SEXUAL OPPRESSIONS AGAINST WOMEN IN LUSTER NOVEL BY RAVEN LEILANI 2020

Rinkan Nur  Wulan; Tutik Ratna  Ningtyas

doi:10.33365/linguistics_and_literature.v7i1.1942

Rinkan Nur Wulan Universitas Pamulang
Tutik Ratna Ningtyas Universitas Pamulang

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33365/linguistics_and_literature.v7i1.1942

Keywords: Gender inequality, intersectionality, Luster, Raven Leilani, sexual oppression, survival strategies, women of color

Abstract

This thesis explores the theme of sexual oppression against women as portrayed in Raven Leilani’s Luster (2020). Using Patricia Hill Collins’ Intersectionality as Critical Social Theory, the study examines how the main character, Edie, experiences oppression in the form of sexual violence, fetishization, and workplace exploitation. Through qualitative textual analysis, the research highlights how overlapping factors of race, gender, class, and age shape Edie’s vulnerability and limither agency. The findings show that oppression in the novel is not only enacted through intimate relationships but also reinforced by professional and socialstructures, reflecting the systemic inequalities faced by many women of color. At the same time, the study analyzes how Edie navigates and resists these oppressions, revealing strategies of endurance and survival in response to intersecting pressures. By centering Edie’s narrative, this thesis contributes to discussions on sexual oppression and demonstrates how contemporary fiction can critique structural inequalities while amplifying marginalized voices.

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