The Symbols of Gender-Stereotype in Hans Christian Andersen’s the Little Mermaid

Jepri Ali Saiful (1), Ari Setyorini (2)
(1) Muhammdiyah University of Surabaya, Indonesia,
(2) Muhammadiyah University of Surabaya, Indonesia

Abstract

It is seen that there is an existence of gender-stereotype that unwittingly occurred in children's literature. The gender-stereotype of how man and woman should be and behave considering on his/her proper activities in a real life might be portrayed throughout the symbolizations in which numerous readers do not understand what they are about, whereas those symbols of gender-stereotype are teaching the children the concept of masculinity and femininity. This study thus scrutinizes the symbols of gender-stereotype in Hans Christian Andersen‟s The Little Mermaid. The data analysis is in the form of symbols which have the issues of gender-stereotype taken from the original fairy tale of The Little Mermaid in 1836. The aims of this study are to find out the symbols of gender-stereotype and describe the meaning of each symbol. Utilizing descriptive qualitative method, the results of this study are the symbols which have the gender-stereotype of masculinity are “King†related to non-emotional and intellectuality in authority of a man. “Knife†is found allied to the masculinity trait of a strong man and “Sword†is an analogue of a brave, adventurous and intellectual man. Moreover, the symbols of femininity found are the “Mermaid or Siren†is interwoven to such the embodiment of a flirtatious woman. “Long Hair†is germane to a loyal and submissive woman. The last, “Oyster†is represented as a nurturing woman. Keywords: Symbol, Gender-Stereotype, The Little Mermaid

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Authors

Jepri Ali Saiful
Jepriali1@gmail.com (Primary Contact)
Ari Setyorini
Ali Saiful, J., & Setyorini, A. (2016). The Symbols of Gender-Stereotype in Hans Christian Andersen’s the Little Mermaid. Tell : Teaching of English Language and Literature Journal, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.30651/tell.v3i1.312

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