Gender Stereotype of Motherhood Through the Main Character in Maggie Gyllenhaal's The Lost Daughter (2021)
Author: Ghea Safirna
Affiliation: English Literature Department, Universitas Pamulang
Email: gheasafirna@email.com
Abstract
This study explores the representation of gender stereotypes of motherhood through the main character, Leda, in Maggie Gyllenhaal's The Lost Daughter (2021). Using a feminist psychological approach and Linda Brannon's Gender: Psychological Perspectives (2017) as the main framework, this research aims to analyze how social expectations shape the portrayal of motherhood and the inner conflict experienced by women. The study employs a qualitative descriptive method, focusing on key scenes that highlight the tension between maternal duty and personal autonomy. The findings reveal that the film challenges the patriarchal stereotype that women achieve fulfillment solely through motherhood. Instead, The Lost Daughter presents motherhood as a multifaceted experience that involves guilt, ambivalence, and the desire for self-realization. Through Leda's struggles, the film exposes the emotional and psychological impact of societal expectations on women's identities.
Keywords: gender stereotype, motherhood, feminism, Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Lost Daughter
Abstrak
Penelitian ini mengeksplorasi representasi stereotip gender tentang keibuan melalui tokoh utama, Leda, dalam film The Lost Daughter (2021) karya Maggie Gyllenhaal. Menggunakan pendekatan psikologis feminis dengan teori utama dari Linda Brannon dalam Gender: Psychological Perspectives (2017), penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis bagaimana ekspektasi sosial membentuk gambaran keibuan dan konflik batin yang dialami perempuan. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah deskriptif kualitatif dengan fokus pada beberapa adegan utama yang menggambarkan ketegangan antara tanggung jawab sebagai ibu dan keinginan untuk kebebasan pribadi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa film ini menantang stereotip patriarkal yang menilai bahwa perempuan hanya dapat menemukan makna hidup melalui peran keibuan. Sebaliknya, The Lost Daughter menggambarkan keibuan sebagai pengalaman yang kompleks, penuh rasa bersalah, ambivalensi, dan pencarian jati diri. Melalui tokoh Leda, film ini mengungkap dampak emosional dan psikologis dari tekanan sosial terhadap identitas perempuan.
Kata kunci: stereotip gender, keibuan, feminisme, Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Lost Daughter
1. Introduction
Motherhood is often idealized as the ultimate fulfillment of womanhood within patriarchal culture. Women are traditionally expected to embody nurturing, sacrifice, and moral virtue, with little acknowledgment of their personal desires or autonomy (Brannon, 2017). This idealization creates a rigid stereotype of motherhood---where the "good mother" must always be selfless and emotionally available. Maggie Gyllenhaal's The Lost Daughter (2021) presents a subversive depiction of motherhood through the protagonist, Leda, a middle-aged professor who recalls her past decisions to abandon her children in pursuit of intellectual and emotional freedom. The film challenges cultural expectations by portraying a woman who does not fit the mold of the "perfect mother," revealing the guilt and inner conflict that follow.
2. Methodology
