Potret Perlawanan Perempuan Adat Rote Terhadap Budaya Patriarki Dalam Film Indonesia

Abstract

The film Women from Rote Island portrays injustices faced by indigenous Rote women who are victims of human trafficking and sexual violence. This study employs a qualitative approach, utilizing a critical paradigm and Sara Mills's model of discourse analysis to scrutinize the positioning of female characters in scenes that depict their defiance against patriarchal traditions. The analysis focuses on the three key positions within the film's discourse: subject, object, and reader. An examination of 20 key scenes demonstrates that the main female characters are consistently positioned as subjects. They resist objectification through two key strategies. First, they redefine their identities by refusing to be treated as sexual objects and by challenging confining traditions like the marriage dowry, which signifies male ownership. Second, they assert themselves in the public sphere by seeking economic independence and pursuing legal justice for sexual violence, rejecting customary resolutions that sideline victims. Despite their attempts to thwart the main female character's resistance, male characters, the dominant group in patriarchal traditions, and powerful organizations like police officers and traditional elders are positioned as objects. Ultimately, the film positions its audience to perceive the narrative truth from the perspective of the Rote women and to endorse their struggle.