to men dominance of degrading
of her letters to her sister Nettie, Celie describes women who are not educated and considered
the difficulties with the male sovereignty with cellie as weak.
these words: “Well, you know wherever there’s a
man, there’s trouble”. Certainly, it illuminates Violence of woman
well her experience of patriarchal oppression and
subordination. Celie opposes her husband’s In this part the problems of this study will be
critical views about her decision to leave by analyze. There are many violence occur towards the main
responding “The jail you plan for me is the one in character and other character. There is not only violence
which you will rot”. For Celie, the experience of but also the effect that impacts her life.
the limitations that the patriarchal oppression has “He [Pa] never had a kine word to say to
effected upon her is so strong that she compares it me. Just say You gonna do what your
to a jail. mammy wouldn’t. First he put his thing up
When cellie told that she would go, gainst my hip and sort of wiggle it around.
Albert asked if cellie will going back home. It is Then he grab hold my titties. Then he push
proved that as a man and husband Albert needed a his thing inside my pussy. When that hurt, I
companion at his side, and take good care of him. cry. He start to choke me, saying You better
This can be seen clearly through albert statement shut up and git used to it.
"You'll be back, he say." Basically being a wife in But I don’t never get used to it. And now I
the family is very important, especially the role of feels sick every time I be the one to cook.” (
the wife is cooking, babysitting, serving her Walker, 2003: 2)
husband. Cellie was doing his duty as a wife
during her stay with albert. cellie Role in The quotation above reveals that Pa commits
stereotype as a figure whose hard work, several forms of violence against Celie. Clearly, he’s
perseverance, self-contained and has a high physically violent to her by raping her. He also causes
devotion to the family especially albert. emotional damage by never showing any respect for her
as a human being; he orders her around without ever
The Absence of Equal Education saying anything kind to her. Finally, he also emotionally

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 Gender Inequality in The Color Purple

separates her from others by forcing her to keep quite The children git on her nerve, she not much
about the way he’s treating her. of a cook. And she big already. (Walker,
2003: 4)

Cellie’s Struggle Against Gender Inequality Revealed Albert put a feeling for her sister Nettie before
In Alice Walker’s The Color Purple. he married to Cellie. After they are marrying Alberts still
want Nettie. Cellie always thought about Nettie that
After having recognized the result of the when albert trying to asking Nettie to marry him cellie
analysis, concerning to gender inequalities in The Color struggle fight Albert.. Nettie is not old enough to get
Purple and their effects to women in general exposed in married and still have to go to school.
the novel, the writer also wants to present the main result
of the study relating to how the main character’s struggle Cellie’s Struggle Against “Domination to Self
towards the gender inequality. Cellie, based on the story, freedom”
as the main character of the novel is described as an ugly,
Suffered, uneducated and plain woman. Thus, it really The Color Purple tells a story about a black
supports her in establishing her notion and opinion woman who is sexually and physically abused, as well as
towards the gender inequalities what they should behave verbally dominated for close the three decades. Walker
and be in that time. has risked exploring subjects and talk about issues
In this case, most of Cellie’s struggle towards which are generally unacceptable to many readers. She
the gender inequalities concludes to three point, they are seems to have no qualms about exposing any problems
her refusal against the subordination on women, negative which stand in the way of people's freedoms including
stereotyping on women and her struggle against the sexism and racism.
violence on women. The gist is that most of her Alice Walker's novel The Color Purple uses
rejections towards the gender inequalities in the Color dimensions of black women's oppression, racism, and
Purple is just in according to Mary Wollstonecraft states sexism to show a young black woman's fight against
that can be summed up to five aspects women must have domination in order to find her own independence. To
independence, women should not associate with clarify Cellie’s struggle of domination will be explain
hypersensitivity, extreme narcissism, and excessive self- here:
indulgence, women must have an equal education,
women should not be inferior to men, women should not But I don’t know how to fight. All I know
be perceived as object or property (Tong, 1998). how to do is stay alive”. (Walker, 2003: 9)
Explicitly, the following is the finding of the analysis in
detail.
Celie is the speaker in this quote. She’s
Cellie’s Struggle Against “the Subordination on in Mr.Albert’s house with her sister Nettie. This quote is
Women” significant because it shows how Celie views herself as
an insignificant person and she doesn’t believe in
Women must Have Equal Education violence. Nettie is advising Celie to takematters into her
own hands and fight back her abuse with Mr. Albert and
One of the most significance having the same his children.Celie doesn’t have enough self esteem to
perception towards liberal feminist thought by Marry believe she can defend herself. Her father’s abuseof her
Wollstonecraft is the depiction of Walker that Cellie both physically and sexually and his threats has made
Struggle against the subordination on women which Celie afraid of men in generaland she can’t break free of
have no equal education. that hold on her psyche on her own. This quote is
In this case Cellie was born in poor family and alsosignificant because it shows that Celie is a pacifist
raped by her Pa. When Albert want to marry her sister and that she is also scared of retaliation from Mr. Albert
Nettie she refuses for Albert’s desire. Cellie wants Nettie should she decide to fight back. She’s still like the
got education, go to school and make a school teacher. fourteen year old girlthat was raped and she couldn’t
Here is the passage proven: fight back then and she can’t fight back now. No
Well, He say, real slow, I can't let you have matter how much Celie wants to be free, as long as she’s
Nettie. She too young. Don't know nothing being beating and there is no one to helpher, she’ll
but what you tell her. Sides, I want her to just take the abuse and leave the rest to God.
git some more schooling. Make a
schoolteacher out of her. But I can let you Cellie’s Struggle of “Independency”
have Celie. She the oldest anyway. She
ought to marry first. She ain't fresh tho, but In the color by Alice Walker the struggle for
I spect you know that. She spoiled. Twice. identity is shaped at both the personal level, by the
But you don't need a fresh woman no how. individual preferences, and at wider level by social,
I got a fresh one in there myself and she historical and expectation. Thus, for much of the novel,
sick all the time. He spit, over the railing. there is a struggle for Cellie between her desire to escape

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 Gender Inequality in The Color Purple

from Mr. Albert to Shug, and the expectation that she position with the men. Cellie have freedom to marry
will obey the man she has been forced to marry. everybody whom she love. Shug also shows us her idea
On the other hand, her identity as a black about women’s struggle to face male domination that
women and poor he want rejected Mr. Albert vioaltion leading to gender inequality.
towards her. Here cellie struggle for identity in attitudes
toward gender and sexuality, social class, and status CONCLUSION
under male domination in patriachy system which is
trigger inequality.
In finding the identity trough her independency, After analyzing and interpreting the obtained data in the
Cellie ecounters with Shug Avery. Shug Avery is a great previous study, it is found that there are many forms of
woman who influences most in Cellie’s life. When Cellie violence, marginalization and subordination reflected on
wants her freedom He start to fight Albert like quotes the novel. To make them clear, here, the researcher
below: explores each point.
“Celie is coming with us, say Shug. The Color Purple tells us the inequality conflict
Mr.???'s head swivel back straight. Say between Cellie as main woman character and Mr. Albert,
what? he ast. from this conflict which is caused inequality culture.
Celie is coming to Memphis with me. Walker has provided the reader with gender inequality
Over my dead body, Mr.??? say. throughout the story exposed on Cellie, which covers
You satisfied that what you want, Shug say, several significant points, first of which is the negative
cool as clabber. stereotype on women. In this case, includes five crucial
Mr.??? start up from his seat, look at Shug, points. First, the idea of ideal women is physical beauty.
plop back down again. He look over at me. Second, women are perceived as weak and fragile. Third,
I thought you was finally happy, he say. women are perceived as an object or a property. Fourth,
What wrong now? woman must have feminine skills. And the last, women
You a lowdown dog is what's wrong, I say. are stereotyped as having hypersensitivity, extreme
It's time to leave you and enter into the narcissism, and excessive self-indulgence.
Creation. And your dead body just the Second point is subordination, this means
welcome mat I need. respectively the inferior position of female before male,
Say what? he ast. Shock. the absence of the independency in addition to inequality
All round the table folkses mouths be of education for women. The novel’s narratives exposing
dropping open. how Mr. Albert attempts as well as success in
You took my sister Nettie away from me, I dominating, oppress celie trough degradation that Cellie
say. And she was the only person love me cannot become a good wife because Cellie background
in the world.” ( Walker, 2003: 106) education.
Next point is violation, form of violence
described by the novel can be found out in the way how
Shug shug have a very important role in helping Mr. Albert treated his wife, Celie has been beaten so
to find Cellie’s identity as a woman who against male much, she has become numb to life. Violence against
domination starts from her father who raped her until her women is caused by gender inequality including unequal
husband treatments Albert. As the quote above states power relations between women and men, rigid gender
cellie has the courage to take a decision to go from albert, roles, norms and hierarchies, and ascribing women lower
shug role very important to tell what Cellie do in decide status in society.
to be free from the bondage of her husband. Cellie Promoting and achieving gender equality is a
admiration for Shug is one trigger for Cellie can rise up critical element of the prevention of violence against
and fight against albert. women.related to Cellie status in society as a lower
Cellie will do what is shug taught because person, Cellie not only got the physical violation but also
according to Cellie that Shug is right. Cellie as a woman degradation from albert. Albert never give an attention to
who suffered much during her stay with Albert decided Cellie, he always anger, deemed cellie as unfortunate
to leave and go with Shug to Memphis and continue his women that cannot cook, doesn’t smart either, all cellie’s
life. Based on stereotype Cellie as a woman believes that shortage encourage him to oppress Cellie.
after she release from albert there will be no one can On the other hand, Celie tells God that she has
force her in the future. Shug and her idea have a central been raped by her father and that she is pregnant for the
position in the text. Her idea becomes main idea of second time with his child. Celie's mother is quite ill and
emancipation and ideology is showed in the story. after cursing Celie, dies, leaving Celie alone to face her
According to Shug women should have their father. Celie then turns her attention to protecting her
own choice and decision and release them from the sister, Nettie, from her father's sexual advances. Celie
inequality culture role that make women become an soon marries Mr. Albert after her father strikes a bargain
obedient wife and just follow, accept and serve husband’s with the older widower, and Celie finds herself in a
demand. Women consciously have to struggle inequality loveless marriage, caring for her husband's four children
to get their rights as an individual, self-esteem and and being regularly raped and beaten. Celie becomes
position. Cellie have to do that because she have equal

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 Gender Inequality in The Color Purple

fixated on Shug Avery, a glamorous blues singer who is College and Graduate School at the City University,
her husband's mistress. 2005
In addition how Cellie facing all her misserable Tyson, Lois. Critical Theory Today. New York:
life start from her father raped her until she got married Routledge, 2006.
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explained how she struggle over subordination. In this 1986.
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wherever her sister Nettie still young enough to get utamanya di Indonesia. Yogyakarta: Pustaka Pelajar,
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missionary. Womaen.man, and society-the sociology of
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Celie to takematters into her own hands and fight back Cultural Study, London: SAGE Publications (pg: 142)
her abuse with Mr. Albert and his children.Celie doesn’t Michael G. Peletz, 2011.Gender, Sexuality and
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her, she is Shug avery. Shug presence beside her getting Gender Inequality: A Comparative Study of
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Shortly this novel described the power of
woman to get their freedom by struggles against gender
inequality aspect. Automatically, this case also removed
the opinion that woman are equal, and finally she get her
goal from her struggle against that are the freedom and
the equal between man and woman as the feminist’s goal.
Additionally, after knowing about the refusal of
Cellie through this study, the writer could draw a
conclusion that Cellie was succeed getting her freedom
from violence, male domination and abused . Cellie went
against all that was known and understood The Color
Purple. She spoke her mind, had original thought and
strived for equality. Cellie was the model of feminism,
giving us the idea that maybe one day if there are more
people like cellie that the world will be a different place.
In the end, that is just what happened, since it is proven
that Cellie’s thought has already been tracked by other
figures who struggle for the gender equalities by
developing the concept of feminist.

REFERENCES

Butler, Judith. Gender Trouble: Feminism and

Subversion of Identity. New York and London:
Routledge, 1990.
Lober, Judith. Gender Inequality Feminist Theories
and Politics Third Edition. New York: Brooklyn