Female Librarians Stereotype in the 2000s Indonesian Film

• Main Authors: Nina Mayesti, Aprinus Salam, Ratna Noviani
• Format: Article
• Language: Indonesian
• Published: Universitas Airlangga 2019-01-01
• Series: Record and Library Journal
• Subjects: librarian stereotype, female librarian, librarian in movies, indonesian film
• Online Access: https://e-journal.unair.ac.id/RLJ/article/view/10329

This paper discusses about the research that had examined the female librarian stereotype in Indonesian films, particularly release during the 2000s. Using the paradigm of cultural and media studies, this research examined six Indonesian films portraying female librarian. The units of analysis in this study are those film scenes that were either set in a library or that portrayed female librarians. The method used to analyze the data source is the Critical Discourse Analysis. The results of this study showed that the female librarians were stereotyped in Indonesian films, such as age, dress and hair style. Librarians were depicted as an old woman with the old-fashioned dress and outdated hairstyle. The film’s portrayal of the female librarians were representative of the stereotype in general, i.e. passive, stuffy, and orderly. But on the other hand they were depicted as a friendly, smart, helpful person, and sometimes breaking the rules. Library profession was portrayed traditionally as “library-keeper”, not as someone who plays a role in information and knowledge dissemination.