Motifs of Women’s Journey and the Sexual Politics in Lanna Jataka

Abstract

This article aimed to analyze sexual politics through motifs of women’s Journey in Lanna jataka. Qualitative research method was used. Four Lanna Jataka texts were analyzed namely; 1) Nangphomhom, 2) Wannaphram, 3) Kamkadam, 4) Seehanat Jataka. The results of the study were presented by descriptive analysis method.

The research results were divided into 3 points as follows: The journey of women characters can be classified into 3 styles, (1) journey by land (2) journey by sea (3) journey by air. Journey by land or traveling on foot was the only way that women characters relied on their owns, encounter and fight the obstacles by themselves. As for other types of Journey that relies on vehicles, women characters still dependent and rely on men characters. 2) The reason for their journey, it found that men were main influence on the journey of women characters for five reasons: (1) to follow, (2) to find, (3) to be expelled or deported, (4) to travel, (5) to arrive the city. 3) Motifs of women characters’ journey in Lanna jataka reflected the inequality of power relationships between women and men. With men dominance, it reinforces and suppress femininity. These had made women feel inferior. Therefore, they tried to find tricks to fight against a superior power.