The Impact of Katara's Liberal Feminism Values on Her Struggle to Break Gender Stereotype in Selected Episodes in Avatar: the Last Airbender

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THE IMPACT OF KATARA'S LIBERAL FEMINISM VALUES ON HER STRUGGLE TO BREAK GENDER STEREOTYPE IN SELECTED EPISODES IN AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters

By GABRIELLA YOVITA MARLASARI Student Number: 174214051

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS FACULTY OF LETTERS UNIVERSTAS SANATA DHARMA YOGYAKARTA 2020

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THE IMPACT OF KATARA'S LIBERAL FEMINISM VALUES ON HER STRUGGLE TO BREAK GENDER STEREOTYPEIN SELECTED EPISODES IN AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters

By GABRIELLA YOVITA MARLASARI Student Number: 174214051

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS FACULTY OF LETTERS UNIVERSTAS SANATA DHARMA YOGYAKARTA 2021 A Sarjana Sastra Undergraduate Thesis

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I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

-Philippians 4: 13

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TO MY BELOVED PARENTS FOR RAISING ME AS WHO I AM TODAY TO MY LOVELY NIECE JESSLYN IN HOPE FOR A BETTER

FUTURE

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am very grateful that I finally finished this research. I would like to give thanks to Jesus Christ because of His grace during my time writing this thesis.

Furthermore, I would like to express my gratitude to my advisor, Elisabeth

Oseanita Pukan, S.S., M.A., who has been very patient in helping and guiding me during the process. I would also like to thank my co-advisor, Dr. Tatang Iskarna, for the suggestion and correction in finishing this research. Finally, I wish to express my deepest gratitude to all of the lecturers in the English Letters

Department who have been patiently teaching me during my study at Universitas

Sanata Dharma.

I would like to pay special regards to my family to support me, especially my mother, who helps me during my ups and downs and encourages me to write this research. I would be thankful to my classmate friends Fanny, Sekar, Nafi, Nevi,

Risti, and Feli for making my study memorable. I would like to say thank you to

Grace and Nia for being there to listen to all of my problems and encourage me to be better. I wish to thank all the people in Pelataran Puan who make me laugh daily and provide my daily dose of coffee. Lastly, I would wholeheartedly appreciate my best friend Joseph for always listening and comforting me and always being there when I need him.

Without the people mentioned on this page, I would never be able to finish my research and graduate. Therefore, I am grateful for your presence in my life.

Gabriella Yovita Marlasari

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE ...... ii APPROVAL PAGE ...... iii ACCEPTANCE PAGE ...... iv STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY ...... v LEMBAR PENYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH .. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...... ix TABLE OF CONTENT ...... x ABSTRACT ...... xii ABSTRAK ...... xiii

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ...... 1 A. Background of the Study ...... 1 B. Problem Formulation ...... 5 C. Objectives of the Study ...... 6 D. Definition of Terms ...... 6

CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF LITERATURE ...... 8 A. Review of Related Studies ...... 8 B. Review of Related Theories ...... 13 1. Theory of Characterization ...... 13 a. Characterization through Appearance ...... 14 b. Characterization through Dialogue ...... 14 c. Characterization through External action ...... 15 d. Characterization through Internal action ...... 15 e. Characterization through Reaction of other characters ...... 16 f. Characterization through Contrast: dramatic foil ...... 16 g. Characterization through Caricature and leitmotif ...... 16 h. Characterization through Choice of name ...... 17 2. Theory of Feminism and Liberal Feminism ...... 17 3. Theory of Gender Stereotype ...... 22 C. Theoretical Framework ...... 25

CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ...... 28 A. Object of the Study ...... 28 B. Approach of the Study ...... 31 C. Method of the Study ...... 32

CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS ...... 34 A. The Characteristics of Katara ...... 34 1. Brave ...... 35 2. Responsible ...... 37 3. Kind ...... 39 4. Strong-willed ...... 41

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B. Gender Stereotype Shown in the series of Avatar: The Last Airbender . 43 1. Women are too emotional ...... 44 2. Women are weak ...... 50 3. Women did not need education ...... 54 C. Katara’s characteristics reflect liberal feminism values help her breaking the gender stereotype...... 57 1. Equal Treatment ...... 59 2. Equality of Opportunity ...... 64 3. Equal Rights ...... 69

CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION ...... 73

REFERENCES ...... 76

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ABSTRACT Marlasari, G. Y. (2021). The Impact of Katara’s Liberal Feminism Values on her Struggle to Break Gender Stereotype in Selected Episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005). Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Universitas Sanata Dharma. This study discusses liberal feminism in characteristics of Katara as the primary character in the series. The object of this study is the series of Avatar: The Last Airbender from season 1 to season 3, focusing on the female main character, Katara. Women’s struggle to break gender stereotypes and liberal feminism values are very noticeable throughout this series. Therefore, this study analyzes women's struggle and liberal feminism values in Katara’s characteristics on breaking gender stereotype. This study aims to find the characterization of Katara throughout the series, analyze the gender stereotype shown in the series, and examine Katara’s liberal feminism value through her characteristics on breaking gender stereotypes throughout the series. In this study, the researcher used library research. The feminism approach is used in analyzing this work to find the liberal feminism value in Katara’s characteristics in the transcript of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Thus, the primary source of thisreseach is the transcript of the series Avatar: The Last Airbender. The main theories used in this study are the theory of characterization by Boggs and Petrie, theory of feminism by Tong, theory of gender stereotype by Mary E. Kite, and theory of liberal feminism value by Elshtain. The analysis stated that Katara’s main characteristics are brave, kind, responsible, and strong-willed, seen throughout the series. The gender stereotype that Katara and other female characters encounter in the series was that women are too emotional to make the right decision, women are weak, and women do not need education. Her characteristics reflect liberal feminism value: equal treatment, equal opportunity, and equal rights that helps her break gender stereotype that her and other female characters encounter throughout the series. Katara’s characteristics reflect liberal feminism which could help her breaks gender stereotype in the story. Equal treatment, equal opportunity, and equal rights were something that Katara tried to maintain. In conclusion, Katara is kind, brave, responsible, and strong-willed. These characteristics help her break the gender stereotype she encounters in the story. Gender stereotypes that Katara and other female characters have to encounter are that women are too emotional to make the right decision, women are weak, and women did not need education. Therefore, Katara struggles hard with her characteristics to make equal treatment, equal opportunity, and equal rights for her and other female characters to break gender stereotypes that limit women's freedom.

Keywords: characterization, liberal feminism, gender stereotype

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ABSTRAK Marlasari, G. Y. (2021). The Impact of Katara’s Liberal Feminism Values on her Struggle to Break Gender Stereotype in Selected Episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005). Yogyakarta, Program Studi Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma. Penelitian ini mendiskusikan feminisme liberal pada karakter Katara sebagai tokoh utama. Objek pada penelitian ini adalah serial yang berjudul Avatar: The Last Airbender dari musim pertama sampai musim ketiga berfokus pada tokoh utama, Katara. perjuangan wanita untuk mematahkan stereotip gender dan nilai feminisme liberal sangat terlihat disepanjang series ini. Maka, penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis perjuangan perempuan dan nilai feminisme liberal pada karakter Katara mematahkan stereotip gender. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menemukan karakteristik dari Katara, menganalisis stereotip gender, dan menguji nilai feminisme liberal pada karakteristik Katara dalam mematahkan stereotip gender pada series tersebut. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan studi pustaka. Penulis menganalisis karya ini dengan pendekatan feminisme untuk mengetahui nilai feminisme liberal pada karakter Katara. Sumber utama dalam penelitian ini adalah serial Avatar: The Last Airbender and naskhah dari series tersebut. Teori utama yang digunakan dalam penilitian ini adalah Teori Karakteristik dari Boggs dan Petrie, Teori Feminisme dan Feminisme Liberal dari Rosemary Tong, Teori Stereotip Gender dari Mary E. Kite dan Teori Nilai Feminisme Liberal dari Jean Elshtain. Dari penelitian ini, ditemukan bahwa karakter utama Katara adalah baik hati, berani, bertanggung jawab, dan berkemauan keras. Stereotip gender yang dialami Katara dan tokoh perempuan lain pada series ini adalah perempuan terlalu emosionl untuk mengambil keputusan tepat, perempuan lemah, dan perempuan tidak memerlukan pendidikan. Karakteristik Katara yang mencerminkan nilai femenisme liberal adalah perlakuan yang sama, kesempatan yang sama, dan hak yang sama, yang membantu Katara mematahkan stereotip yang dia alami sepanjang cerita. Perlakuan yang sama, kesempatan yang sama, dan hak yang sama adalah sesuatu yang dipertahankan Katara. Kesimpulan dari penilitan ini yaitu karakteristik dari Katara adalah berani, baik hati, bertanggung jawab, dan berkeinginan keras yang membantu dia mematahkan stereotip gender. Stereotip yang dialami Katara adalah perempuan terlalu emosional untuk membuat keputusan tepat, perempuan lemah, dan perempuan tidak membutuhkan pendidikan. Maka dari itu, Katara berjuang untuk mematahkan stereotip gender yang membatasi kebebasan perempuan.

Kata Kunci: characterization, liberal feminicm, gender stereotype

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CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the study

Literature is referred to as a written expression, with the restriction that not every written document can be categorized as literature in the more exact sense of the word (Klarer, 1999, p. 1). The term literature is more focused on imaginative works from the author's mind and imagination. In society nowadays, there are many social problems about race, gender, and many more. Those social issues are discussed in the literature, and one of them is feminist literature.

The history of feminism is divided into three waves. According to Cavanaugh

(2018), the first wave of feminism happened in 1830 until early 1990. The main goal of the first wave is women's fight for equal contract and property rights.

Women realize that they were often being taken for granted; they gathered and made a plan to gain political power, including the right to vote. They need to change the way women saw themselves. They emphasized that women can contribute to many things, such as owning property, equal rights to achieve education, and getting the same wages. According to Grady (2018), the second wave of feminism happened from 1963 until 1980. The second wave produces a lot of essential people in feminism nowadays, such as Simone de Beauvoir.

Second-wave feminism focused on various social issues: reproductive rights, de facto inequalities, sexuality, family, the workplace, reproductive rights, and official legal inequalities. The goal of the second wave is to make women socially equal to men. For example, getting women a credit card under their name makes

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women could apply for mortgages, raise awareness of sexual abuse and harassment, and make shelters for sexual abuse victims. According to Grady

(2018), third-wave feminism happened in 1991. In this wave, the word feminism is more accepted in society rather than second-wave feminism. Third-wave feminism tends to fight against workplace sexual harassment and raise women's power to embrace all kinds of ideas and language rejected in the previous wave.

Feminism is an ideology, political, and social movement that defines and defends political, economic, personal, and social equality for all sexes. There are many branches of feminism, and one of them is liberal feminism. Liberal feminism defines the equality of men and women through political and legal reform. It is a form of feminism that focuses on women's ability to show and maintain their equality through their actions and choices. The idea of liberal feminism conceives freedom as personal autonomy—living a life of one's choosing—and political independence—being the co-author of the conditions under which one lives.

Montagu stated that women are shaped to think that men are superior to women, and women are naturally inferior to men. Women have been constrained to believe that they are inferior to men, and they have assumed that what everyone believes is a fact of nature (1953, p. 53). In our primary society, we all think that men are always physically stronger, more reliable, and deserve to lead in everything because they are naturally superior to women.

Traditional gender stereotypes are focused on men leading the family, seeking jobs, and making money. Women, on the other hand, typically stay at home to

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care for their children. In addition, women are traditionally viewed as gentle and weak, whereas men are viewed as stronger and more independent. As a result, women faced more discrimination as a result of their gender than men. However, women fight hard for equality for their rights to choose and to become what they want.

Liberal feminism focused on women's rights in social, political, education, and economy. Liberal feminism is a movement that emphasizes the individual freedom of every human being. The idea of individual freedom reflects women's liberation that women should have the same rights to individual freedom. Men hold all the power in political and social life. Patriarchy made liberal feminism have a hard time achieving its goal.

In its broader definition, patriarchy means the manifestation and institutionalization of male dominance over women and children in the family and the extension of male dominance over women in society in general. It implies that "men hold power in all the important institutions of society" and that "women are deprived of access to such power" (Lerner as cited in Sultana, 2012, p. 3).

Liberal Feminism also fights for freedom which is limited by male domination in a patriarchal society. Men are naturally considered superior to women, physically and even mentally. Men in the family have the power to dominate and control women. Women must obey what the men ask them to because women are considered the second gender. As Hooks (2004) said:

Patriarchy is a political-social system that insists that males are inherently dominating, superior to everything and everyone deemed weak, especially females, and endowed with the right to dominate and rule over the weak and to maintain that dominance through various forms of psychological terrorism and violence (p. 28).

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Nowadays, some literary works promote feminist values and speak against women's discrimination. One example is the cartoon series of the Avatar: The

Last Airbender. The female main character, Katara, plays the role of liberal feminism and defines the equality of all gender. As the main character, Katara reflects many positive traits such as warmth, caring, loyal to her family, and fierce. Katara is the perfect embodiment of liberal feminism because she is brave and could not stay still when she saw others oppress someone. Throughout the story, Katara, Sokka, Katara's brother, and Aang, the Avatar, got many problems to maintain world peace, but Katara has her problem. Sokka, Katara's brother, believes in a patriarchal society where men have to lead the journey and women have to follow the lead. Since the beginning of the movie, many men characters see Katara as a weak little girl, but she confidently proves that she is a brave warrior.

The researcher decided to choose selected episodes of the Avatar: The Last

Airbender series, which reflects liberal feminism by Katara. In the selected episodes, the female main character Katara reflects true feminism and fights the gender stereotype that men are naturally superior to women. In the first and the second episode, Katara and her brother Sokka went on a journey to find food for their tribe, and then Sokka said that Katara needs to stop playing with her water bending and let him lead the journey. Sokka believes that man should lead and woman should follow; Sokka's statement made Katara feel angry and accidentally use her power to set free the Avatar. In the second episode, Aang was captured by the fire prince, and Katara insisted that they must help Aang because he

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surrenders to the fire nation for the safety of the Southern Water Tribe people. In the 18th episode, Avatar, Katara, and Sokka arrived at the Northern Water Tribe, where they meet Master Pakku which willingly teaches Avatar water bending.

However, he did not want to teach Katara water bending because she is a girl, a girl in the northern water tribe should learn healing ability, not water bending.

Katara insisted that she is worthy of learning water bending from Master Pakku, and Master Pakku challenged her in a fight which made him believe that Katara is worthy of learning water bending.

The researcher found that Katara's characteristics and actions match the liberal feminism value, and her action reflects breaking gender stereotypes shown throughout the series.

B. Problem Formulation

Based on the background of the object above, the researcher formulates three questions in the problem formulation:

1. What are the characteristics of Katara shown in the selected episodes of the

series Avatar: The Last Airbender?

2. What are gender stereotypes reflected in the selected episodes of the series

Avatar: The Last Airbender?

3. How Katara’s liberal feminism values are reflected from her characteristics

help her in breaking the gender stereotype?

C. Objectives of the Study

This study's first objective is to identify Katara's characteristics reflected in the series’ selected episodes. The second objective is to analyze the gender

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stereotype shown in the selected episodes of the series. Finally, the third objective is to analyze Katara's liberal feminism values on her struggle to break gender stereotypes shown in the selected episodes.

D. Definition of Terms

In order to make this undergraduate thesis easier to understand, the researcher provides the meaning of some key terms in this research—the first term is

Feminism. According to Tyson (2001), feminism is a movement that seeks to understand how women are oppressed-socially, economically, politically, and psychologically to reduce, if not eliminate, their oppression. (p. 139). The second term is Liberal Feminism. According to Madsen (2000), "Liberal feminism is the liberal emphasis on the individual stresses the importance of the individual autonomy protected by guaranteed rights, economic justice, and equality opportunity" (p.35).

The third term is Gender. According to Abrams the traits that are conceived to constitute what is masculine and what is feminine in temperament and behavior are largely, if not entirely, social constructs that were generated by the pervasive patriarchal biases of our civilization (2016, p. 122) The fourth term is

Stereotype. Ritzer stated that stereotype is a way of representing and judging other people in fixed, unyielding terms. They reduced to the stereotype resulting from this, instead of being viewed as individuals with their features and qualities

(2007, p. 4781). The fifth term is Gender stereotype. According to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), gender stereotype is a generalized view or preconception about attributes or characteristics or the roles

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that are or ought to be possessed by or performed by women and men (ohchr.org,

N. D, para. 2).

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CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

This chapter concerns the literature review that contains three sections: the review of the related studies, review of related theories, and theoretical framework. The review of related studies contains an overview of four studies conducted with a similar topic and approach. The review of related theories provides some theories supporting the topic. For example, the researcher uses the theory of characterization, the theory of liberal feminism, and the theory of gender stereotype. Finally, the theoretical framework discusses how those four theories are used in answering the problem formulation.

A. Review of Related Studies

This part review some related studies that have been found. There are four related studies reviewed in this part, and those studies have similarities on the topic of the study. The first related study is conducted by Puspitasari entitled

"Liberal Feminism Values Seen through the Main Character in Kinberg's Mr. and

Mrs. Smith," published in 2016. In her paper, Puspitasari discusses liberal feminism in Jane's main character of Mr. and Mrs. Smith's movie. In this study,

Puspitasari discusses the liberal feminism depicted by one of the main characters in the movie Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Using the theory of characterization by Reaske and Boggs, Puspita presented the characterization of Jane Smith. Jane, according to Puspita, is critical. "Critical means that the person thinks using reasoned logic."

(Puspita, 2016, p.24) intelligent "Jane always uses her mind to solve problems and seeks solutions to the problems she encounters." (Puspita, 2016, p. 27) "Jane's

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name implies that she must become an independent woman with power and control over herself, just as John is a man with power and control over himself. To find liberal feminism values in Jane's characteristics, this study uses the theory of liberal Feminism by Rosemarie Tong. By using this theory, three liberal feminism values are found through Jane's characteristics. They are equality in economy and politics, equal liberty, and education (Puspita, 2016, p. 49)."Just as John is a man with power and self-control." (Puspita, 2016, p.30). "As an assassin, Jane must be self-assured so that she never hesitates to carry out her mission of killing people."

(Puspita, 2016, p.31) accountable "She is always able to divide her time in order to fulfill her responsibilities" (Puspita, 2016, p.33) Puspita also discusses her findings on liberal feminism values as seen through the eyes of women. Puspita also shares her research on liberal feminism values, as seen through Jane Smith.

According to Puspita, Jane represents an equal opportunity in the economy and politics and equal liberty and education.

Puspita's research is similar to this research topic because it also uses liberal feminism and characterization theory. However, the researcher uses Katara's main character in the movie series Avatar: The Last Airbender and not Jane, Mr. and

Mrs. Smith.

The second related study is written by Nareswari entitled Liberal Feminism

Seen through the Main Female Character in Educating Rita Movie. This study discusses the main character struggle of a movie entitled Educating Rita. Rita is a working-class woman who wants to get higher education for herself. However, her husband, Denny, refuses to believe that women need higher education and told

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Rita that having a baby is more important for a woman than having a higher education. The method used in this research is library research which made the movie Educating Rita a primary resource and books, journals as the second resource. Nareswari uses characterization theory by Joseph M. Boggs and Dennis

W. Petrie to determine Rita's character to be determined, rebellious, intelligent, hard-working, and independent.

Rita's determination lead her to get the education that she wants, even though Frank does not want to teach her literature at the first meet. Rita's rebellious act against her husband and her family, especially her father, because Rita's father wants her to have a baby instead of getting an education. The last is Rita's independent life; after her divorce from Denny, she has to live independently (Nareswari, 2019, p. 43).

Nareswari uses liberal feminism to identify the feminism reflected in Rita's characteristics. Despite all the obstacles and hardships, Rita could successfully finish her education and make her dream come true, and she is getting a higher education.

Rita fights for her education to get better and self-discovery about her true self. Yet, she still can stand and hold herself together. What the things go through her life while she gets an education and self-discovery still makes her a great and independent woman who can choose what she wants. (Nareswari, 2019, p. 43).

Nareswari's research has a similar topic because it uses characteristics and liberal feminism theory as its base. Educating Rita's main character has similarities with Avatar: The Last Airbender main woman character, the object of this research. The difference between this research and Nareswari's research is the object analyzed. Nareswari uses a movie entitled Educating Rita, and this researcher uses a series cartoon entitled Avatar: The Last Airbender.

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The third related study is written by Eidelweis entitled Liberal Feminism as

Reflected in the Main Character of Joy Movie. This study discusses the main character's struggle by being an oppressed woman and achieving her dream and freedom. The movie Joy is about the struggle of a woman named Joy, full of ideas and innovation of being oppressed by her life situation. Therefore, she could not make her invention come true. Joy is a woman with much responsibility, and she has to take care of her big family and work two jobs so that she could afford to pay the living cost of her and her family. Joy made the invention of a modernized mop and, through her journey, kept her from achieving dreams. A Chinese investor tried to sue Joy, they accused her of copying their work, but actually, the

Chinese investor was the one who copied Joy's invention. Joy almost gives up on her dreams and her freedom, but she turns her way around and toughens her heart up. Joy became this fearless and smart woman that defend her invention and make things right. In the end, Joy succeed to made the modernized mop her invention, and she was determined to help other women with their invention if they could not make their dreams come true. Eidelwies use the theory of liberal feminism to analyze the intrinsic and extrinsic elements of the movie.

On the other hand, specifically, Joy is a liberal feminist. Furthermore, ones can be considered liberal feminists as long as they reflect some liberal Feminism, which will be depicted in the following paragraph. Those are equal liberty, gender justice, and mono-androgyny (Eidelweis. 2018. p. 55).

Eidelweis's research has similarities with this research because the focus is on the struggle of a woman's main character to achieve her dream and have the freedom to do what she wants. However, although Eidelweis and this research have similarities, there is a difference in the object of the study. Eidelweis's object

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study is a movie entitled Joy, while this research object of the study is a series entitled Avatar: The Last Airbender.

The last related studies is written by Sales, entitled Subversive Masculinity in

Children’s Animation: Hey Arnold, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and The Loud

House. This study discusses the representation of masculinity in three characters in children animation series Hey Arnold, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and The

Loud House. Each of the main character in the animated series subvert toxic masculinity. The researcher analyze the three animated series with the masculinity theory. Focusing on the findings Avatar: The Last Airbender, Aang, the main character, was raised in the religious and gentle environment which made him dislike physical fight unless it is used to defend himself. Aang was less aggressive and subversive nature of Aang’s upbringing is also notable in that the expectation of masculinity in the other countries are more committed to hegemonic masculinity. Aang was supposed to fight the fire lord in order to save the world, but he was against killing the fire lord because of his belief and culture.

Aang's masculinity framework was frequently challenged throughout the series. This culminated in the series finale, where Aang was repeatedly pressured to set aside his beliefs and solve their problem in a way that adhered to hegemonic masculinity.

In this episode, Aang exhibited a notable departure from his usual behaviors. Aang’s peers, mainly Katara, noted how different Aang acted. Within the narrative, this difference was framed negatively, even going so far as to use the music and shading to show how frightening Aang had become. However, not every adherence to hegemonic masculinity was framed negatively.

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The statement above shows that in the specific episodes Aang act different than his usual self. Aang lost his pet, Appa, and he was furious and angry. Aang shows his avatar power to his friend and the one who kidnap Appa. Aang shows that he could show how powerful he is and no one should make him angry. Even though Aang shows his avatar power and tried to destroy the thief, Katara calms him down and Aang finally left the spirit world which make him normal again.

Aang shows his masculinity by showing thief that he would destroy them because they took Appa. Katara, Sokka, and Toph were surprised because it was their first time seeing Aang, who were always gentle and loving, become a powerful being.

All of the related studies use the theory of feminism, gender stereotype, and masculinity to analyze the research object. In addition, all of the related studies analyze the female main character of a movie and how they fight for equality in each movie. Although this research uses feminism, gender stereotype, and characterization theory, this study's object is selected episodes of Avatar: The Last

Airbender, and analyze Katara as the female main character in the series and how she fight to break gender stereotype to make her and other women equal as men.

B. Review of Related Theories

The researcher uses two theories to answer the problem mentioned in the problem formulation to support the analysis. The three theories are the theory of characterization, the theory of liberal feminism, and the theory of gender stereotype.

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1. Theory of Characterization.

Characterization is a description of a character's physical attribute and character personality; the way that character thinks, acts, and, speaks also adds characterization. The author generally gives hints to the reader or the audience of a character's characteristics throughout the story. According to Abrams, a character is defined as the persons represented in a dramatic or narrative work.

The reader interprets as possessing moral, intellectual, and emotional qualities by the person's words and their particular ways of saying it (Abrams, 2016, p. 44).

Abram also stated that a character might remain essentially stable or unchanged in outlook and disposition from the beginning to the end of a work (Abrams, 2016, p.44).

According to Boggs and Petrie, there are several ways to identify and understand a character's characterization or how it constructs throughout the story

(Boggs & Petrie, 2011, p. 50-55). In further discussion, Boggs and Petrie stated that eight ways could be used to identify a character's characteristics which are: a. Characterization through appearance

Boggs and Petrie stated that the appearance of a character could help determine the characterization of a character. A significant aspect of film characterization is revealed visually and instantly. Although some actors may be adaptable enough to project completely different qualities in various roles, most actors are not. The writer gives the audience a hint of a character's characteristic through their appearance, including their facial feature, wardrobe, physical build, mannerism, and how the character moves (Boggs & Petrie, 2011, p. 50).

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b. Characterization through dialogue

According to Boggs and Petrie, the dialogue and conversation between the characters can be the indicator of the character's characterization. The character word represents the character's thought, attitude, emotion, and social background, essential in characterization. Character in fictional films naturally reveals a great deal about themselves by what they say. Nonetheless, how they say it reveals a lot about them. Their true thoughts, attitudes, and emotions can be subtly through word choice and the stress, pitch, and pause pattern of their speech (p. 50).

c. Characterization through external action

According to Boggs and Petrie, a character's appearance can determine the personality but sometimes can be misleading. Therefore, the best reflection of a character's personality is the person's action (p. 52). They also stated that once the motivation for a character's action is established, the character and plot become so inextricably linked that they are impossible to separate. Therefore, every action that the character takes in some way reflects the quality of his or her particular personality (p. 53).

d. Characterization through internal action

According to Boggs and Petrie, inner action occurs within the characters' minds and emotions and consists of secret, unspoken thoughts, daydreams, aspirations, reminiscences, fears, and fantasies. People's hopes, dreams, and aspirations can be just as crucial to understanding their character as any real accomplishment, and their fears and insecurities can be terrifying to them than any

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absolute catastrophic failure (p. 22). Internal action usually can be perceived with visual elements such as shots, montage, and film punctuation.

e. Characterization through reactions of other characters

According to Boggs and Petrie, the way other characters perceive a person is often an excellent characterization source. Occasionally, a great deal of information about a character is provided through such means before the character appears on the screen for the first time (p. 52). The author gives the audience hints of a character's characterization through the reaction of another character. The reaction of another character towards the main character can be counted as a characterization.

f. Characterization through contrast: dramatic foils

According to Boggs and Petrie, one of the most compelling characters is foils contrasting character whose behavior, attitudes, opinions, lifestyle, physical appearance are the opposite of those of the main characters (p. 53). By contrasting the difference between the main character and the other character, the audience can determine its characterization.

g. Characterization through caricature and leitmotif

Boggs and Petrie stated that to engrave a character quickly and deeply into our minds and memories, actors often exaggerate one or more dominant features or personality traits. This device is called caricature (from the technique used in cartooning). In addition, the repetition of single action, phrase, or idea by a character until it becomes a trademark is referred to as a leitmotif. Because it

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essentially exaggerates and emphasizes (via repetition), such a device functions similarly to a caricature (p. 54).

h. Characterization through the choice of name

According to Boggs and Petrie, one important characterization method is using names possessing appropriate qualities of sound, meaning, or connotation.

This technique is known as name typing. A screenwriter usually thinks out his characters' names very carefully. Because names are carefully chosen, they should not be taken for granted but should be carefully examined for the connotations they convey (p. 55).

From those eight methods to indicate a character's characterization based on

Boggs and Petrie, the audience can identify a character's characterization through appearance, through dialogue, through external action, through internal action, through reaction another character, through contrast: dramatic foils, through caricature and leitmotif, through the name of choice. Thus, the characteristics of a character can be understood by the audience completely.

2. Theory of Feminism and Liberal Feminism

Feminism is a social movement in politics and economy because someone wanted to defend equality towards all gender and to make an improvement on social equality of all exes. Women are always considered second and seen as weaker than men. Therefore, feminism is the movement to end women's oppression (Hooks, 2000, p. 26). As the researcher mentioned above, the three waves of feminism create branches or feminist theories with different approaches.

The branches of feminism are radical feminism, liberal feminism, marxist

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feminism, postmodern feminism. But, this study focused on liberal feminism theory.

Radical feminism appears because women believe that they can only be free when oppressed and dominating the patriarchal system. Thus, radical feminist theories of equality, involving as they must implicit claims and assertions about the position of persons in the moral community, push towards denying full status as persons to men and, often, to children (Elshtain, 1975, p. 460).

Separatist feminism is a radical feminist that does not support the heterosexual relationship. “As they saw it, the androgynous women were not fully human, but only women who had embraced some of the worst masculinity features” (Tong, 2017, p. 58). Separatist feminists believe that the sexual differences between men and women cannot be solved; separatist feminists believe that men cannot positively impact feminist movements. They believe that men only believe in a patriarchal society (p. 83). “Anti-pornography feminism focused on the problem of pornography in which women are only seen as an object, and it is violating women rights (p. 62).

Marxist feminism is a feminist that connects women's oppression to Marxist ideas about labor, exploitation, and oppression. Marxist feminists analyze the ways women are exploited and suffer because of capitalism and the male-oriented government. Marxist feminists assume that women's oppression ended when capitalism is also ended.

Postmodern feminism is a feminist movement that views women have to achieve the goal of feminism to have equal rights of all sexes without any pressure

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or problem. Tong stated that “women's alienation is profoundly disturbing because women experience themselves not as selves but as others” (Tong, 2017, p. 102). As a result of this policy, the human community has been improvised. It seems, then, that men and women have much to gain by joining a variety of postmodern feminism (Tong, 2017, p. 290).

Liberal feminism focuses on women's capability to maintain their equality to have their actions and choices. Women are considered as the second sex. Liberal

Feminism is one of the feminist movements that emphasizes equality between men and women and stresses the importance of individual autonomy, rights, economic and political justice, and opportunity equality. Liberal feminists hold that the exercise of personal autonomy enables conditions that are not enough in women's lives or social rights that sometimes fail to respect women's autonomy.

Liberal feminists believe that all gender should have equal rights in society.

In other words, liberal feminism emphasizes the freedom that all sexes, including women, have in the first place. Thus, liberal feminism is one of the feminist movements that emphasizes equality between men and women and highlights the importance of individual rights, economic and political justice, and opportunity equality.

The goal of liberal feminism is freeing women from oppressive gender role stereotypes, sexual and gender equality. Tong stated that "Our entire system of individual rights is justified because these rights provide a framework within which we can all choose our goods while not depriving others of theirs." (Tong,

2017, p. 11). Women can express themselves and do whatever they want to do

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because they are equal to men. Women do not have a limit to do something or become anything because women have their rights and choices, which men will not limit.

Tong stated that "The goal of liberal feminism is creating a just and compassionate society in which freedom flourished. Solely in such society can women and men thrive equally." (Tong, 2017, p. 13). Women experienced oppression and inequality throughout their lives because they strive for liberal feminism. Therefore, society did not see women as objects but as human beings with choice and rights. Therefore, the goal of liberal feminism is to create equal rights for every gender and sex.

Liberal Feminism aims to inspire all women to fight for their rights to fulfill themselves as humans also argue for ultimate freedom of expression. “Liberal feminist perspectives focus on how women's writing attempts to create a feminist consciousness of the oppression and injustice suffered by women” (Madsen, 2000, p. 37). According to Freedman (2001), "Feminism is thus a term that emerged long after women started questioning their inferior status and demanding an amelioration in their social position” (p. 3). Even though men are the head of the family, it cannot be the reason to restrict the liberty and rights of women who are also human. Liberal feminism depends heavily on personal autonomy, especially women. Therefore, they could reach freedom and personal liberty. Before the first wave of the feminism movement, women are always viewed as the second gender.

It happened because of a social system called patriarchal society, where men dominate over women. Liberal feminism was established because they believe

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that men and women should have an equal position from all kinds of stereotypes about women's social roles.

According to Jean Elshtain, equality is a rich, complicated, contested political concept, and the choice among apparently reasonable meanings has implications for the kind of social policies one urges (1975, p. 452). Liberal feminism has a connection to the equality of all gender, and liberal feminism has some value: equality of rights, equality of opportunity, and equality of treatment. Equality of rights is often called a system of equal rights. Equality in this scheme is conceived as a system of equal rights. “All those eligible inclusion within the category

"citizen" in a democracy, for example, are presumed to share equally in certain enumerated rights, including the franchise, the right to petition, the right to assemble peaceably, and so on (Elshtain, 1975, p. 464). Therefore, equality as a formal-legalistic concept cannot be capture to the full range of meaning of political equality unless one's understanding of such equality begins and ends with the concept of equal rights. Equal rights give women the ability to have their own choices and make their possibility for their better future.

Equality of opportunity means that all individuals have the freedom to compete for jobs, rewards, status, and position-for whatever it is the society has to offer to those who succeed (and, by implication, denies to those who do not).

Equality of opportunity presumes equal rights as a tool to emphasize not rights of citizenship but economic rights, freedom of life, chance, and choice. In caste society, people’s status is already fixed since birth. Therefore, the equal opportunity that a person has is minimal. Nevertheless, the term equality of

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opportunity has widespread support among members of modern societies. When examined closely, equality of opportunity divides into several distinct ideas, some of which are opposed. Equality of opportunity gives women a chance to get a higher education, achieve certain positions in society, and many more.

The principle of equal treatment requires that identical or comparable situations must not be treated differently and that different situations must not be treated identically (Watson, 1995, p. 33). Equal treatment means that all people have the rights to be treated and received the same treatment in the workplace, society, education, and economic aspect. For example, women experienced much inequality in the workplace because women are considered weaker, and men are stronger than women. Women also received less payment than men in many jobs.

Liberal feminism helps women understand that they also have the same rights to be equally treated as men.

3. Theory of Gender Stereotype

The terms "gender" and "sex" are different. Sex refers to a person's biological aspect; sex is given since birth, such as male and female. Gender, on the other side, refers to the construction made by society. Society expects some standard which particular sex should achieve. As mentioned in the definition of terms, gender stereotype is a generalized view or preconception about attributes or characteristics or the roles that are or ought to be possessed by or performed by women and men (ohchr.org, N. D, para. 2).

Pilcher and Whelehan stated,

"The concept of gender, as we know it today, became popular in the early 1970s. It was used as an analytical category to draw a line between biological

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sex differences and how these are used to inform behaviors and competencies that are then classified as masculine or 'feminine.'.

In their book, Pilcher and Whelehan stated that the purpose of affirming the gender of a person is to maintain the patriarchal system and create the unconscious mindset that women are naturally below men. In the Encyclopedia of

Women and Gender, Kite stated that gender stereotypes are organized, consensual beliefs and opinions about women and men's characteristics and the purported masculinity and femininity qualities (Kite cited in Worel, 2001, p.561). According to Kite, gender stereotypes describe who women and men are and tell who they should be.

Rosenkrantz and Broverman were the first to identify the characteristics typically associated with men and women. The two authors found two constellations or groups of traits representing gender-associated belief, such as a competence cluster, typically associated with men with brave, independent, and control characteristics. While women are expressed as warmth expressiveness clusters, they were typically associated with women with characteristics such as kind, concern for others, and caring.

In the Encyclopedia of Women and Gender, Kite also reviewed a study by

Plant, Hyde, Keltner, and Devine, which shows that women were believed to experience and express most emotion more readily than men. However, people believe that both women and men suppress emotions when inconsistent with their appropriate gender role (Kite as cited in Worel, 2001, p. 563). People who believe in gender stereotypes think that emotion that someone feels depends on the gender of that person. In other words, women are allowed to show their feelings or

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express what they feel, but men should not talk about their feelings because it is not masculine.

According to Best, as stated in Ember & Ember. Best, stereotypes make no allowance for variability and justifying that all men are aggressive and all women are emotional. In other words, gender stereotype can be described as an overgeneralized belief about what men and women are like, and behavior is expected that considered appropriate

Gender stereotypes are psychological traits and behaviors that are thought to occur more frequently in one gender than the other (for example, men are more "aggressive" while women are more "emotional"). Stereotypes are frequently used to support traditional gender roles (for example, women are nurses and men are construction workers) and may serve as socialization models for children. (Best as cited in Ember & Ember, p.11, 2005) Since little, boys and girls are group according to their gender. Boys are supposed to like robots and cars while girls are supposed to play with dolls and cooking. Boys are supposed to like blue or black, and girls are supposed to like pink and other bright colors. Adults are unconsciously grouping children based on their gender. Stereotypes make no allowance for variability, and they justify treating all men aggressive and women submissive. For example, men get more money from work than women. Men have easier access to education rather than women. Men have a higher chance to be promoted to a higher level than women.

Women are too emotional to be a leader; women decide with their feeling, not their mind. Since little, children are thought to act, behave, and think based on their gender. Girls are supposed to be kind, soft, and feminine, and boys are supposed to be sporty, rugged, and masculine.

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According to Lippa (2008), Boys’ social lives are more hierarchical and group-centered, and boys engage in more competitive, aggressive, and rough-and- tumble play. Girls’ social lives are more one-on-one than boys’, and girls engage in reciprocal, verbal, and negotiated kinds of play. Boys fantasize more about heroic individual achievements, and girls fantasize more about family and reciprocal social roles (p. 31). Lippa explained that common gender stereotype makes men have personality traits such as logical, strong, and competitive, and women tend to have personality traits such as gentle, weak, and emotional.

William & Best conduct a study on children’s sex stereotype. Then they found that “Strong, aggressive, cruel, coarse, and adventurous were consistently associated with men at all age levels, and weak, appreciative, soft-hearted, gentle, and meek were associated with women” (Best as cited in Ember & Ember, 2003, p. 19). Moreover, gender stereotypes cover personality traits and physical ability, social roles, occupation, and sexuality, which results in a negative consequence on women. One of the negative consequences that women have to encounter is that women are considered too emotional or do not use their logical thinking.

C. Theoretical Framework

The researcher focuses on Katara and her characteristics which reflect liberal feminism, gender stereotype, and Katara’s struggle on breaking gender stereotype in selected episodes in the series Avatar: The Last Airbender. In order to answer the problem formulated in the chapter before, the researcher employed three theories to help find the answer theory of characterization and the theory of

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feminism and liberal feminism. These theories are helpful for the researcher in analyzing because it gives a better understanding.

In the first problem formulation, the researcher uses the theory of characterization to analyze the characteristics of Katara, which is described in the selected episodes in the series. First, the researcher tries to identify Katara’s characteristics and personality using Boggs and Petrie's characterization theory.

There are eight ways to identify a character’s characterization: Characterization through appearance, through dialogue, through external action, through internal action, through reactions of other characters, through contrast: dramatic foils, caricature, and leitmotif, and through the choice of name. From this theory, the researcher can identify the characterization and the personality of Katara in the selected episodes.

In the second problem formulation, the researcher uses the theory of gender stereotype by various experts such as Kite and Lippa to identify the gender stereotype shown in the selected episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender. The theory of gender stereotype is used to identify which gender stereotype appears in the selected episodes and how Katara, the main character, responding to the gender stereotype.

In the third problem formulation, the researcher uses liberal feminism theory by Tong, Elshtain and Humm to help identify the liberal feminism reflected in

Katara’s characteristics. First, the researcher uses the theory of liberal feminism to determine liberal feminism seen through Katara’s characteristics. Once the researcher connects Katara’s character to liberal feminism values, the researcher

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then relates Katara’s characteristics with her action responding to gender stereotypes that she encountered in the series.

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CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

A. Object of the Study

This research study's object is the selected transcript of the episode of an

American cartoon series entitled Avatar: The Last Airbender. Michael Dante

DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko created this American cartoon series, and the first episode was first airing on February 21, 2005. Avatar: The Last Airbender is a show on the Nickelodeon network. This series has three seasons with 61 episodes, and the last episode last airing on July 19, 2008. The Avatar: The Last

Airbender can still be watched right now on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other networks. In 2010, the live-action of Avatar: The Last Airbender available in movie theaters. Using the story-line and the plot of Avatar: The Last Airbender, the movie received much attention from the Avatar: The Last Airbender viewers.

Avatar: The Last Airbender was super popular in both audience and critics, earning 5.6 million viewers on the special last episodes receiving high ratings in the Nickelodeon networks. New episodes of the series approximately earn 1.1 million viewers each. The Avatar: The Last Airbender series won 5 awards which are the Annual Annie Awards, the Genesis Award, Primetime Emmy Award,

Peaboy Award, and Kids’ Choice Awards. Avatar: The Last Airbender is a cartoon series, many people, including teenagers and adults, really like and enjoy this series because of the adventure and the plot story. The new adventure on each new episode attracts many viewers of various ages.

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The series Avatar: The Last Airbender telling a story about how a 12 years old boy was chosen as the “Avatar,” the protector of peace on the worlds which must defeat the fire king because he wanted to rule all nation, but unfortunately, the Avatar disappears. A hundred years later, two siblings, Katara and Sokka from the Southern Water Tribe, accidentally found Aang, the Avatar, inside an iceberg with his “flying bison pet,” and Katara brought him to her home, the Southern

Water Tribe. As the story develops, the fire nation hated the Avatar because the

Avatar could become a threat to the fire king. The fire nation soldier and the fire prince, Zuko, tried their best to hunt the Avatar for the fire king.

The journey started when they planned to go to the Northern Water Tribe so that the Avatar could learn water bending. On their way to the Northern Water

Tribe, they stopped by the Airbender temple, and Aang found out that the fire nation has killed all of his friends and teacher to prevent the fire king's threat. The crew then visited the Earth Kingdom to visit Aang’s old friend, which happens to be the Earth Kingdom king. In the middle of their journey to the Northern Water

Tribe, Aang also helped learn to control his spirit self from the previous Avatar,

Avatar Roku. As soon as the crew arrived at the Northern Water Tribe, the people cherish their arrival and

The second season start after the Avatar finished with the water bending and returned to the Earth Kingdom to ask for help. The crew went to the earth kingdom to meet the latest crew member, Toph, a blind girl who masters earth bending. Toph became Aang’s teacher in earth bending. While learning earth bender, the fire nation always finds its way to attack the avatar crew. Zuko, the

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fire price, was rejected by the fire king because he could not bring the Avatar to him. Prince Zuko and his uncle tried their best to disguise themselves because they were hiding in the earth kingdom. The second season ends with Aang and

Azula's battle, Zuko’s sister tries to kill Aang, but he and the crew managed to escape.

The third season start with the world knows that the Avatar is dead, and the crew tried to enter the fire nation area to learn fire bending. However, Aang was very nervous that he had to kill the fire lord because he never killed anyone.

Moreover, Aang was having trouble sleeping because he did not know what to do.

On the other hand, Sokka and Katara were reunited with their father, and from there, the Southern Water Tribe army and the Avatar crew making plans to attack the fire lord when there is a solar eclipse. Unfortunately, the attack went wrong, and they could not attack the fire king because he was hiding underground.

The event's turn was Zuko; the fire prince turned his head to support the

Avatar crew. In the following event, the Avatar crew was hiding in the Western

Air Temple, and Zuko tried to offer help to teach Aang fire bending, but the crew rejected the offer. A sudden attack led by Azula and Zuko protected the Avatar crew, and eventually, the crew believed in him. Zuko and Aang went to the Sun

Warrior temple to learn how to fire bend. Sokka and Zuko were on a mission to save Sokka’s father, they disguise themselves, and they could save Sokka’s father and Suki.

Sozin Comet is a comet with powerful energy, making the fire bender stronger, and the fire king uses this comet to rule the four-nation. The comet is

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coming, and Aang is still confused about how he would stop the fire king. At midnight, a mysterious island “kidnapped” Aang, and the crew was confused. The crew tried to ask help from the Order of the White Lotus, which consist of airbender, fire-bender, water-bender, and earth-bender from all nations. The lion turtle called Aang, and the lion turtle gave Aang the wisdom he needs. The lion turtle delivers Aang to the fire king location, and Aang was ready to end all of this. Aang gives all his best to dodge the fire king’s attack. In the end, Aang uses his avatar power to take away the fire lord’s fire bending ability and lead the world alongside Zuko as the fire king.

This research only focused on the selected episodes of the series showing the liberal feminism act of Katara and other female characters in the series in receiving unfair treatment because of their gender and breaking the gender role stereotype from other characters.

B. Approach of the Study

This study focuses on the equality of men and women, so this study uses a feminist approach as the base to analyze to find the answer to the problem formulated in the first chapter. The researcher chooses feminism approach because it is best and suitable for analyzing the problem in the serial Avatar: The

Last Airbender.

Indeed, feminism has frequently focused on what is missing rather than what is present, reflecting concern about women's silence and marginalization in patriarchal culture, a culture organized in favor of men. (Guerin, 2005, p. 222) Feminism approach focuses on the concern of suppressing women in patriarchal society. It also deals with the gap between men and women among the society favored to men known as patriarchal society.

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Madsen stated that “Feminism rejects the legitimacy of social intervention in any area of life that would limit the individual's right to pure self-determination”

(2000, p. 24). It means that human beings have the right and choice to be themselves without oppression and pressure from other human beings. Equality should also cover politics and economic aspects; women and men should have the freedom of act, speech, and choice as long as it does not violate other rights and the law.

Gender equality discusses how women and men should have the same right to choose and to express themselves. From a liberal feminism perspective, it does not mean that women are higher than men, but they are equal to human beings.

This research uses characterization theory and then uses liberal feminism to analyze the characterization that reflects liberal feminism and breaking gender role stereotypes in the series. This research also uses gender stereotype theory to help identify gender stereotypes that appear throughout the series.

This approach is suitable for analyzing this study's object because the female main character receives injustice from other characters because she was female.

Even though other characters discriminate against her because of her gender,

Katara never stops fighting to become the master of water bending. Sokka,

Katara’s brother, said that water bending is not beneficial, and Katara’s grandfather, Master Pakku, refuse to teach Katara water bending because she is a girl. Nevertheless, Katara always proves everyone who misjudged her wrong because she is indeed a warrior.

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C. Method of the Study

The writer used a library research method to analyze the transcript of Avatar:

The Last Airbender. A library research method was used to gather information, approaches, and theories related to this study. Information, approaches, and theories are gathered from books, dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other written sources related to the object and this study's topic. There are two kinds of sources needed in this study, which are primary and secondary sources. This study's primary source is the transcript of Avatar: The Last Airbender and the secondary sources are other books and references related to this study.

There were several steps in analyzing the transcript. The first step is to read and re-read the transcript closely several times to understand the story. The second step is to watch the selected episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender to get a deeper understanding of the movie and match the transcript with the dialogue in the series. The third step is finding the theories needed to help analyze the story to help answer the problem formulated. The first theory is the theory of characterization, the second theory is the theory of gender stereotype, and the third theory is the theory of feminism and liberal feminism. The fourth step is to answer the first problem formulation with the theory of characterization. The fifth step is to find the answer to the second problem formulation with the theory of gender stereotype. The sixth step is to answer the third problem formulation with feminism and liberal feminism and other theory needed. Finally, the last step is to conclude based on the three problem formulation's answer, and the conclusion is based on the analysis.

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CHAPTER IV

ANALYSIS

In this chapter, the writer discusses the result of this study to answer the problem. There are three parts to this chapter. The first part is the writer focused on Katara’s characteristics shown in throughout the series. In the second part, the writer analyzes the gender stereotype reflected in Avatar's series selected episodes: The Last Airbender. Finally, the third part analyzes Katara's characteristics, which reflect liberal feminism help her on breaking gender stereotypes. All of these discussions are conducted through the liberal feminism and gender stereotype perspective.

1. Katara’s Characteristics

Katara is the daughter of the chief of Southern Water Tribe, and she has a brother named Sokka. Since she was a little girl, Katara lost her mother due to the fire nation attack on her village. Katara could not help her mother because she is still tiny. One day, Katara and Sokka’s father is sailing away to help others captured by the fire nation and seek help. Katara and Sokka were left with the responsibility to look after their village. One day, Katara and Sokka found the

Avatar in the iceberg, so they rescued the Avatar and determined to help the

Avatar restore the peace.

The characterization of Katara is analyzed with the theory of characterization by Boggs and Petrie. According to Boggs and Petrie, there are eight methods to determine a character’s characteristics which are characterization through appearance, through dialogue, through external action, through internal action,

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through the reaction of others, through contrast: dramatic foils, characterization through caricature, and leitmotif, and characterization through the choice of name.

However, not all of the eight ways are applied to analyze Katara’s character due to the selected episodes' insufficiency data. Therefore, after analyzing Katara’s characteristics, the writer found four characteristics by Katara, shown in the selected episodes on the movie transcript. The characteristics will be described below.

A. Brave

Katara is depicted as a brave girl. According to Merriam-webster.com, brave means having or showing mental or moral strength to face danger, fear, or difficulty. Katara always feels brave when she knows she was right, and Katara never feels afraid to help others when others need her help. Katara’s bravery always leads her to great things, either saving other people's lives or making a new friend along the way. Since the first episode, Katara is shown as a brave person. Katara always tries to help other people when in need.

As Boggs and Petrie stated in their theory, a character's characterization can be seen from external action. The author gives the audience a hint of a character’s characterization through the character's external action in a particular event. In the first episode, Katara shows a brave person's external action characteristics; when she found Aang passed out in the iceberg, her first thought is to save him with his brother’s weapon even though her brother prohibited her.

The human figure, perched in a lotus, has glowing arrows on its head and hands—a close-up of KATARA as she raises an eyebrow in confusion. Then, suddenly, the boy opens his eyes, the same brilliant light emanating from them, eliciting shocked gasps from both siblings.

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KATARA: He is alive! We have to help! Before SOKKA can grab it, KATARA grabs SOKKA'S club out of its sheath on his back and pulls her hood over her head. SOKKA again reaches out his hand in an attempt to hold KATARA back, though she is already running across the ice. SOKKA: Katara, get back here! He grabs his spear from the ice and runs after Katara, who is already at the ice's edge. We do not know what that thing is! ( Avatar Fandom, 2005)

The first thing Katara does after seeing the boy in the iceberg opens his eyes is to help her. Katara immediately told her brother Sokka to help Aang get out from the iceberg, and then she snatched her brother’s weapon is to help Aang escape the iceberg. Katara did not care who was stuck inside the iceberg, and her action shows bravery as her characteristics.

Another evidence is in episode 6 entitled “imprisoned.” Katara met an earth- bender named Haru, and she encourages him to save an older man from an avalanche, but the older men turned Haru to the fire army. Katara feels guilty, and she had a plan to save Haru. According to Boggs and Petrie, a character's characteristics can be seen through the dialogue between the main character and another character. The author gives a hint of a character’s characteristics through a dialogue. The dialogue between Katara and Haru indicates Katara’s bravery.

A guard escorts the prisoners into the prison courtyard. Katara enters last, and the metal gates close behind her. Among many earth-bender prisoners, Haru takes notice of Katara. Above the courtyard, a watchman and the warden monitor the scene. HARU: [Surprised.] Katara? KATARA: [Excitedly. Runs and hugs Haru.] Haru! HARU: [Confused.] What are you doing here? KATARA:[Somewhat apologetically.] It is my fault you were captured. I came to rescue you. HARU: [Shocked.] So, you got yourself arrested? KATARA: It was the only way to find you. HARU: You have got guts, Katara. I will give you that. [Places hand on her shoulder.] Come on. There is someone I want you to meet.

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(Avatar Fandom, 2005)

The dialogue above indicates that Haru admits that Katara is brave to save him and other earth-bender. The expression “You have got guts, Katara. I will give you that.” means that Haru acknowledging Katara’s bravery to be caught by the fire army to save him and others. Even though Katara is not responsible for the arrest of Haru, she still bravely get herself arrested to save Haru.

B. Responsible

According to Merriam-Webster online dictionary, responsible means having the job or duty of dealing with or taking care of something or someone. Katara is depicted as an independent person; as the daughter of the head leader of the

Southern Water Tribe, Katara has many responsibilities to her people. Although she is still a teenager, Katara diligently helps her grandmother run her village's duty. Even though her duty sometimes consists of washing his brother's clothes, sewing his brother’s pants, and many more, Katara always does her duty.

Later in the movie, Katara always being responsible for her action and words.

According to Boggs and Petrie, characterization can be analyzed through the dialogue with another character. In this case, Katara is having a heated conversation with her brother, Sokka, because he blames Katara for her water bending.

KATARA: since mom died, [Points to herself.] I have been doing all the work around camp while you have been off playing soldier! SOKKA: Uh ... Katara ... KATARA: I even wash all the clothes! Have you ever smelled your dirty socks? Let me tell you, not pleasant! (Avatar Fandom, 2005)

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The dialogue above is about Katara getting mad at Sokka because she felt that she always does the hard work alone, and Sokka did not help her at all; instead, he pretends to play soldier with the little boy in the village. Katara complained to

Sokka that she always washed his clothes and Sokka’s clothes had a bad smell.

Even though she complained to Sokka, she still did her responsibility and her duty.

Another evidence is that Boggs and Petrie stated that characterization could be seen through other characters' dialogue. Thus, the author gives the audience a hint of a character’s characterization through other characters' dialogue. For example, the conversation below is between Sokka, Katara, and Aang on a fire army ship.

SOKKA: Your twelve hours are up; where is Haru? We must get out of here! KATARA:I cannot. SOKKA: [Hurriedly.] We do not have much time. There are guards everywhere. Get on! AANG: [Concerned.] Katara, what is wrong? KATARA:I'm not leaving. [Aang and Sokka share a questionable look.] I'm not giving up on these people. Fade to black. Cut to Sokka, Aang, and Katara on the metal perimeter. SOKKA:What do you mean you're not leaving? KATARA: We can't abandon these people! There has to be a way to help them. (Avatar Fandom, 2005)

The conversation above is between Sokka, Katara, and Aang. Katara could not leave Haru and other earth-bender without helping them, even though it is not

Katara’s responsibility to save all of the earth bender locked up in the ship.

Katara’s word “I’m not leaving. I’m not giving up on these people.” and “We can't abandon these people! There has to be a way to help them” shows that she feel responsible for freeing all the earth-bender who were locked in the fire nation

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ship. Katara is determined to free Haru and all the earth-bender because she feels no one should be locked up because of their gift.

C. Kind

According to dictionary. cambridge.org, kindness is being generous, helpful, and thinking about other people’s feelings. Katara is shown to be a kind person throughout the series, she is always there to help everyone in need, and she will not stay put if someone bullies or does crime in her sight. Katara is also depicted as a helpful person throughout the series. Katara is always kind to others because she wants to be treated kindly. Hence, she always treats others kindly. According to Boggs and Petrie, the characterization of a character can be seen from dialogue between characters. The author gives the audience a hint of the character’s characterization through the conversation of another character.

[Sokka is seen in the background, carrying a pack as she speaks in a determined tone.] KATARA: We have to go after that ship, Sokka. Aang saved our tribe; now, we have to save him. SOKKA: Katara, I – KATARA: [Making arm gestures to emphasize her words while she speaks in an objective tone.] Why can't you realize that he is on our side? [Cuts to shot of her and her brother, her back to the screen.] If we do not help him, no one will. I know you do not like Aang, but we owe him and – (Avatar Fandom, 2005)

The conversation above shows that Katara feels like they must help Aang because he surrenders himself to the fire prince. Katara feels like Aang sacrificed himself to save all of the people in the Northern Water Tribe. Katara told her brother, Sokka, to help Avatar even though he disliked Aang at their first meeting.

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Another evidence is in the season 2 episodes 35 entitled The Tales of Ba Sing

Se. The Avatar crew arrives in the earth kingdom, Ba Sing Se, to find Aang’s flying bison. According to Boggs and Petrie, the character’s characterization can be seen from another character's dialogue. The conversation below is between

Katara and Toph, a new member of the Avatar Crew, a blind little girl. Katara and

Toph just finished their girl’s day out. A group of girls says terrible things about

Toph’s makeup.

STAR: Wow, great makeup. TOPH: Thanks. STAR: For a clown! The three girls laugh; a frown replaces Toph's smile as she and Katara stop walking. Katara puts her arm over Toph's shoulder, attempting to console her. KATARA: Do not listen to them. Let's just keep walking. STAR: I think she looks cute. Like that time, we put a sweater on your pet poodle monkey. STAR’S FRIEND: Good one, Star. KATARA: [Angrily.] Let's go, Toph. TOPH:[Sarcastically.] No, no, that was a good one. Like your poodle monkey. [She laughs.] Do you know what else a good one is? [She earth-bends the bridge, removing a circular part above which the three girls are standing, causing them to fall into the creek below. Cut to Katara's face from the hole.] KATARA: Now, that was funny. Katara water-bends a wave that sweeps the girls as they scream. Cut to a shot of Toph walking away from the bridge as Katara jogs to catch up. KATARA: Those girls do not know what they're talking about. TOPH: It is okay. One of the good things about being blind is that I do not have to waste my time worrying about appearance. [Cut to a close-up of Toph's face.] I do not care what I look like. I am not looking for anyone's approval. I know who I am. [She stops walking, and she cries a bit.] KATARA: That is what I admire about you, Toph. You are so strong and confident and self-assured. [Toph sniffs.] Moreover, I know it does not matter, but [Keeps her palm on Toph's shoulder.] You are beautiful. TOPH: [Turning to Katara, smiling.] Am I? KATARA: Yeah, you are. (Avatar Fandom, 2005)

The dialogue above shows that Katara is defending Toph when a group of girls make fun of Toph’s look because she was blind and could not see what she

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looks like. Katara uses her water bending to push the girls away and give Toph reassurance that she is indeed beautiful. In addition, Katara encourages Toph to appreciate what she has and make sure Toph knows that she is a strong woman.

Katara’s kind words make Toph's confidence level back up again.

Another evidence is on the episode 43 entitled “The Painted Lady”, Aang and the crew arrived on a village above a polluted river. The water was filled with waste came from the weapon factory on the edge of the cliff. Katara saw the villagers living miserable because the lack of clean water. There is a legend in that villager a hero which could help the villager. The dialogue below are between

Katara and Aang,

AANG: [Shocked.] You're the Painted Lady? [Pointing at Katara.] But how? KATARA: I wasn't her at first, I was just trying to help the village. [Takes her hat off.] But since everyone thought that's who I was anyway, I guess I just kinda became her. [Drops her hat on the ground.] (Avatar Fandom, 2005)

The dialogue above are between Katara and Aang, Katara was pretending to be the painted lady, using her power to heal the villager. Aang saw Katara and followed her until he found out that Katara was disguised as the painted lady.

Aang praised Katara for her kind heart, and Aang agreed to help Katara destroy the weapon factory which pollute the river made the villager sick.

D. Strong-willed

Katara is pictured as a brave and kind girl; she has a strong-willed personality, which sometimes makes her a little stubborn. According to Merriam-

Webster.com, strong-willed means very determined to do something even if other people say it should not be done. Katara lives with a brother who believes in

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patriarchal power, where men should lead. Sokka always told Katara that he was responsible for protecting the village and was responsible for laundry. Katara did not listen to her brother’s opinion and had her own opinion. Katara believes that she has the right to make choices. Katara is indeed a strong woman who never backs down because of anyone's opinion. According to Boggs and Petrie, a character's characterization can be seen from a character's dialogue with another character.

An evidence of Katara’s strong-will characteristics is in the 18th episode of the series entitled “Waterbending Master.” The Avatar crew finally arrived at the

Northern Water Tribe, and Katara is very excited to meet other water benders finally. The chief of the Northern Water Tribe recommended Master Pakku to teach the Avatar because Master Pakku is the best water bender in the Northern

Water Tribe. However, when Katara meets Master Pakku, he immediately refuses to teach Katara water bending because Katara is a girl. In the Northern Water

Tribe, it is not proper for a woman to learn water-bending. Katara was annoyed that she could not learn water bending because she is a girl, but she has to be patient because Aang has to learn water bending from Master Pakku. The dialogue below is when Aang brought Katara to Master Pakku to learn water bending.

AANG: Uhhh ... This is my friend, Katara. The one I told you about? PAKKU: I am sorry, I think there has been a misunderstanding. You did not tell me your friend was a girl. In our tribe, it is forbidden for women to learn water-bending. Cut to a shot panning up Katara's body, her face reflecting the anger she feels. Cut to a long, overhead shot of the Northern Water Tribe city, looking back from the main wall to the citadel. Then, cut back to a close-up of Katara. KATARA: [Angrily.] What do you mean you will not teach me? I did not travel across the entire world so that you could tell me no!

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PAKKU: No. KATARA: But there must be other female water-benders in your tribe! PAKKU: Here, the women learn from Yagoda to use their water-bending to heal. I am sure she would be happy to take you as her student, despite your bad attitude. KATARA: I do not want to heal; I want to fight! (Avatar Fandom, 2005)

According to Boggs and Petrie, a characterization of a character can be seen from a dialogue with another character. Katara is arguing with Master Pakku that she also wants to learn water bending from the dialogue above. Master Pakku insisted that women are prohibited from learning water bending to fight; instead, he told Katara to learn to heal rather than fighting. Aang tried to teach Katara what he got from Master Pakku, and Master Pakku was angry that Aang taught

Katara water-bending. Master Pakku refuses to teach Aang water-bending because he feels disrespected. Katara feels bad for Aang; then she decides to see Master

Pakku ask him to teach Aang again. Master Pakku arrogantly said that she needed to apologize to him. Katara is furious, and she immediately challenges Master

Pakku in a duel.

KATARA: No. [Begins cracking the ice inadvertently.] No way am I apologizing to a sour old man like you! [Two pots shatter.] AANG: Uhhh Katara? Katara: I will be outside if you are brave enough to fight me. Katara angrily walks out. AANG: You do not have to do this for me. I can find another teacher. KATARA: I'm not doing it for you! Someone needs to slap some sense into that guy! [Pakku comes down.] So, you decided to show up? [Pakku walks away.] Aren't you going to fight? PAKKU: Go back to the healing huts with the other women where you belong. [Katara tightens her fist and sends water whips at him. Pakku halts.] Fine. Do you want to learn to fight so badly? Study closely! [He bends two streams of water from nearby pools and sends them both at a charging Katara, who falls back. He joins the two streams together, encircling both Katara and himself in a forceful ring of water.] Don't worry; I'm not going to hurt you!

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Katara edges away from the ring and redirects the water away. The resulting blast hits Sokka. Pakku builds an ice wall in defense, which Katara slides up. She lands on a nearby post. He melts the ice and directs the full blast at her. However, Katara freezes her feet down and can direct the blast away. KATARA: [Determined.] You can't knock me down! PAKKU: Well, I'm impressed. You are an excellent water-bender. KATARA: But you still won't teach me, will you? (Avatar Fandom, 2005)

Based on the dialogue above, we can conclude that Katara has a strong will characterization. After all, she did not stay silent when Master Pakku does not teach her water bending because she is a girl. Instead, Katara fights with all of her energy to fight Master Pakku and to make him realize that women are equally strong with men. Finally, in the middle of the battle, Master Pakku admits that

Katara is an excellent water-bender, but he still will not teach her water-bending because she is a girl.

2. Gender Stereotype shown in the series Avatar: The Last Airbender

In this second part of the analysis, the researcher analyzes the gender stereotype shown in the selected episodes of the series Avatar: The Last

Airbender. The researcher decided to analyze some of the episodes because not every episode of the series shows the gender stereotype or women being oppressed by the patriarchal system. To analyze the object, the researcher uses the theory of gender stereotypes from various experts and sources.

According to Mary E. Kite, gender stereotypes are organized, consensual beliefs and opinions about women and men's characteristics and the purported qualities of masculinity and femininity (Kite as cited in Worell, 2001, p.561).

According to Kite, gender stereotypes describe who women and men are and tell who they should be. For example, women are supposed to stay in the house taking

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care of the house, and men are supposed to work and make money for their families.

In the series Avatar: The Last Airbender, some gender stereotypes appear in some episodes. The writer found a deep-rooted patriarchal system, women are unable to defend themselves, and women did not need education as gender stereotypes appear in the selected episodes. The description is in the text below,

A. Women are too Emotional to Make Right Decision

19). Moreover, gender stereotypes cover personality traits and physical ability, social roles, occupation, and sexuality, which results in a negative consequence on women. One of the negative consequences that women have to encounter is that women are considered too emotional or do not use their logical thinking.

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In the series Avatar: The Last Airbender, Katara is the main female character.

Many female characters experience negative stereotypes that their action or decision are based on their emotions or hearts. The stereotype that women experienced affected them in education and political aspect and their social life.

Katara experienced a lot of limitations and negative stereotypes from the male character in the series. Another female character in the series also encounters negative stereotypes on their daily basis. Stereotypes shown in the series can be identified in the dialogue between characters or the dialogue of a character that implies that women are too emotional.

In the 9th episode of the series entitled “The Waterbending Scroll,” Katara tried to teach Aang some basic water-bending moves that she learned for years.

The practice went great; Aang quickly mastered some moves that Katar taught him. Katara feels a little annoyed because she learns three moves in years, and

Aang quickly mastered them in one day. Katara, Aang, and Sokka visit the nearest market to buy some supplies, and they accidentally met pirates trying to sell some stuff they had on their ship. Katara found an original water-bending scroll and decided to take it secretly. The pirates found out that the scroll was missing, and they tried to attack the Avatar crew. Sokka was angry when Katara told him that she took the scroll. Katara said that she only took the scroll because the Aang needs to learn some basic water-bending moves. Katara tried to learn some moves for herself but ends up failing.

KATARA: I just want to try this one move first, and then it is all yours. [Gives it to Aang.] Here, hold it open for me. The single water whip. Looks doable. [Attempts the move but ends up hitting herself in the forehead.] Ow! SOKKA: Ha, ha, ha!

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KATARA: [Glaring at Sokka.] What is so funny? SOKKA: I am sorry, but you deserved that. [To Aang.] You have been duped; she is only interested in teaching herself. KATARA: [Angrily.] Aang will get his turn once I figure out the water whip. [She tries again, but hits Momo instead, who screeches.] Ugh, why can't I get this stupid movie? AANG: You will get it. [Katara glares at him.] You just have to shift your weight through the stances. [He tries and does it perfectly on the first try.] There, see, the key to bending is— KATARA: [Screaming.] Will you please shut your air hole? Believe it or not, your infinite wisdom gets a little old sometimes! Why don't we just throw the scroll away since you are so naturally gifted! [Sokka glares at her.] What? [She looks back at Aang, who has tears in his eyes.] Oh my gosh, Aang, I am so sorry; I do not know what came over me. However, you know what, it will not happen again. [She gives the scroll to Aang.] Here, this is yours. I do not want to have anything to do with it anymore. (Avatar Fandom, 2005)

The dialogue above is about Katara’s frustration that she could not master a single water-bending move and Sokka teasing her that she only took that scroll for herself. Katara’s action is already wrong in the first place; she stole the scroll from the pirates. Sokka implied that Katara’s action is not based on logic because she did not think further of what would happen if she stole the scroll. Katara was frustrated because Aang could quickly master water-bending moves. Katara blames Aang for his ability to master water-bending because she is frustrated.

Sokka thought that Katara’s action was based on her emotion because if she uses her logic, she would not steal the scroll from the pirate and refuses to give Aang the scroll because she wants to learn water bender moves first. In the beginning,

Katara’s action is wrong because she stole from a pirate, but Katara took the scroll because her knowledge in water bending is not enough to teach Aang.

Another evidence of the stereotype is in the 25th episode entitled “Avatar

Day.” Again, Avatar Kyoshi encounters this stereotype. Aang, Sokka, and Katara

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arrived in some earth kingdom town, and the people were celebrating Avatar Day.

Aang was excited to see the parade; apparently, the people in that town hate the avatar because Avatar Kyoshi was accused of killing the emperor of that town.

Aang was captured and locked up in prison, while Sokka and Katara try to help prove Aang’s innocence. The dialogue below is between Aang, Katara, Tong, the leader of the town.

TONG: [Calmly.] I find that hard to swallow, [Raising his voice.] considering what you did to us in your past life! It was Avatar Kyoshi; she murdered our glorious leader, Chin the Great. AANG: [Utterly shocked.] Do you think that I murdered someone? VILLAGER : [Lisping and slurring.] We used to be a great society before you killed our leader. [Pointing at himself as the camera zooms in on him.] Now, look at us! The villagers next to him look at him in disgust. AANG: [Frightened by the appearances of the older man.] Huh! KATARA: [Katara places her arms on Aang's shoulders and starts to defend him.] Aang would never do something like that. No Avatar would. [Shaking her head in disapproval before pointing an accusing finger at the villagers. (Avatar Fandom, 2005)

As the town leader, the dialogue above talks about Tong telling Aang and

Katara that Aang’s past self, Avatar Kyoshi killed their leader, Chin the Great.

Aang was arrested in jail, Sokka and Katara tried to help him get back his honor.

Sokka and Katara went to the crime scene where Chin the Great was murdered.

Sokka and Katara found something peculiar, but it was not enough to prove

Aang’s innocence. Sokka and Katara decided to fly to Kyoshi Island to find more clues. The chief of Kyoshi Island took them to the place where the people of

Kyoshi kept Avatar Kyoshi belonging. Sokka and Katara brought Kyoshi to the earth-kingdom town, hoping that Avatar Kyoshi would tell the truth. In the afternoon, Aang came to the court with Kyoshi clothes, shoes, and other stuff,

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hoping that Kyoshi will explain what happened. Kyoshi eventually possessed

Aang told them what had happened. Kyoshi possessed the dialogue below in

Aang.

KYOSHI: I killed Chin the Conqueror. [A flashback shows how Chin earth- bends an earth column beneath one of his subjects as he was offering something to Chin. Voice-over.] A horrible tyrant, Chin was expanding his army to all corners of the continent. A close-up of Chin the Great fades to a map shot, where his campaign trail can be seen. He had concurred everything saved to Ba Sing Se and switched to a large army standing by the shores of the sea, ready to attack when given the order. KYOSHI: When they came to the neck of the peninsula where we lived, he demanded our immediate surrender. [Kyoshi calmly walks toward him to face his challenge.] I warned him that I would not sit around while he took our home. But, nevertheless, he did not back down. Chin and Kyoshi stand face to face. Kyoshi is around a foot bigger than him. Chin takes a fighting stance, but Kyoshi is unimpressed. A mighty wind washes over the surprised Chin and strips him of all his clothes, except for his underwear. KYOSHI: On that day, we split from the mainland. KYOSHI calmly closes her fans and slams them into the ground, causing the whole peninsula to shake. Chin still stands in his earth-bending stance.Kyoshi spins around and creates a mighty gale beside Chin, blowing part of his army away and making the rest run away in fear. He screams in anger while the rocks under him start to cave. An overview shot reveals how he plummets to his death in the waters below. KYOSHI: I created Kyoshi Island so my people could be safe from invaders. (Avatar Fandom, 2005)

The dialogue is about Avatar Kyoshi told everyone the truth about what had happened that day. Chin the Great was a tyrant; a greedy person wants to rule the four nations. Kyoshi was protecting her people when Chin threatened her. Kyoshi already warned Chin to stay back, but he did not listen. Kyoshi then uses her power to separate her island with her people from Chin and his army. The powerful force separates the island, but Chin did not move from his spot. Kyoshi

Island began pushing away in the opposite direction. Chin grew angry and

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stomped his feet on the edge of the cliff, which had been hollowed by Kyoshi’s power and fall. Kyoshi did not kill Chin the Great with her power, and Chin died because of his greed and ego. The people who live in Chin’s town blame Kyoshi for her decision to separate the island, which accidentally makes Chin died.

Consequently, Avatar Roku and Aang were accused of being the murderer of Chin the Great because they were chosen to be the next Avatar. Truthfully, Kyoshi wants to make her people safe and stop Chin the Great from dominating the world.

In the 43rd episode entitled “The Painted Lady,” Katara, Sokka, Aang, and

Toph were on their way to meet the resistance army and disguised as fire nation citizens. Sokka made a long and tight schedule because they arrived at the solar eclipse's fire nation palace. The crew rest at a spot near a fire nation village above a filthy river. The crew decided to visit the village because they need food supplies. The village was impoverished, and the people are unhealthy because of the dirty river; they could not get clean water. A legend in their village called the painted lady a spirit that could heal people and bring prosperity.

The morning after, Appa was sick, so the crew could not continue their journey. The crew went back to the village, and things were different; people were happier than before. The painted lady comes and heals the people in the village.

At dusk, Katara woke up and put on her make-up; she disguised herself as the painted lady and healed the people with her healing ability. Aang found out that

Katara pretends to be the painted lady and wants to destroy the factory, which makes the river dirty, and then Aang helps her. Sokka later found out that Katara

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was the painted lady and that she destroy the factory. The dialogue below is between Katara and Sokka,

SOKKA: [To Katara.] What did you do? KATARA: I kind of destroyed their factory. SOKKA: You what? KATARA: [Defensively.] It was your idea! SOKKA: I was joking! I also said to use spirit magic and made funny noises! [Slaps his forehead.] Did you even think this through? The army is going to blame the villagers! They are headed there right now to get revenge! KATARA: Well, what was I supposed to do? SOKKA: Leave! Do nothing! KATARA: [Angrily.] No, I will never, ever turn my back on people who need me! [Gets up.] I am going down to that village, and I am going to do whatever I can. (Avatar Fandom, 2005)

The dialogue above is the conversation between Katara and Sokka. Katara and Aang were back from destroying the factory that pollutes the river. Sokka found out that Katara has been pretending to be the painted lady while his schedule fell apart. Sokka blames Katara for helping the villager by destroying the factory. He thought Katara only was emotional seeing anyone in pain and did not think that her action would cause harm to anyone. However, Katara cannot stand still when she saw a weapon factory destroyed a village; when Sokka asks her to leave and continue their journey, she immediately refuses and says that she would do whatever she could to help them. Katara completely understands her action could be dangerous to the villager, but Katara knows that she could save the villager with her power and settle things.

B. Women are Weak

Another gender stereotype is shown in the selected episodes of Avatar: The

Last Airbender is that women are considered unable to defend themselves and

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weak. In a patriarchal society, women are seen as weak and gentle human beings.

Women are supposed to be polite, graceful, and feminine. In the selected episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender, many women characters are depicted as strong, fierce women who could fight and defend themselves. Even though the women characters in the selected episodes can defend themselves, many people doubted them and sometimes underestimated them.

In the sixth episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender entitled “The Kyoshi

Warrior '' Aang, Katara, and Sokka visit a lake near Kyoshi Island. Suddenly,

Aang, Katara, and Sokka were captured by many people, which happens to be the

Kyoshi warrior. The people in Kyoshi Island interrogated Aang, Katara and Sokka accused them of being the fire nation army. Sokka did not believe that the Kyoshi warrior captured him and all of them are female. Being a man, Sokka felt puzzled that many girls could capture them, and he refused to believe that a group of girls caught him and tied him up. The conversation below consists of Sokka’s disbelief that a bunch of girls caught him.

SUKI: [Voice-over.] And if you do not answer all our questions, we're throwing you back in the water with Unagi. SOKKA: [Close-up of the blindfolded Sokka. Challenging.] Show yourselves, cowards! A gloved hand, the forearm dressed in a leather band with a gold insignia on top of it, removes the blindfold—the scene switches to Sokka's point of view. Five girls in green kimonos and wearing white and red face paint are standing in front of him. Cut to a side-view shot, panning to the right? SOKKA:[Aggressively.] Who are you? Where are the men who ambushed us? SUKI:[Stepping forward, gesturing heavily with her clenched fist. Indignantly.] There were no men. We ambushed you. Now tell us, who are you, and what are you doing here? SOKKA:[Closer side-view shot of Sokka who stares at them in disbelief.] Wait for a second, [He amusingly glance to his right to where Aang stands as

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if he is looking for confirmation. Mockingly.] There is no way that a bunch of girls took us down. (Avatar Fandom, 2005)

The conversation above between Sokka and Suki, one of the Kyoshi

Warriors, about Sokka’s disbelief that many girls caught him. Sokka, who always believes in male supremacy that men are better than women in any way, is shocked. Sokka’s word, “Wait for a second; there is no way that a bunch of girls took us down.” Clearly stated that he did not believe it when he realized that a girls' group took him down. As the Kyoshi warrior leader, Suki immediately threatens to feed the Avatar crew to a giant eel in the lake. Kyoshi Island people are just cautious because the fire nation had recently attacked a village nearby.

The Kyoshi Warrior are all women because they are inspired by the Avatar

Kyoshi, who used to protect the world and their island. There are not many female avatars in history, there are only about 10% of female avatars ever exist, and most of them are male. Therefore, the Kyoshi warriors respect the avatar Kyoshi so much.

In the same episode, Sokka is upset when he found out that girls could beat him like he was nothing. Sokka cannot seem to accept that he lost to a girl, and he talks to himself that the girls won because they were in a group and Sokka was alone. Sokka decided to visit a Kyoshi warrior's training house with an excuse to look for a place to train himself. The conversation below is between Sokka and

Suki in the Kyoshi warrior training house.

Sokka: [Condescending.] Sorry ladies, [Suki and the other warriors stop their exercise and close their fans. They stare at Sokka with a serious look on their faces.] I did not mean to interrupt your dance lesson. [The camera moves

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back, revealing that Sokka was stretching.] I was just looking for somewhere to get a little workout SUKI: [Looks at how Sokka continues his warm-up.] Well, you are in the right place. [Cut to a side-view while Sokka is loosening up his hips.] Sorry about yesterday. I did not know that you were friends with Avatar. SOKKA: [Stretching his arms.] It is all right. [Mockingly suppressing a laugh while speaking.] I mean, usually, I would hold a grudge, but seeing as you guys are a bunch of girls, I will make an exception. SUKI: [Sarcastically.] I should hope so. A big strong man like you? We would not stand a chance. SOKKA: [Smugly.] True. But do not feel bad. After all, I am the best warrior in my village. SUKI: [Keeps using sarcasm without Sokka catching on to it. Leans slightly toward Sokka.] Wow! Best warrior, huh? [Glances back to the other Kyoshi Warriors.] In your whole village? [Looks back to Sokka.] Maybe you would be kind enough to give us a little demonstration. (Avatar Fandom, 2005)

From the conversation above, we can learn that Sokka brags about his power and ability to fight. Since Sokka entered the Kyoshi Warrior’s room, he already mocked the Kyoshi warrior exercise as a “dance lesson” since all of the warriors are female. Suki tried to apologize to Sokka about the ambush yesterday; Sokka arrogantly said, “I mean, normally I would hold a grudge, but seeing as you guys are a bunch of girls, I will make an exception.” Sokka bluntly said but seeing as you guys are a bunch of girls, it means that he forgave them because of their gender and which are girls. Sokka thinks that a bunch of girls could not fight and defend themselves. Suki then asks Sokka to demonstrate his fighting ability, and then obviously, Sokka loses the duel.

Sokka regrets his action and tries to apologize to Suki. Sokka said that he was sorry because he should not underestimate girls because of their gender. Sokka apologizes to Suki about what happened earlier and asks Suki if she would teach him a bit of Kyoshi's self-defense movements. Suki sarcastically asks Sokka why

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he wanted to learn from a girl, which makes Sokka apologize again. Finally, Suki agrees to teach Sokka in one condition that he has to wear the Kimono dress that the Kyoshi warrior wore. Sokka agreed and trained Suki herself. Eventually,

Sokka understood that girls could be warriors too. Warriors could be anybody and even a bunch of girls who strive to protect their island.

C. Women Did not need Education

Gender stereotype is a belief which makes male have a higher position than women in any situation, including in the education field. Since an established academy is found, women never have the same chance as men. Men could have a high degree all they want, but women only could have a certain degree. Society thinks that women do not need higher education because women are only responsible for cleaning the house and raising their children. However, to raise great children, a mother needs to prepare enough education to teach her children.

Therefore, many women are discriminated against in the education field, and they are prohibited from having higher education.

In the series, Katara experiences the same limitation to education, just like every woman living in a patriarchal society. In the 18th episode of the Avatar: The

Last Airbender series entitled “water-bending master,” Katara experienced discrimination in getting a water-bending lesson from Master Pakku because of her gender. The tradition or the custom that the Northern Water Tribe has is that they did not allow women to learn water-bending to fight; instead, they should learn water-bending for healing. In the Northern Water Tribe, there is also a custom where boys and girls would have arranged marriage since they were little

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to maintain the position of power that someone has. The men carved and made a necklace to symbolize their “ownership” of the chosen women. The people of

Northern Water Tribe have a custom of an arranged marriage; when a boy and a girl are chosen to marry each other, it does not matter if they love each other or not; they have to marry each other.

In the 18th episode, Katara experienced discrimination from Master Pakku. In

the Northern Water Tribe, some customs make women unable to learn water-

bending for fighting and learn water-bending for healing. According to Katara,

water-bending should not be limited to a male water bender; a female water

bender could be better than a male water bender. Katara feel discriminated

against because of her gender; she could not have the knowledge she wanted; she

even left her home to seek a master or teacher who could teach her water-

bending. By the time she arrived at the Northern Water Tribe and found a master

to teach Aang and herself, Master Pakku refused to teach Katara water-bending

because she is a girl. The conversation below is between Katara, Aang, and

Master Pakku.

AANG: Uhhh ... This is my friend, Katara. The one I told you about? PAKKU: I am sorry, I think there has been a misunderstanding. You did not tell me your friend was a girl. In our tribe, it is forbidden for women to learn water-bending. Cut to a shot panning up Katara's body, her face reflecting the anger she feels. Next, cut to a long, overhead shot of the Northern Water Tribe city, looking back from the main wall to the citadel. Then, finally, cut back to a close-up of Katara. KATARA: [Angrily.] What do you mean you won't teach me? I did not travel across the entire world so that you could tell me no! PAKKU: No. KATARA: But there must be other female water-benders in your tribe!

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PAKKU: Here, the women learn from Yagoda to use their water-bending to heal. I am sure she would be happy to take you as her student, despite your bad attitude. KATARA: I do not want to heal; I want to fight! PAKKU: I can see that. But our tribe has customs, rules. KATARA: [Furious.] Well, your rules stink! (Avatar Fandom, 2005)

The conversation above is about Katara’s frustration with Master Pakku because he would not teach Katara water bending since she is a girl. The rules and customs in the Northern Water Tribe prohibited women from learning water bending for fighting and told them to learn to heal instead. It is like the gender stereotype in the society where men go to war, and women learn to become nurses or doctors to help all of the wounded men from the war. Therefore, Katara feels discriminated against and annoyed at Master Pakku because he would not teach

Katara water bending. Eventually, Katara challenged Master Pakku to a water- bending fight. The dialogue below is when Katara and Master Pakku attack each other.

SOKKA: Are you crazy, Katara? You are not going to win this fight! KATARA: [Takes off her coat.] I know! I do not care! AANG: You do not have to do this for me. I can find another teacher. KATARA: I'm not doing it for you! Someone needs to slap some sense into that guy! [Pakku comes down.] So, you decided to show up? [Pakku walks away.] Aren't you going to fight? PAKKU: Go back to the healing huts with the other women where you belong. [Katara tightens her fist and sends water whips at him. Pakku halts.] Fine. Do you want to learn to fight so badly? Study closely! [He bends two streams of water from nearby pools and sends them both at a charging Katara, who falls back. He joins the two streams together, encircling both Katara and himself in a forceful ring of water.] Don't worry; I'm not going to hurt you! KATARA: [Determined.] You can't knock me down! Some of the crowd cheers. AANG: Go, Katara! The camera closes up to a slow-motion shot of one coming very close to hitting him. He looks at Katara’s in irritation. Katara, now back on the ground, attacks by sending a stream of water at him. However, Pakku

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generates it into a massive stream of water and sends it full force at her. Katara is sent back several feet. A close-up shot of her shows her bent over, breathing hard. She rises suddenly and sends two snow pillars down at him, which Pakku turns to a dusty mist of snow. The mist clears. PAKKU: Well, I'm impressed. You are an excellent water-bender. KATARA: But you still won't teach me, will you? PAKKU: No. (Avatar Fandom, 2005)

The duel ended because Katara was trapped in a cage made of ice which

Master Pakku made to stop her. Master Pakku then turns around, leaving Katara in the cage made of ice, shouting that the battle is not over yet. Master Pakku then found Katara’s necklace that her mother gave her before she passed away. Master

Pakku said that it was his necklace. He carved and made that necklace for Kanna,

Katara, and Sokka’s grandmother. Kanna was supposed to marry Master Pakku, but she did not love him. Therefore, she runs away to the Southern Water Tribe and starts a new life there.

In the following event, Katara shows Master Pakku her determination to learn water-bending. Katara wanted to show Master Pakku that water bending can be done by everyone and especially women too. Within less than a week, Katara is capable of defeating all of Master Pakku’s students. Master Pakku eventually realized that Katara is genuinely a water bender and decided to change the rules of the Northern Water Tribe that any gender can learn water bending.

3. Katara’s Characteristics Reflect Liberal Feminism Value Help Her

Breaking the Gender Stereotype

In the previous chapter, the researcher analyzes the characteristics of Katara, which show in the selected episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender. As the researcher mentioned in the previous chapter, the result of Katara’s

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characterization analysis using the theory of characterization by Boggs and Petrie shows that Katara is brave, responsible, kind, and strong-willed. There are four characterizations of Katara, which can be seen from a feminist perspective. The next chapter analyzes the gender stereotype shown in the selected episodes of

Avatar: The Last Airbender. Using the theory of Kite and Best, the researcher found three gender stereotypes in the selected episode: women are too emotional to make the right decision, women are weak, and women did not need education.

In this chapter, the researcher analyzes the way Katara’s characteristics reflect liberal feminism values. As mentioned in the previous chapter, Katara’s characteristics are brave, responsible, kind, and strong-willed. The following explanation will discuss the answer to the third problem formulation: how

Katara’s characteristics reflect liberal feminism values and how it helps her break gender stereotypes. The theory used to help analyze the answer is the feminism theory by Tong and the gender stereotype theory by Kite and Best.

According to Tong, liberal feminism is focused on the freedom of individual rights, which made women have an equal opportunity to have the same choice as men. As the researcher stated in the previous chapter, Tong stated, “Our entire system of individual rights is justified because these rights constitute a framework within which we can all choose our separate goods, provided we do not deprive others of theirs.” (Tong, 2017, p. 11). Thus, the goal of liberal feminism is to give women freedom from gender oppression, sexual and gender equality. As a result, women should feel safe to express themselves and choose what they want to be.

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As mentioned in the chapter above, liberal feminism is one of the feminist movements that highlight equality between men and women and emphasize individual autonomy, rights, economic and political justice, and equality. Liberal feminism's primary focus is to give equality to every gender and not just women.

A misconception sometimes occurs because people see feminists as men hater, but feminism's primary goal is to give equal opportunity and rights to all gender and sexes. According to the Oxford Language Dictionary, liberal means willing to respect or accept behavior or opinions different from one's own; open to new ideas. Therefore, we can conclude that liberal feminism is a movement which respects the equality of all gender. The value of liberal feminism is equal treatment, equal opportunity, and equal rights.

A. Equal Treatment

Equal treatment is one of the values of liberal feminism that the researcher found in Katara’s characteristics and actions. Equal treatment means all people have equal treatment from other people regardless of gender, sex, or religion.

According to Merriam-Webster.com, treatment means the act or manner or an instance of treating someone or something. According to Simone Weil, as cited in

Elshtain, Equality is a fundamental requirement of the human soul. It consists in a public, general, effective, and genuine recognition, expressed in institutions and customs, that the same amount of consideration is due to every human being because this respect is due to the human being as a whole and is not a matter of degree (Elshtain, 1975, p. 463). Therefore, according to Simone Weil, every

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human being must treat another human being with respect without judging by gender, race, or religion.

Equal treatment is a right that every human being has, allowing them to receive fair treatment because all of them are human beings. Unequal treatment from one person or a group can be considered discrimination, discrimination towards a specific gender, race, or religion. According to Merriam-Webster, discrimination means prejudiced outlook, action, or treatment towards a particular group. Women experienced discrimination because of their gender too often in their social life. Women are seen as weaker than men in specific jobs; women are considered incapable of achieving a higher education because men deserve the opportunity. Many stereotypes about women make it challenging for women to accomplish great things. Women encounter many limitations not only from society but also in their families. Many families believe that women should not work or get a high education because their job is to raise their children and take care of their husbands. As fellow human beings, women should have equal treatment just like men, regardless of race, religion, or anything.

Katara, as the main character in fighting for equal treatment from many characters throughout the story. As previously mentioned, Katara has brave, kind, responsible, and strong-willed, as her character is seen throughout the series.

Katara’s made her want to defend her equal treatment and others too. Katara’s compassion is explained above with Boggs and Petrie’s characterization theory and found that Katara expresses her kindness in her action and her dialogue.

Katara’s example of her kindness shows in her action of supporting her brother,

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Sokka, to become a Kyoshi warrior. In the 6th episode, Katara, Aang, and Sokka arrived in Kyoshi Island, and a group of girls caught them because they were suspected of the fire nation army. Sokka did not believe that a group of girls could easily catch them all. Sokka felt humiliated because a group of girls defeated him,

Sokka challenged the Kyoshi warrior leader, and then he lost the duel. Sokka apologized to the leader and all of the Kyoshi warriors. Katara knows that Sokka believes in patriarchy, a society where men have absolute power. Therefore,

Katara knows that Sokka would have to set aside his ego and joined the Kyoshi warrior. Katara discovered that Sokka joined the Kyoshi warrior which all of the members were girls; Katara supports Sokka’s decision to become the only male member of Kyoshi warrior.

Women's Equality in social life is shown when Katara decided to become a

water-bender, and Sokka decided to be one of the Kyoshi Warrior. Katara grew

up in the Southern Water Tribe, where there is no other water bender. Katara

wishes she could learn water bending from a real water-bender master. By the

time Katara met Aang, she had a brilliant idea to go to the other side of the world

and learn water bending alongside Aang. At first, Sokka and Kanna, Katara’s

grandmother, do not allow Katara to travel with the Avatar because it could be

dangerous. Sokka then decided to help the avatar, and eventually, their

grandmother allows them to help the avatar. Katara’s grandmother did not believe

that Katara could defend herself with her water-bending power, but when Sokka

asks their grandmother, she allows them to help the avatar. Kanna’s action

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discriminates against Katara by forbidding her to help the avatar, but when Sokka asks Kanna’s permission, she eventually agreed.

Katara believes in social equality when she supports Sokka when he wants to become one of the Kyoshi warriors who is all of the Kyoshi warrior members was a girl. At first, Sokka cannot accept that many girls can capture him, Katara, and Aang. Sokka tries to brag to the Kyoshi warrior that he is the only knight in the Southern Water Tribe. Suki as the leader of the Kyoshi warrior, was skeptical about Sokka’s ability to fight. Suki then proves that gender does not determine how someone could master the ability to defend themselves. Sokka decided to be one of the Kyoshi and trained as one; when the fire nation army came to Kyoshi

Island, Sokka, and the other Kyoshi warrior, fought back. Katara fought along with Kyoshi warrior and Sokka too. Katara supporting Sokka’s choice to be one of the Kyoshi warriors is one example that Katara supports social equality.

Another example is the 18th episode of the series entitled “Water-Bending

Master.” In this episode, the avatar crew finally arrived at the Northern Water

Tribe; the chief and his people warmly welcome the avatar's arrival. Aang told the chief that he needed a master to teach him and Katar water-bending. The chief immediately told him that Master Pakku would be the perfect teacher to teach the avatar. In the morning, Aang and Katara hurriedly come to the practice area to see Master Pakku, but when Master Pakku saw Katara, his expression change.

Master Pakku immediately refuses to teach Katara water-bending because, in

Northern Water Tribe, women are forbidden to use their water-bending ability to fight; instead, they should use their water-bending power to heal.

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KATARA: But there must be other female water-benders in your tribe! PAKKU: Here, the women learn from Yagoda to use their water-bending to heal. I'm sure she would be happy to take you as her student, despite your bad attitude. KATARA: I do not want to heal; I want to fight! PAKKU: I can see that. But our tribe has customs, rules. (Avatar Fandom, 2005)

The dialogue above is between Katara and Master Pakku; Master Pakku refuses to teach Katara water-bending because of her gender. Master Pakku said the rules in Northern Water Tribe forbid women to learn water-bending to fight, but women have to use their power to heal. Master Pakku’s decision not to teach

Katara water-bending because of the custom in the Northern Water Tribe is one example of limitation that women have in their daily lives. Master Pakku warmly welcomed the Avatar and willing to teach the Avatar water-bending because he is a boy, but when Master Pakku saw Katara, his expression change. Master Pakku’s action showing that Katara and Aang did not receive the same treatment; Master

Pakku discriminates against Katara because of her gender. Master Pakku refuses to teach Katara water bending because he thought Katara could not learn water- bending to fight. The stereotype of women should be a healer rather than be a fighter appears in this episode is one of the stereotypes women have to accept in their daily lives. Female soldiers and female policewomen receive a lot of injustice treatment from their surroundings; being considered not strong enough or being judge by their sexuality is one of many discrimination that women overcome in their jobs.

Katara was furious, knowing that she could not learn water-bending from

Master Pakku because of her gender after crossing the world. Master Pakku

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refused to teach her water-bending for fighting and told her to learn to heal instead. Katara tried to show Master Pakku that she is capable of learning water- bending from him. Katara challenged him to a duel, and Master Pakku agreed to fight Katara. The duel starts when Katara attacks Master Pakku first; Master

Pakku did not attack Katara, but he only commented on Katara’s posture. Master

Pakku still refuses to believe that Katara deserves to learn water-bending from him. Katara fought hard with all of her strength, but in the end, Katara lost to

Master Pakku. Master Pakku realized that Katara was better than any male students he has and then agreed to teach Katara water bending.

Katara’s stubbornness made Master Pakku believe that she is capable of becoming the first female water-bender. Master Pakku refused to teach Katara water-bending; Katara fought back and demonstrated to Master Pakku that the

Northern Water Tribe's custom of forbidding women from learning water-bending to fight is simply a limitation for women. Thus, Katara breaks the gender stereotype in the Northern Water Tribe about women. After Katara shows Master

Pakku that everyone could learn water-bending, a female water-bender starts to arise. Katara breaks gender stereotypes with her stubbornness that reflects liberal feminism, maintains her equal treatment and women in Northern Water Tribe.

B. Equal Opportunity

As mentioned above, equality of opportunity means that all individuals have

the freedom to compete for jobs, rewards, status, and position-for whatever it is

the society has to offer to those who succeed (and, by implication, denies to those

who do not). According to Frankel, equality of opportunity has three versions

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which are "formal equality," "fundamental" or "basic equality," and "distributive equality." Formal equality means that the term equality must have a rule that allows determining who is equal to whom and what is equal. Therefore, equality can be considered as formal meaning. It simply states that "like cases" should be treated similarly, where "like cases" are defined by a set of rules. It requires us to make no additional distinctions between individuals other than those expressly required by the rules. Formal equality of opportunity requires that positions and posts with superior benefits be open to all applicants.

The second variant of equal opportunity is basic equality. Basic equality means that all human beings are equals' is widely accepted as the fundamental, shared premise of all contemporary political thought. In various places, writers refer to this idea of basic equality as the central source of our social and political norms. Since prescriptive equality can be established using various principles, it differs from fundamental equality, which asserts equal worth, value, and status.

The third variant of equality of opportunity is distributive equality. Distributive equality means that a more vital conception of equality argues that there should be an equal distribution in benefits and burdens (Frankel, 1971, p. 196). If two situations are equally good in terms of both well-being and equality, they are equally good. It is better if one situation is better in terms of well-being and good in terms of equality. An example of equal distribution is that a worker has to receive the same money with the same amount of work with the same work time.

If a worker has longer work time but still receives the same amount of money as other workers who have less work time, the distribution is not equal.

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Katara has characteristics as brave, responsible, kind, and strong-willed.

Katara’s characteristics show that she reflects liberal feminism values through her action and decision. Katara is a brave woman, yet she has compassion for others; she is strong yet loving. Katara plays an influential role in the Avatar crew because, without her, Aang probably would not master all bending and defeated the fire king.

Katara’s actions and character show that she supports liberal feminism through her action. Katara strives to give herself and the people around her equal opportunity to have the freedom they deserved. Liberty means the state or condition of being free, so equal opportunity means that all human beings deserve to have the opportunity they have. As mentioned in the previous chapter, in the

18th episode of the series entitled “Water-Bending Master,” Katara, Aang, and

Sokka arrived at the Northern Water Tribe. The Avatar crew were so excited to arrive after the complicated and dangerous journey finally. The Northern Water

Tribe welcomed Aang, Katara and Sokka welcomed by all of the people in the

Northern Water Tribe. The chief said that Master Pakku, a famous water-bending master in Northern Water Tribe, teaches Aang water-bending. Katara was so excited to hear it because she finally found actual water bending master to teach her water-bending. In the morning, Katara and Aang rushed to the practice place to practice water-bending. Master Pakku looked at Katara with confusion and said that there was a misunderstanding. The dialogue below is a conversation between

Master Pakku and Katara

AANG: Good morning, Master Pakku!

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PAKKU: [Drops the water and speaks in an annoyed tone.] No, please, march right in. I am not concentrating on anything. AANG: Uhhh ... This is my friend, KATARA. The one I told you about? PAKKU: I am sorry, I think there has been a misunderstanding. You did not tell me your friend was a girl. In our tribe, it is forbidden for women to learn water-bending. Cut to a shot panning up Katara's body, her face reflecting the anger she feels. Cut to a long, overhead shot of the Northern Water Tribe city, looking back from the main wall to the citadel. Then, cut back to a close-up of Katara. KATARA: [Angrily.] What do you mean you won't teach me? I did not travel across the entire world so that you could tell me no! PAKKU: No. KATARA: But there must be other female water-benders in your tribe! PAKKU: Here, the women learn from Yagoda to use their water-bending to heal. I am sure she would be happy to take you as her student, despite your bad attitude. KATARA: I do not want to heal; I want to fight! PAKKU: I can see that. But our tribe has customs, rules. KATARA: [Furious.] Well, your rules stink! (Avatar Fandom, 2005)

The dialogue above is about Katara’s frustration that she found out that she could not learn water-bending because she is a girl. Master Pakku said that girls could not learn water-bending for fighting, but they could learn water bending for healing. The custom about learning water-bending in the Northern Water Tribe is based on their gender. The common gender stereotype is that men should know how to fight, and women should know how to treat men when they needed. The common stereotype of a job based on gender is that men should become soldiers or police and women should become nurses or doctors. Women are not supposed to engage with something physical; they are supposed to watch their mannerisms and etiquette. Katara wants to learn water-bending to protect herself. However,

Master Pakku did not want to teach Katara water-bending because the custom in the Northern Water Tribe prohibits women from learning water bending for

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fighting. Katara tried to talk to Master Pakku, that she went through many difficulties to meet Master Pakku on the other side of the world. Master Pakku still did not want to teach Katara water-bending because she is a girl. Katara was furious because she could not learn from Master Pakku. Katara walks away from

Master Pakku to meet Yagoda, a master healer. Katara tries to talk to Master

Pakku about changing his mind, but Master Pakku still says he will not teach her.

Katara asks Aang to teach her the moves he learns from Master Pakku, Aang agreed, but Master Pakku found out that Aang teaches Katara water-bending.

Master Pakku thought it was not ethical for Aang to teach Katara, so Master

Pakku said that Aang was no longer his student. Katara tries to talk to Master

Pakku, but Master Pakku told Katara that she needs to apologize for learning water-bending, which to Katara does not make sense. Katara challenges Master

Pakku in a duel. Everyone doubted Katara would win, but Katara fought hard with all of her power in that duel. Master Pakku then realize Katara was a powerful water-bender.

Katara’s action of being a rebel to Master Pakku is one example of Katara supporting equal opportunity. Katara’s action fighting Master Pakku because she felt discriminated against by her gender, she was not allowed to learn water- bending because of the custom in the Northern Water Tribe. Katara’s fight did not only for herself but also for all the girls who want to learn water-bending for fighting. Katara tried to change the custom giving all girls the same rights to learn water-bending for fighting the same as men. Katara shows Master Pakku that even though she is a girl, she is a powerful water-bender. Water-bending ability does

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not depend on the gender of the water-bender, but on the one who wants to learn hard. Now everyone could learn water bending and become a water-bending master because of Katara’s action.

Katara defending her rights to learn water bending from Master Pakku is a piece of evidence that Katara defends her equal opportunity. As mentioned in the previous chapter, equality of opportunity means that all people deserve to have the same opportunity in all aspects of life. Master Pakku refuses to teach Katara water-bending because her gender is one stereotype that women have to experience all the time. Women's limitations can come from getting a higher education and not receiving the same payroll as men in specific jobs. Liberal feminism values emphasize the equality between women and men, and Katara defends her rights to have equal opportunity just as men learning water-bending from Master Pakku.

C. Equal Rights

Equal rights mean equality before the law, where all people have the same right. According to Merriam-Webster, right means qualities (such as adherence to duty or obedience to lawful authority) that together constitute the ideal of moral propriety or moral merit approval. Equal rights are often related to equal social opportunities regardless of gender, race, and religion. Some example of equal rights are women have the same opportunity in jobs and wages same as men, everyone should have the same chance in getting health service, and many more

Every human has the right to vote, act, do and speak whatever they want to.

However, women experience many limitations when they want to have the same

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rights as men. Back in the day, when feminism has not appeared, women cannot leave the house without their husband’s permission, have land or house under their name, and cannot have the same education system as men. As the main female character in this series, Katara cannot stand and watch when someone’s rights are being taken away forcefully by others. Katara always tries her best to help anyone with all of her power.

Equal rights mean that everyone receives proper treatment from the government and others; when the war started, the fire-nation attack many areas and annihilated all of the air-bender so that the fire king could conquer the world.

Katara’s mother was died because of the attack that the fire nation army that comes to the Southern Water Tribe. Katara feels that many people lose their rights to protect themselves, own their own house, and receive payroll because of that war. In the 43rd episode of the series entitled “The Painted Lady,” the Avatar crew arrived in the middle of a river in the fire nation area. They went to the nearest village, which was located above water, to get food supplies. The village's condition was depressing; many people were sick, the lack of clean water makes them sick, and they do not have enough food supplies because the weapon factory polluted the water to support the war.

Katara pretends to be the painted lady, a story about a lady who could heal the sick and save the villager. Katara uses her healing power to heal the sick people, and she took some food from the factory and gave it to the villager. At noon, the avatar crew heads back to the village because Appa, Aang’s flying bison, was sick. The villager was much happier than yesterday; Sokka then said

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the painted lady should destroy the factory. At dusk, Katara wakes up and puts her painted lady clothes on. Aang saw her, and he offered his help; both Katara and

Aang destroyed the factory. In the morning, the fire nation army rushes to the village to destroy everything. Katara could not leave them behind. Sokka tries to convince Katara that they had a tight schedule, but Katara insisted on helping the villager.

AANG: Katara? KATARA: [Guiltily.] Hi, Aang. AANG: [Shocked.] Are you the Painted Lady? [Pointing at Katara.] But how? KATARA: I wasn't her at; first, I was just trying to help the village. [Takes her hat off.] But since everyone thought that's who I was anyway, I guess I just kinda became her. [Drops her hat on the ground.] AANG: So you've been sneaking out at night? Wait, is Appa even sick? KATARA: He might be sick of the purple berries I've been feeding him, but other than that, he's okay! AANG: I can't believe you lied to everyone, so you could help these people. KATARA: I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't have. AANG: [Happily.] No, I think it's excellent! You're like a secret hero! KATARA: Well, if you wanna help, there’s one more thing I have to do. Aang gives her a curious look. Cut to the Fire Nation factory. Aang and Katara run along the river’s edge toward it. Aang looks at the polluted water. AANG: You wanna destroy this factory? KATARA: Yes. Sokka was just kidding, but he was right. Getting rid of this factory is the only way to help these people permanently. Aang and Katara enter and move to different sides of the factory. Katara uses water-bending to cut the metal hooks that hang barrels of magma. Aang, with protective gloves on, overturns enormous hanging barrels, smiling at his work. Aang uses earth-bending to break apart the pipe system in the factory. Katara bends a massive wave of water through the windows and floods the factory. The scene cuts to outside as the factory explodes from within and muck stops flowing from the pipes. Cut to Aang and Katara walking back to their campsite. Aang laughs and makes explosion noises. (Avatar Fandom, 2005)

The dialogue above is about Aang discovered that Katara had been pretended as the painted lady to help the fire nation village. Katara planned to destroy the factory, which polluted the river water and brought suffering to the village.

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Katara’s decision to pretend to be the painted lady and destroy the factory is one of her actions to defend the villager equal rights’. One example of equal rights is that every person has the right to live and seek jobs, just like anyone else. Katara tried to defend the people's rights to live on the river; they could not get proper clean water, and it was difficult to search for food because of the pollution.

Katara’s action defending the villager shows that she supports equal rights to all people; even though the villager was a part of the fire nation, Katara still helps them willingly. Furthermore, Katara’s decision to help the villager shows that her characteristics help her break the gender stereotype that all heroes were men.

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CONCLUSION

In order to understand the liberal feminism values reflected by the female main character, Katara’s characteristics, it is necessary to identify the characterization of Katara. Using the theory of characterization by Boggs and

Petrie, there are eight ways to determine a character's characterization. For example, characterization through appearance, through dialogue, through external action, through internal action, through reaction another character, through contrast: dramatic foils, through caricature and leitmotif, through the name of choice. Thus, the characteristics of a character can be understood by the audience completely. Using the characterization theory by Boggs and Petrie, the researcher concluded that Katara has brave, responsible, kind, and strong-willed characteristics, which are shown throughout the selected episodes.

Using the theory of characterization by Boggs & Petrie, the researcher found that Katara is brave to decide to help the Avatar master all the bending that could put her life in danger. Katara also shows her bravery in helping Haru and other earth benders imprisoned by the fire nation army, the earth benders who were caught by the fire nation were innocent. Katara's characteristics show that she is responsible because she feels like she has to save her tribe. Therefore, she decided to help Aang save the world, even though it is not her responsibility. Another example of katara’s responsibility is when she could not leave the villager in the fire nation area helpless against the fire nation army; even though Sokka tried to convince her to leave them behind, Katara still feels responsible for helping them.

Katara’s kindness shows when she willingly helped everyone in need and did not

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discriminate against any of them. Katara even helps prince Zuko, the fire lord's son, who wanted to capture them and started the war and made Katara lost her mother. Katara has a strong-willed character because she never backs down when someone underestimates her and her ability. Master Pakku refuses to teach Katara water-bending because she is a girl, but Katara did not give up because she believes that anyone can learn water-bending. Katara does whatever it takes to make Master Pakku realize that she could learn water-bending and master it just like any other man. Katara even challenged Master Pakku in a duel, in which she shows her ability to Master Pakku. Katara shows Master Pakku that she deserves to learn water-bending just like any of his students. In the end, Master Pakku realized that water-bending is not only exclusive for boys only to learn, but girls too.

Gender stereotypes are shown in the selected episode of Avatar: The Last

Airbender. The researcher used the theory of gender stereotype by Mary E. Kite.

Using gender stereotype theory, the researcher discovered three gender stereotypes depicted in the selected episode: women are too emotional to make the right decision, women are weak, and women do not need education. Gender stereotypes experienced by Katara and other female characters Avatar: The Last

Airbender. All of the gender stereotypes were identified in the dialogue between

Katara and other female characters.

Using three liberal feminism values found in Katara’s characteristic and the theory by Jean Elshtain, the researcher found three values: equality of treatment, equality of opportunity, and equal rights. Equality of treatment means that

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everyone has the same rights to be treated equally. In the series, equality of treatment can be seen when Katara decided to show Master Pakku that she could learn water-bending just as his male students. As mentioned above, Katara’s stubbornness made Master Pakku believe that women deserved to learn water- bending for fighting. The equal opportunity showed when Katara fought Master

Pakku to convince him that Katara can learn water-bending for fighting. As previously mentioned, Katara could not learn water bending because of her gender. Katara determines to change the rule and show Master Pakku that anyone could learn water-bending no matter what the gender is. Equal rights are shown when Katara saved the villager in the fire nation. As formerly mentioned, Katara pretends to be the Painted Lady to heal all sick people in the village and bring them food supplies. Katara cannot stand and watch when someone needs her help, and Katara believes that everyone, including the villager, deserves to have the right to live safely in their hometown. Katara’s characteristics which reflect liberal feminism values, help her on breaking gender stereotypes throughout the story.

Katara’s characteristics which reflect liberal feminism help her break gender stereotypes she encounter throughout the story. The relation between Katara’s characteristics and the struggle to break gender stereotype is that Katara is kind and responsible which made her give justice and equal opportunity to have the same right as men not just for her but for everyone else no matter who that person is. Katara helps everyone when they need it, she will give it all to help anyone in trouble. Katara felt responsible to break the gender stereotype which limit her opportunity in getting higher education, but after Katara fight hard to prove that

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women are capable doing things just as best as men. These characteristics help her to break gender stereotype. Katara is also brave and strong-willed, when she encounter problem or limitation because of her gender, she did not give up and keep struggling to prove everyone who doubted her. Her bravery help her stand strong against who doubted her and her strong-willed help her did not give up when there is a problem ahead of her.

The message brought by this series is that being a woman is difficult, and there would be a lot of challenges, limitations, and discrimination. However, in the end, everyone should not give up when there is a problem ahead. Katara is one example that one woman could change a perspective about women’s ability, strength, and characteristics. Gender stereotype is a challenge that women have to encounter daily, but Katara shows that she could break the gender stereotype and prove to everyone who doubted her that she was able to achieve her dream.

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REFERENCES

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