MILLENNIALS’ PERCEPTION TOWARDS REFERENCES OF “PEREMPUAN” IN GREAT DICTIONARY OF INDONESIAN LANGUAGE (KBBI)

Abstract

This study is a mini case study focusing on millennials’ perception towards the references of “perempuan” or “woman” from Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia (KBBI) or Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language. This research applies a quantitative method with description approach. The researcher collected the data through an online questionnaire which involved 116 respondents aged from 16-30 years old. The researcher asked the respondents to fill the questionnaire focusing on showing their tendency to the gender-based references and showing their perception to the definition in the dictionary. In findings, the respondents correlate matriarchal domestic responsibility, such as “raising child”, in an even view between man and woman. On the other hand, the participants of the research had a growing neutrality over the previously male dominated terms, such as “hardworking” and “boss”. Despite the progressivity, millennials still have a high tendency of maintaining derogatory references against woman, such as “prostitute” and “slut”. The study also shows that 65.5% of respondents disagree with the definition of “perempuan” in KBBI. They challenge the definition under the idea of gender equality. Millennials’ perspective of the language differs from maintaining the definition to shifting the conservative image of woman to more progressive. Meanwhile, the other 34.5% agree with the definition in KBBI. They highlighted the relevancy of the definition with the traditional views of women focusing on women’s biological features.