FEMALE BONDING in CECELIA AHERN's LOVE, ROSIE Fahriana

FEMALE BONDING IN CECELIA AHERN’S LOVE, ROSIE

Fahriana Arviyanti/1611403131

Program Studi Sastra Inggris FS Universitas 17 Agustus 1945

Jln. Semolowaru No.45, Menur Pumpungan, Sukolilo, Kota Surabaya, Jawa Timur 60118

ABSTRACT: This study is about bonding that happens among the female characters: Rosie, Stephanie, Mom, Ruby and Katie. This bonding is called female bonding. Female bonding is commonly exposed when they usually share activities and emotions each other. To prove the existence of bonding among female characters, the writer decides to do a study on the novel entitled Love, Rosie by Cecelia Ahern. Applying feminist literary criticism and qualitative research method, the writer analyzed three characteristics of female bonding: 1)Friendship 2)Attachment 3)Cooperation. From the analysis, the writer concludes that female bonding happening among the females characters on novel that shows understanding, sharing activities, worries, trust and appreciation. The female bonding can make people more positive and give good impact for each other. Keywords: bonding, female bonding, friendship, attachment, cooperation

INTRODUCTION According to Hazar and Campa normative developmental transition (2013:2) early bonding experiences from parental to peer to partner from infancy through adolescence. attachment. Abel (1981:3) female The chapters in this part address the bonding exemplifies a mode of basics of ethological attachment relational self-definition whose theory, the coevolution of infant– increasing prominence is evident in caregiver behavior systems, and the the revival of psychoanalytic interest in object-relations theory and in the eventhough she is new to Rosie’s life. dynamics of transference and And her daughter, Katie who always countertransference, as well as in the supports and undertands her. From rowth of literary emphasis on theories their relationship, the female of influence and intertextuality. Based characters establish female bonding. on the explanation above, the writer is This thesis focuses on female so interested in the bonding between bonding that are shown on Cecelia female that are usually called Ahern’s Love, Rosie. The study will sisterhood. The writer chooses focus on bonding Ruby, Stephani, literary work from Cecelia Ahern’s Mom, Katie and Rosie from their Love, Rosie to be discussed in this interaction. The writer uses extrinsic thesis. The novel is about two friends approach, an element of literature was called Rosie and Alex, they actually about the things that cannot really be love each other but for one and found inside the story itself. It is not another reasons, Alex has to move the material but the fact and from Dublin to Boston with his information that supports surround family. Rosie is down because of her the story. very best-buddy leave her from Dublin to Boston. Moreover, This work points out about something big comes, and it can be liberal feminism. According to Lorber changed Rosie’s life forever. She gets (1997) liberal feminism claims that pregnant with thier friend. She gets gender differences are not based in through ups and downs in her life. biology, and therefore that women Fortunately, she has a very supportive and men are not all that different -- big sister, Stephani, who always their common humanity supersedes listens and supports her in every their procreative differentiation. If moment that happens to her life. A women and men are not different, mother, who is always there for her then they should not be treated and a friend that comes into her life differently under the law. Women and makes big change for her, Ruby. should have the same rights as men She understands Rosie really well and the same educational and work represent lack of solidarity among the opportunities. characters. Solidarity is nevertheless According to Horst (2012), present among the women characters, female bonding is the formation of a from the same or different races and close personal relationship between ethnicities, and that the ruptures of women. Female bonding is a term that their bonding and controversial is used in ethology, social science, actions are a result of the alteration of and in general usage to describe ethics of care. patterns of friendship, attachment, On Abel (1981:2) writes while and cooperation in women; or in the feminist social scientists have culled case of ethology, associations from letters and journals evidence of between females of various species. the intensity and power of female The exact meaning of the term differs friendships, especially in nineteenth- across contexts. In ethology, a species century America, feminist literary is said to have female bonding if the critics have focused more exclusively female regularly form coalitions in on the mother-daughter bond. which they mutually support each While Levine’s article (2011) other, especially if such coalitions are writes the intimate nature of the used to attack other groups or relationship between a mother and individuals. daughter is sometimes confusing. If Olieviera (2011:16) writes close, the relationship can simulate sisterhood can have many positive friendship through the familiar aspects in the lives of the characters, characteristics of empathy, listening, most of these bonds do not outlast the loyalty, and caring. However, the contradictions that women experience mother/daughter relationship has during and after slavery. To endure unique characteristics that distinguish the hardships, the women characters it from a best friendship. These are forced to make unconventional characteristics include a mother’s role compromises and to resort to different as primary emotional caretaker, a lack actions. Even though the change in of reciprocity, and a hierarchy of the ethics of care does not necessarily responsibility. This hierarchy, combined with unconditional love, It is evident that this particular cohort precludes mothers and daughters of women sees each other as lifelong from being best friends. This confidants due to the absence of a generation of mothers and adult lifelong commitment to a spouse. daughters has a lot in common which Along with this, the lack of increases the likelihood of shared commitment allows women to companionship. Mothers and develop and maintain the strong ties daughters have always shared the between other single female friends. common experience of being From the passage above, it can homemakers, responsible for conclude that female bonding can be maintaining and passing on family divined into 3 characteristics : values, traditions, and rituals. Today friendship, attachment and contemporary mothers and daughters coorporation. also share the experience of the On their journal Parker and workforce, technology and lack of a Vries (1993) writes ninety-five generation gap, which may bring women and 95 men undergraduates them even closer together. rated each of their closest friends, and According to Greiner (1993) rated themselves with each of those female bonding is the formation of a friends on a Relationship Grid close personal relationship and the evaluating both `structural' patterns of friendship, attachment, dimensions (i.e., age, sex, duration of and cooperation in females. Within friendship and frequency of contact) the context of human relationships the and `affective' dimensions (i.e. self- definition and display of female disclosure, appreciation, assistance, bonding can be dependent on multiple empathic, understanding, deepening factors such as age, sexual others' self-awareness, shared orientation, culture, race and marital activity, authenticity, trust, control, status. For example, some studies responsibility, connectedness, have shown that there is relatively empowerment of others and strong female bonding evidence satisfaction). Results indicated which is shared among single women. similarity in the rankings of the importance of those dimensions in the successfully use the caregiver as a friendships of men and women, and secure base when distressed). People that same-sex friendships were more who possess a secure attachment style common and of longer duration than tend to develop mental models of cross-sex friendships. themselves as being friendly, good-

MacLeod (2009) in his article natured, and likable and of significant entitled Attachment Theory, others as being generally well attachment is a deep and enduring intentioned, reliable, and trustworthy. emotional bond that connects one In Vugt, Cremer and Jassen person to another across time and (2007), they write evolutionary space (Ainsworth, 1973; Bowlby, scientists argue that human 1969). Attachment does not have to cooperation is the product of a long be reciprocal. Bearry, Seager, Brown history of competition among rival (2015:64) an attachment is an groups. There are various reasons to emotional bond which forms in believe that this logic applies humans and other mammalian species particularly to men. In three from birth, usually between infants experiments, using a step-level and adults, and develops through public-goods task, we found that men interaction with a primary caregiver. contributed more to their group if Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall their group was competing with other (1978) have identified three primary groups than if there was no intergroup attachment styles: competition. Female cooperation was anxious/ambivalent, (characteristic of relatively unaffected by intergroup infants who intermix attachment competition. behaviors with overt expressions of According to Balliet, Li, protest and anger toward the primary Macfarlan and Vugt (2011), there is caregiver when distressed), avoidant some evidence that women, relative (characteristic of infants who avoid to men, are kinder (Conway, the caregiver and exhibit signs of Pizzamiglio, & Mount, 1996; Eagly & detachment when distressed), and Steffen, 1984), more agreeable secure (characteristic of infants who (Feingold, 1994), more supportive of of female that is shown from their friends (Oswald, Clark, & Kelly, interaction on the novel. 2004), and more cooperative in same- RESEARCH RESULT AND sex work groups (Chatman & DISCUSSION O’Reilly, 2004). In contrast, men In Cecelia Ahern’s Love, Rosie, provide more help to strangers in need Rosie is an independent woman and (Eagly & Crowley, 1986), have a mother. She is pregnant without stronger preference for coordinated figure of husband by her side because social play as children (Benenson, a man who make her pregnant run Apostoleris, & Parnass, 1997), and away from her. tend to cooperate more in larger Rosie tells Stephani about her groups (Gabriel & Gardner, 1999). daughter, Katie. She is afraid of RESEARCH METHOD losing Katie. Her fear of losing her daughter is deeper than her fear of This work uses qualitative losing her own life. Although Katie research. According to Saven-Baden will make Rosie dissapointed and Major (2010:35) on their book someday, she is still proud as a New Approaches to Qualitative mother to have Katie in her life. “The Research, qualitaive research is often men in my life may have let me down framed as an inductive exploration of but the little girl in my life makes up a problem or issue rather than a for it every single day” (Ahern, deductive testing of a hypothesis, as 2004:160) though, Rosie has a really in much quantitative research. It bad day, then she is still a bless mean that the researcher has to mother to have daughter like Katie. undersand the topic that they will Even all of the men in Rosie’s life analyze well. make her down. She is grateful to The data source takes from have Katie in her life because she can Cecelia Ahern’s novel Love, Rosie light Rosie’s life up. published in 2004. The writer only Stephanie tries to calm Rosie, analyzed the characteristic’s bonding she does not want her sister broken just because one evil man who comes she may be lost ‘something big’ after to Rosie’s life. Stephani believes that she gets pregnant, and lost her Rosie is a strong woman she has ever scholarship in Boston. Eventhough known. She makes Rosie sure that she seems to accept the situation, Rosie can through all the matters that Mom is worried. Mom feels comes to her life. “I can’t tell you connectedness with Rosie, just with whether to stay with Greg or not, only see in her word that she is worried to you can make that decision” (Ahern, her.

2004:153) also, Stephani believes all Ruby tries to get Rosie the decision Rosie takes to her life. conscious not to waiting Alex “But if that is making you miserable anymore, and move on from him like then leave and find something else gets new life “I don’t know what that brings you the happiness you you’re talking about! I am not waiting deserve to feel” (Ahern, 2004:153) for Alex!” (Ahern, 2004: 69). Ruby she is sure that Rosie is an amazing understands why Rosie can not move woman who can leave the miserable on from Alex, because he such a things in her life to find somethings wonderfull ‘friend’. He always treats amazing ahead. Rosie right and always have sweet Like Rosie’s Mom, she is talks to Rosie,” I’m sure he’s a worried to Rosie about her condition fabulous friend and I’m sure he after she gets home from visit to Alex always says sweet and wonderful in Boston. Mom asks Stephani to help things to you” (Ahern, 2004:69). her to quetion Rosie, because Rosie Ruby is worried with Rosie, “So stop loves to share everything with waiting and move on. Live your life” Stephani. If there is something wrong (Ahern, 2004:69) because when Rosie with Rosie, she gets worried with her. ‘meet’ with someone, she still thinks “I know she feels like she has missed of Alex and compare them with Alex. out on huge opportunities, I just wish She just want to Rosie not to think she could see the positive side to what much of Alex and enjoy her life. she has now” (Ahern, 2004:52) She is worried about Rosie, she thinks that Ruby is worried about Rosie’s Monica, and Katie will interupt environment of work. Rosie’s boss is Toby’s date with Monica. She is such a bad man. He tries to take a peep really understand Katie well. to Rosie’s legs while she is working at Rosie shares her thought about her desk, and that actually is Ms. Casey, her teacher who also distrubing Rosie so much. “Rosie you teachs Katie that she is hated before, really need to get out of that office. to Katie. Time by time her feeling is It’s not healthy “(Ahern, 2004:87) changed, Ms. Casey is kind of her Ruby give her advice to go out from bestfriend. “Every day conversation that paper-clip factory as soon as becomes a little longer, a little possible. “I know, I’m working on it friendlier, a little less about work and but I can’t quit until I get another job a little more about life”, (Ahern, and that’s proving to be rather 2004:308) they form relation called difficult,” (Ahern, 2004:87) but, bond. Moreover, everyday they share Rosie can not take that advice, she story more, care and talk about their needs that job, she will not be jobless life. “But each day we talk more and woman while her daughter need more and earlier today I was surprised money from her. to hear her tell me that you are quite Rosie is such a best mother. the intellect when you’re not being “Well the dentist can wait. I’ll make distracted by that boyfriend of yours,” another appointment for you,” (Ahern, 2004:308) .Ms. Casey tells (Ahern, 2004:307) She makes up about how clever Katie is before, but another orthodontist’s appointment fortunetly she is distracted by her for Katie in order to she can go with boyfriend. Toby and Monica in the football Rosie invesigates Katie about match. “This is a very important her relationship with John. “Did you football match you know, I wouldn’t have sex with him?”(Ahern, want you to miss it just because of a 2004:322), she want to know how far silly little thing like getting your teeth Katie’s relationships goes, Rosie does fixed,” (Ahern, 2004:307) because not want her fault repeat to Katie. “I Rosie knows that Katie does not like don’t know, well you see 14-year-old pregnant girls on TV who are on attachment that supports other drugs these days,” (Ahern, 2004:322) friends, and cooperation with trust for Rosie also asks Katie about her social each other. Moreover characteristics life that is she use drug and alchohol of female bonding that will be or not. Rosie wants to protect her exposed on Cecelia Ahern’s Love, preciouse daugther from sex before Rosie are between Rosie, Ruby, marriage. “Well that’s definitely not Stephanie, Mom and Katie. me! “ (Ahern, 2004:323) but, at the Female bonding between Rosie end Katie does not do ‘kid stuffs at her and Ruby are understand, support and age’ she is such a good girl, trust on each others’ life. When one of eventually. them gets problem, Ruby will give CONCLUSION Rosie advice and try to understand From the discussion on the what Rosie choose to make her the previous chapters, the writer problem is solved. Ruby also supports concludes that there are female every decision that Rosie takes on her bonding happen when they share life, when Rosie chooses to divorce actitivies together and split same with Greg, since she is also divorced, emotional feelings. The female Ruby understands Rosie’s position, bonding is a strong relationship and support for Rosie’s best on her among female’s friends and family. life. Ruby is trust Rosie with her From liberal feminism point of view decision moving to Cork and open a female and man are not that B&B in there, Ruby believes her that difference means female can survive Rosie will get her happiness in there. in society without compares with The next one is female bonding man. In Rosie’s case, she can survive between Stephanie and Rosie. without man’s role, like husband in Stephanie is Rosie’ sister so they trust her life. She can make her own money each other, appreciates and shares and fullfil Katie’s need. activities for each other. When Rosie Moreover, feemale bonding can passes her senior school and will be achieved through friendship which become a college student, she is understanding each other, congratulates and proud of Rosie because she can pass on her school. The last is female bonding Rosie also shares about life to her between Rosie and Katie. Like, Rosie sister, Stephanie. When she does not always supports her daughter’s choice want to loose Katie from her life even to go to Ibiza with her biological before she hates to be a pregnant girl daddy. Katie wants to learn to be a DJ but Rosie is bless to have Katie in her on her daddy’s relative. She really life, as a sister Stephanie always understands Katie well and vice supports her. Stepahnie trusts every versa. Like when Katie worries about decision that Rosie make even when her mother and grandma, after her she want to divorce with Greg, she grandpa is passed away. She feels that believes to Rosie, because it is they are little bit change, and she Rosie’s best choice about her plans to go home to Dublin and sets marriage with Greg. up plan to stay for a while and make The female bonding between them cheer up again. Rosie and Mom are when they share The female bonding between about their life and they are worry for Rosie, Ruby, Stephanie, Mom and each others. Rosie shares to her mom Katie are the fact that they really that she is a proud mother, she is bless understand for each other, they are to have Katie in her life. She is happy like to share their activity to know to be a mother like her mom though at each other, when one of them gets the beginning she wants Katie to be problem, they absolutely worry each adopted. Then when Rosie loses other, they trust the choice which one contact with her, Mom is worried with of them decides and they are never Rosie after she visits Alex in Boston. ashamed to appreciate one for another Mom does not want Rosie if they get something good happen. disappointed because of her missed Then after ups and downs their bond opportunity to live and study in is so strong for each other. Female Boston like Alex after Rosie is visited bonding is a good relationship him. She just wants her daughter, between women, it can make good Rosie to be a happy mankind. impact for each other life.

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