Gender-Based Violence Againsts

The Female Main Character

in Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us

Taria Ayu Lestari

Agnes Setyowati H.
Tetty Yukesti

Abstract

This research is a study of Colleen Hoover’s novel It Ends With Us. The purpose of this study is to
reveal forms and impacts of gender-based violence and efforts of the female main character to
overcome all the hardship. The main issue in this novel is gender-based violence againts the female
main character named Lily Bloom. In this research, descriptive analysis method is used in studying
the intrinsic theories, and extrinsic theories such as gender and feminism for supporting elements. The
findings of this research points that Lily experiences several forms of gender-based violences such as
child abuse, physical attacks, domestic violence, pornography violence, and an act of rape. Besides
that, the physical and psychological impacts are also identified. Eventually, Lily can overcome her
hardship by improving her financial condition, living independently, divorcing her abusive partner,
and becoming a single parent. Both internal and external factors are in support of her measure to
survive and live a better life.

Keywords: feminism, gender, gender-based violence, women

frequent and common. He said that

INTRODUCTION violence against women occurred in the
product of patriarchal society. In this case,
Background men dominate the social institutions and
bodies of women. Meanwhile, hooks
Issues regarding women are never (2010: 1) say that patriarchy is a social
completely debated. In the general public, political system that demands that men
it has been constructed that "ideal" women dominate inseparably and make them
are women who can take care of the superior to all things. Anyone is
family with the focus only limited to the considered weak, especially women. The
domestic area. Holmes (2007: 2) explained form of patriarchy can be seen from the
that sex is a biological difference between mastery of love. In his other book, hooks
men and women. Meanwhile, gender is a (2000: 101) love in patriarchal culture is
social difference made between being associated with the idea of ownership,
feminine and masculine. These gender with the paradigm of dominance and
differences can trigger injustice which surrender in which it is assumed that one
results in acts of violence. individual will give love and another
individual receives it.
An act of violence is an attack or invasion Based on these problems, the feminism
(assault) on the physical and psychological movement emerged. According to
integrity of a person and can be in the Hollows (2010: 4) in general feminism is
form of violence against one particular sex considered as a form of politics that aims
caused by gender differences (Fakih, to intervene and change the unequal power
2013: 17). Humm (in Arivia, 2006: 180) relations between men and women.
said that violence against women is very Feminism as a political theory or a
political practice (political movement) that show the form of gender-based violence
strives to liberate all women: colored against female main characters, the impact
women, poor women, lesbians, elderly of such violence, and the efforts of the
women, and also economically main female character, Lily Bloom, in
heterosexual white women (Chodorow in overcoming the violence. Meanwhile, the
Sunarto, 2009: 33 ). focus of this research is gender-based
violence against female main characters
Such condition as mention above is also that can be seen from the main characters
illustrated in one of Collen Hoover's and characterizations, conflicts, settings,
novels titled It Ends With Us. The main symbols and irony.
character in the novel is a woman named
Lily Bloom. She is an independent figure, Research Methods
but has psychological trauma. During her In this study, the present researchers used
teenage years, she became a victim of qualitative research. Meanwhile, the
domestic violence that occurred between method used in this research is a
her parents. Because of this, she grew up descriptive analysis that presents intrinsic
as a woman who hated her father because elements in the form of characters and
he always behaved rudely towards her characterizations, plot, conflict,
mother. Not only that, Lily also kept her background or setting, symbols, irony and
distance from her mother because she extrinsic elements in the form of gender
often remembered how her mother had and feminism theories which are based on
remained loyal to her father even though the data in the novel It Ends With Us by
there were so many bad treatments that her Colleen Hoover. To obtain the data needed
mother had experienced. Lily's life also in this study, the present researchers
changes when she is stuck in an abusive conducted a literature study by using
relationship, just like her mother supporting books as reference material and
experienced. In the process of making her obtaining information and references in
choice between surviving or leaving, Lily the form of related journals through
also experiences a series of inner conflicts internet media.
and gender-based violence.
The term gender has psychological, social,
As the author of the novel, Colleen and cultural connotations that distinguish
Hoover was born on December 11, 1979 between men and women in carrying out
and became one of the best writers certain masculinity and femininity roles in
according to the New York Times society (Haralambos and Holborn in
magazine with the title # 1 New York Sunarto, 2009: 33). In his book, Hollows
Times Bestselling Author. Hoover stated (2010: 4) explains that masculine and
that the idea of the novel It Ends With Us feminine gender roles that are culturally
was actually based on her personal formed, debated, mapped in biological
experience. Indirectly, Hoover was a differences between women and men that
victim of this kind of abusive relationship make these different gender roles appear
when she was little, that was experienced as part of the biological nature of male
by her mother. men and women and not as a cultural
construction.
Problem Identification and Formulation
Based on the explanation above, the Literature Review
present researchers also decided to choose Labeling or marking (stereotype) which is
the novel It Ends With Us by Colleen often negative in general always gives
Hoover as the corpus of this research. birth to injustice. One type of stereotype
Meanwhile, the purpose of this study is to that engenders gender injustice and
discrimination stems from gender views planning (enforced sterilization), violence
because it involves labeling or marking of in the form of molestation, and in the
one particular sex, which is generally forms of sexual harassment and emotional
women (Rokhmansyah, 2016: 20). In line harassment.
with this opinion, Dzuhayatin (in Purwo,
2000: 158) mentions traits related to Ramazoglu (in Hollows, 2010: 8) argues
women's stereotypes namely emotional, that implicitly or explicitly various
gentle, not independent, passive as patriarchal ideologies are theories that
opposed to male identity, namely rational, explain the formation and maintenance of
aggressive, independent, explorative. male dominance in social, ideological,
Meanwhile, according to Noorkasiani, sexual, political, and economic aspects.
Heryati, and Ismail (2007: 96-97) forms of Walby (2014: 268-269) mentions that
injustice due to gender discrimination are there are two categories of patriarchy
women's marginalization, subordination, namely private partriarchy and public
stereotypical views, workload, and partriarchy. Private patriarchy is based on
violence. In general, gender-based household production, such as controlling
violence (gender-based violence) is all women individually and directly in a
forms of violence that arise due to gender relatively private space, namely in the
differences (Soul City Institute for Social house or at home. Patriarchy places men
Justice, 2016: 2, Ellsberg and Heise, 2005: who act as husbands or fathers as
11, Fakih, 2007: 17). For example, oppressors and receive direct benefits,
someone injures an individual because the individually and directly, from the
individual is a woman or because of the subordination of women. Meanwhile,
sexual orientation of that individual, this public patriarchy is based on structures
can be categorized as gender-based other than household structures, although
violence. this may be a significant arena of
patriarchy.
According to the Committee on the
Elimination of Discrimination Against According to Hooks (2000: 101) love in
Women (in the Control Arms Practical patriarchal culture is associated with the
Guide, 2018: 4) describes that gender- idea of ownership, with a paradigm of
based violence is violence directed at dominance and surrender in which it is
someone on the basis of gender and sex. assumed that one individual will give love
This includes physical, mental or acts of and another individual accept it.
sexual crime or torture, threats in various Furthermore, in heterosexist ties,
forms, coercion and deprivation of liberty. patriarchy is formed on the basis that
When anyone can be a victim, women and women as a gender are associated with
girls are mostly the main victims of the caring emotions and will give love to men,
violence. and in return men, who are associated with
power and aggression, will determine and
Meanwhile, Fakih (2007: 17-20) explained protect. He also explained, however, in
that there are many kinds and forms of many cases in heterosexual families, men
crime that can be categorized as gender do not respond to this: on the contrary men
violence, namely rape of women including are tyrants who use their power unfairly to
marital rape, beatings and physical attacks force and control.
that occur in the household (domestic
violence), forms of torture that leads to In relation to the problem of violence,
genital mutilation, prostitution, violence in Soloratof and Pande (2014: 34) in a book
the form of pornography, violence in the titled Violence against Women and Girls:
form of forced sterilization in family Lessons from South Asia explained that
"Intimate partner violence is perhaps the associated with feminine personalities are
most widely known and well-researched appropriate for women.
type of violence against women and girls".
Intimate partner violence is the most Analysis
commonly known type of violence and the Based on the summary of the story above,
general type studied is related to violence it appears that Lily Bloom acts as the main
against women and girls. character in the novel. This is because Lily
holds the dominant portion as well as
Rokhmansyah (2016: 37-38) explained being the most conflicted figure compared
that the feminist movement was initially a to other figures. In analyzing the main
movement of a group of Western women character, in addition to the characters and
activists, who later gradually became an characterizations, the writer also uses
academic wave in universities, including supporting elements, namely conflict,
Islamic countries, through the "woman setting, symbols, and irony. Meanwhile, in
studies" program. The word feminism was discussing gender-based violence against
first coined by the French socialist female main characters, the present
activity, Charles Fourier, in 1837. The idea researchers will use the elaboration of the
he advocated was the transformation of characteristics of the main characters
women by society based on based on physiological, psychological, and
interdependence and combining personal sociological dimensions.
emancipation with social emancipation. Based on physiological dimensions, Lily
Bloom is described as a beautiful and
Ritzer (in Sunarto, 2009: 34-35) explains attractive woman. She is twenty-three
that the feminist movement can be divided years old and has unruly red hair. And
into three waves: (1) the first wave (first father of Lily Bloom — that strange girl
wave) occurred in the mid 19th century with the erratic red hair [...] (Hoover,
until the early 20th century; (2) the second 2016: 4). Not only that, Lily is also
wave (second wave) occurred in the late described to have seductive red lips and
1960s until now; and (3) third wave charming skin. She blushes easily when
emerged in the 1980s. Meanwhile, in the Ryle, her lover, praises her about her
discourse of feminism there are several physical appearance.
schools of different arguments about the
causes of women experiencing oppression. “You know which part of you
At least from the discourse of feminism drives me the craziest?” He
that can be known how each theory of brings his finger to my mouth
feminism - cultural, liberal, radical, and traces my smile. “These,”
Marxist, socialist, psychoanalysis, he says. “Your lips. I love how
existentialist, postmodern, multicultural, they’re as red as your hair and
and global, and ecofeminism - arrange you don’t even have to wear
their arguments to explain how oppression lipstick.” (Hoover, 2016:128).
of women occurs in the community (Tong He stares at me appreciatively.
in Sunarto, 2009: 34). Tong (1998: 48-49) “You’re even prettier in the
explains that liberal feminists want to free daytime.”
women from aggressive gender roles — Moments like these are why I
that is, from roles used as an excuse or absolutely hate having red hair
justification to give women a lower, or no and fair skin. The
place at all, place , both within academies, embarassment doesn’t only
forums and markets. They emphasize that show up in my cheeks—my
patriarchal society confuses sex and whole face, arms, and neck
gender, and considers that only jobs
 grow flushed. (Hoover, The tattoo is near Lily's neck and is
2016:52). Ryle's favorite part of Lily's body.

The irony of the situation regarding to I have a small tattoo there that
this dimension is that even though I got in college. It’s a simple
Lily has a beautiful physique and is outline of a heart that’s
recognized for her beauty by others, slightly open at the top. I can
including her opposite sex, Lily still feel his fingers circle around
feels that all of that does not make her the tattoo, and then he leans
confident. Lily even insisted that she forward and presses his lips
hated getting such a physical againts it.(Hoover, 2016:74).
appearance and didn't feel it as an
advantage. This also shows the
conflict between Lily and herself It appears that the tattoo is a symbol
(man against herself). The irony of of Lily's love for Atlas, namely her
the situation also shows the first love. When they were teenagers,
psychological side of Lily who Atlas once gave a gift in the form of
experienced a traumatic experience. an open heart-shaped wood carving at
Lily's mother is portrayed physically the top, then inspired Lily to get a
beautiful, but apparently, physically similar tattoo on her body. This
attractive is no guarantee for Lily's shows that although Atlas has become
mother to get a good partner and a part of Lily's past, there is still a part
happiness in her life. of Atlas that is in Lily's body
permanently like the tattoo. Based on
Lily is an attractive girl because since this situation, it can be concluded that
the beginning of her meeting with men can make marks on the body
Ryle, he tried to seduce Lily. Ryle parts of women as a form of marking.
even tried to tempt Lily to be willing The author does not further describe
to have a one-night stand with him. the physical of Lily. However, readers
know that Lily is a beautiful and
“You asked for my recent attractive character. Moreover, Ryle
thought, so I gave to it to you. also often praised Lily as beautiful.
You’re beautiful. I’m a guy. If
you were into one-night “I had that picture made
stands, I would take you the day after I took it,” he says.
downstairs to my bedroom “It’s been in my apartment for
and I would f*ck you.” months now, because you were
(Hoover, 2016:20-21). the most beautiful thing I’d ever
seen and I wanted to look at it
In this case, it is seen that women every single day.” (Hoover,
occupy a disadvantage position, in 2016:93).
terms of men trying to make them There’s a moment that passes
their sexual objects. Ryle tried to between us where I can’t tell if
satisfy his desire for Lily's body. he’s about to frown or smile.
There is also the word “beautiful” His face twist into both
which is a symbol of objectification somehow, and he blows out a
of men to get something that they quick breath, dropping his eyes
desire.Lily looks even more attractive back to my stomach. “You’re
because she has a heart-shaped tattoo. beautiful,” he whispers.
She got it when she was in college. (Hoover, 2016:354).
 real-estate agency within city
The word“beautiful” shows Lily's position limits. (Hoover, 2016:4).
as a woman who symbolizes beauty,
gentle, and needs to be flattered by the
opposite sex. The quote also shows the Lily was born and grew up in a respected
symbol of Ryle's obsession with Lily. Ryle well-off family. Therefore, Lily never
accidentally took a photo of Lily and then lives in poverty. However, the irony of
made it as a large figure and display it the situation is that even though Lily was
without Lily's knowledge. This shows born and raised in a good family, Lily did
Ryle's desire to make Lily the object of his not feel peace in her family.Lily's father
sexual fantasy. This is also supported by occupied a high position in the community
the situation when Lily has repeatedly and family and this, somehow, cause an
refused Ryle's invitation to have sexual imbalance in their family. Lily's mother’s
intercourse, but Ryle still pleaded with profession as a teacher is seen as not
Lily so they could have that at another comparable to that of Lily's father as a
opportunity.This can also be categorized mayor. This form of marginalization is one
as violence in the form of pornography. In of the triggers for violence in Lily’s
accordance with Fakih's theory (2013), the family.
violence is non-physical in the form of
harassment against women. In this Lily moved to Boston and left her parents
violence, a woman's body is made an since she graduated from college. "No.
object for one's benefit. This can be seen Moved here from Maine after I graduated
from the photo of Lily's body which was college. "(Hoover, 2016: 12). Lily lives
used as the figure. The impact of the with her friend Lucy in Boston and is
violence had no physical effect on Lily. separated from her parents in Plethora. In
The violence actually affects the emotional addition, Lily is an educated figure and
state of Lily and cause conflict between has completed her master's degree in
characters (man againts man). Lily was business. She also worked at one of the
upset because Ryle still insisted on biggest marketing firms in Boston.
avoiding the fact that he had feelings for
Lily. On the other hand, it was clear that “[...] I have a master’s
Ryle had an interest in her. degree in business. I’d be
downgrading, don’t you think? I
Based on the sociological dimension, Lily work for the biggest marketing
is the only child from a distinguished firm in Boston.” (Hoover,
circle. Lily's mother, Jenny Bloom, is a 2016:14)
teaching assistant at a school. My mother
is a teaching assistant over at Brimer
Elementary. (Hoover, 2016: 109). Boston becomes the dominant setting of
Meanwhile, Lily's father, Andrew Bloom, place in the story. In this case, the symbol
is a respected former mayor and well- of the place serves to show the conflict
known real estate business owner in between the main character, Lily and her
Plethora, Maine. father (man againts man). Boston became
a symbol of Lily's escape from her
It was the funeral of the family's problems in Plethora related to
prodigous Andrew Bloom, after her family's unharmonious relationship.
all. Adored mayor of my Not only that, there is also a form of
hometown Plethora, Maine. feminist struggle in the form of a desire to
Owner of the most successful free women from gender roles - that is,
from roles used as an excuse or
justification to give a lower place for to manage her life path and continue her
women by getting equal education with career independently. Lily's figure can
men. Lily showed that by having an overcome her inner conflicts regarding her
education to the highestlevel, such as ideal career path.
college, could help her escape the
oppression she had experienced from her Based on the previous explanation, Lily
family. has several character traits indicating that
she is a brilliant person. Even so, like
Lily started building a flower shop humans, there is also another side of her,
business after she decided to move from which is her traumatic experience of her
her previous job. "When was your last day father's actions towards her mother. Lily is
at the marketing firm?" I smile. personally angry at her parents' situation.
"Yesterday." (Hoover, 2016: 42). She She views the relationship between her
started the business from zero and decided parents as abusive and unavoidable in the
to buy a former restaurant building. amid of their marriage.

The building used to house a [...] But the abuse was

restaurant and it’s still full of inevitable with their marriage,
old tables and chairs. My and it became our norm. When I
mother walks over to a nearby
got older, I realized that not
table and pulls out one of the
chairs, taking a seat. “If things doing something about it made
work out, and your floral shop me just as guilty. I spent most
is successful, then people will of my life hating him for being
say it was a brave, bold, smart such a bad person, but I’m not
business decision. But if it so sure I’m much better. Maybe
fails and you lose your entire we’re both bad people. (Hoover,
inheritance ...” (Hoover,
2016:16-17)
2016:41).
There is a conflict between characters
From the quote above, it appears that Lily (man against man). The patriarchal
is at odds with her mother, which indicates domination places women as victims in
a conflict between characters (man against the midst of abusive relations. Women
man). On one hand, Lily's mother accept all acts of violence on the part of
regretted Lily's actions to quit her previous men, including their own partners
job. On the other hand, Lily felt happy that (domestic violence). This impact can
she could decide for herself what she extend to their children. This is
wanted. This desire is a proof that the past experienced by Lily from her father.
that plagued her family did not make Lily Evidently, Lily lived in a depressed state.
sink. In accordance with the theory of She has a deep hatred towards her father,
feminism that women can free themselves especially because she directly
from all forms of economic oppression. experienced acts of violence from her
In addition, there is also a form of denial father. This started when Lily's father and
of gender stereotypes according to mother got into a fight over a problem
Dzuhayatin's theory (in Purwo, 200: 158) regarding to placing the car in the garage.
that women should remain in the domestic Lily felt angry because she saw her mother
space and be seen as emotional, gentle, not being tortured, so she wanted to help, but
independent, and passive. Lily tried to Lily's father committed acts of violence
show that she could have the opportunity against her instead.
 I don’t really know what In a matter of one second,
happened, but I’m guessing he Ryle’s arm came out of
threw me off of him. I just nowhere and slammed against
remembered one second I was me, knocking me backward.
on his back and the next second There was enough force behind
I was on the ground and my it to knock me off balance.
forehead hurt like you wouldn’t When I lost my footing, I hit
believe [...]. my face on one of the cabinet
My mom give me a rag and told door handles as I came down.
me to hold it to my head Pain shoots through the corner
because it was bleeding and of my eye, right near my
then she helped me to her car temple. (Hoover, 2016:185).
and drove me to the hospital.
(Hoover, 2016:110)
“I had to get nine stitches in my The form of gender-based violence
forehead.” (Hoover, 2016:111). experienced by Lily is in the form of
physical attacks. This was triggered by a
The first form of gender-based violence conflict between Ryle and Lily (man
that Lily experienced was violence in the against man). The impact of the incident is
form of physical attacks in the household that Lily got a wound on her body. In
(domestic violence). The incident addition, Lily experienced emotional
happened when she was approaching disturbances remembering flashback to the
sixteen years old, which makes it figure of her father who acted abusive to
classified as violence in the form of child her mother. This confirms that women
abuse. The incident has a physical and often become victims of violence.
psychological impact on Lily. From a
physical point of view, Lily was injured In addition, it appears that acts of violence
because she had nine stitches on her head. can arise in the middle of a love affair
While in terms of psychological, Lily between one individual and another
experienced emotional disturbances. She individual (private patriarchy). This is also
felt devastated because her father was in accordance with Beauvoir's theory that
capable of committing such acts of in terms of love, between women and men
violence not only to her mother, but also have different perceptions. Women can
to herself as a child. surrender entirely so that the impact is
physically and mentally hurt on the
Acts of gender-based violence occur when woman's side. From these conditions, an
Lily and Ryle want to celebrate a party for unbalanced situation was created between
the success of Ryle who will perform a the two parties and opened a gap for the
rare and important operation regarding the other party to gain power.This is also in
separation of conjoined twins in his unit. accordance with the theory of Hooks that
"And I get to perform a very rare, possibly the concept of love in patriarchal culture is
once-in-a-lifetime craniopagus separation the idea of ownership, dominance and
on Monday." (Hoover, 2016: 181). Lily submission. When women give love and
accidentally laughed because Ryle's affection, men can abuse their power by
impulsive act of pulling the hot carousel controlling or doing unjust actions towards
tray directly from the oven with his bare women, including in the form of acts of
hands. Ryle, who felt panicked and hurt violence.
immediately hit Lily with his arm until her
body bounced back. Another act of violence occurred when
Ryle found out Atlas's telephone number
and began to be jealous. He could not what my heart is feeling in this
control his emotions, so Lily returned to moment. (Hoover, 2016:231)
being a victim. The incident occurred
when Lily was about to grab Ryle's hand Gender-based violence experienced by
who was going up the stairs, Ryle actually Lily in the form of physical attacks. This
pushed Lily to fall from the ladder. Lily was triggered by conflicts between the
had fainted for some time because of a characters namely the characters Lily and
hard impact on her head. Ryle (man against man). The symbol in
the form of Atlas’s telephone number acts
There’s a three-second pause as the trigger for the action. There was
where I think this could go one also a change in Ryle's reaction, which
of two ways. began to appear to deny the violence he
He’s going to leave me. had committed against Lily. Because of
Or he’s going to hurt me. this, Lily also experienced a deep
He runs a hand through his hair emotional conflict (man against herself).
and walks straight for the door. Another impact of the incident was a
He leaves. physical injury that helped make Lily feel
“Ryle!” I yell. devastated. She had gathered her trust in
Why did I never throw that Ryle. Moreover, their relationship has
number away?! developed into a husband and wife. Not
[...] I shove myself in front of only that, Lily was surprised because Ryle
him and grab his shirt in my actually denied the incident that Lily had
fists. “Ryle, please. Let me experienced clearly.
explain.” The climax of gender-based violence
He grabs my wrists and pushes experienced by Lily occurred when Ryle
me away from him. (Hoover, learned and read Lily's old diary. The
2016:230). diary contains stories from the past as well
as discussions about Atlas and their love
Because of this incident, Lily got a wound relationships as a teenager.
on the lips and corners of her eyes. "You
have a small cut on your lip. I just The bed is littered with things.
bandaged up the cut on your eye. You An empty moving box with the
don't need stitches. "(Hoover, 2016: 231). words, “Lily’s stuff,” written on
Different from the previous violence the side of it. And then all the
incident, when Lily finally woke up, and contents that were inside that
was surprised at what happened again, box. Letters . . . journals . . .
Ryle actually emphasized that Lily fell on empty shoeboxes. I close my
the stairs not because of Ryle's actions that eyes and breathe in slowly.
pushed her. He read the journal.
No.
“You fell down the stairs.” He. Read. The. Journal.
But I didn’t fall. (Hoover, 2016:264)
He pushed me. Again.
That’s twice. Ryle also knew the meaning of the tattoo
You pushed me, Ryle. on Lily's neck and began to furious
I can feel my whole body start especially the status of their relationship
to shake with the sobs. I have which had become a married couple. Lily
no idea how bad I’m hurt, but I was surprised by Ryle's reaction to
don’t even care. No physical attacking her immediately after reading the
pain could even compare to diary without first listening to her
explanation. Ryle committed an act of “Ryle, please.” I’m sobbing,
sexual assault and bit Lily's neck until she trying to push him off of me
was injured. with any part of my body.
“Get off me. Please.”
His arm comes around my No, no, no, no.
waist from behind. He slides a “I love you, Lily,” he says, his
hand up my stomach and takes words crashing against my
a firm hold of one of my cheek. “More than he ever did.
breasts. His other hand feathers Why can’t you see that?”
my shoulder as he moves the (Hoover, 2016: 265-266)
hair away from my neck.
I squeeze my eyes shut, just as His forehead comes crashing
his fingers begin to trace across down against mine.
my skin, up to my shoulder. He In an instant, all the paint
slowly runs his finger over the fades as a blanket of darkness
heart and a shudder runs over rolls over my eyes and
my whole body. His lips meet consumes me. (Hoover,
my skin, right overthe tattoo, 2016:266).
and then he sinks his teeth into
me so hard, I scream. (Hoover,
2016:264) Actions of gender-based violence
experienced by Lily in the form of rape
efforts, as explained by Fakih (2013), that
Violence can be caused by conflicts the forms of rape towards women also
between characters (man against man), include rape in marriage. Rape occurs if a
they are the violence in the form of person is forced to obtain sexual services
physical attacks and sexual violence. without the willingness of the person
Symbols can also play a role in triggering concerned. The impact of these acts of
gender-based violence such as diaries and violence is that Lily experienced a deep
tattoos. This can be seen in Ryle's actions emotional disturbance. She recalled her
such as biting Lily's neck where there is a past, when her mother was about to be
heart tattoo which is a symbol of Lily's raped by Lily's father. This is a trauma in
love for Atlas.The violence continues with Lily until she grew up. Because of what
Ryle who crushed Lily's body and forced happened to her, Lily screamed and felt
Lily to have sexual intercourse with him. incredible fear.
It was seen that Lily was very frightened In addition, there are also two sentences I
and so shaken by Ryle's actions towards love you, which is a symbol of mastery of
her. love. This confirms that in relationships
involving gender-based violence, love
His hand grips my ankle and plays an active role in controlling women
he yanks me until I’m beneath as victims by abusive parties.Because of
him. “I’m not angry, Lily,” he the violence, Lily got wounds all over her
says, his voice disturbingly body. She went to the hospital with Atlas.
calm now. “I just think I Lily's situation is very chaotic especially
haven’t proved to you how since she only learned the fact that she was
much I love you.” His body pregnant with Ryle's child.
comes down against mine and
he takes my wrists with one The doctor stands up. “We
hand above my head, pressing don’t like to perform X-rays on
them against the mattress. pregnant women unless it’s
 vital. We’ll monitor you for I look at Emerson and I look at
complications and if there are Ryle. And I know that I have to
no further concerns, you’ll be do what’s best for her. For the
free to go.” relationship I hope she builds
I don’t hear anything beyond with her father. I don’t make
that. this decision for me and I don’t
Nothing. make it for Ryle.
The pressure begins to build in I make it for her. (Hoover,
my head. My heart. My 2016:358).
stomach. I grip the edges of the
exam table I’m sitting on and I Cycles exist because they are
stare at the floor until they both excruciating to break. It takes
leave the room. an astronomical amount of pain
[...] and courage to disrupt a
I did this to myself. familiar pattern. Sometimes it
I allowed this to happen to me. seems easier to just keep
I am my mother. (Hoover, running in the same familiar
2016:272-273) circles, rather than facing the
fear of jumping and possibly
From these two quotes, it appears that Lily not landing on your feet.
experienced inner conflict (man against My mother went through it.
herself). Acts of violence have a major I went through it.
impact on the physiological and I’ll be damned if I allow my
psychological side. She received a number daughter to go through it.
of severe injuries and learned the fact that I kiss her on the forehead and
she is pregnant with Ryle's child. This make her a promise. “It stops
made her realize that she had been trapped here. With me and you. It ends
in the exact same situation as her mother with us.” (Hoover, 2016:360-
had faced. Lily also realized that because 361)
of her tolerance limits, she survived with
Ryle up to that point. Lily's pregnancy is
also one of the driving factors for Lily to Based on the previous explanation, the
be more wise in making decisions. woman needs to get rid of her feelings and
Because it does not only concerns herself, ego. It was proven when Lily realized that
but also the fetus in the womb as well. her decision was made specifically for her
Lily's condition began to change little by daughter named Emerson, she was no
little for the better when Lily began to act longer controlled by her love and desire to
firmly. This was seen when she made a big return to Ryle. Lily's struggle is her firm
decision. Right after giving birth to her step to deal with gender violence that has
daughter, Emerson, she decided to divorce repeatedly occurred to her. She made a
Ryle. The decision is considered the best unanimous decision that she had carefully
decision for them, especially for Emerson. considered. This shows that Lily is also
increasingly aware that the abusive
“Ryle?” relationship does not come to good things,
When he glances at me, he’s apart from the love and relationship they
smiling. But when he assesses have built. Lily thought about the more
the look on my face, he stops. important thing that was her daughter's
“I want a divorce.”(Hoover, future and the precious time that her
2016:358). daughter had the right to get not from the
man who had been the source of Lily's With Us by Colleen Hoover is proven to
trauma, namely being abusive to women. experience various forms and impacts of
The abusive relationship is affirmed as an gender violence both physically and
endless chain. This is like the situation that psychologically committed by her father
Lily and her mother experienced and is and her spouse, namely Andrew Bloom
likely to happen again to Emerson, Lily's and Ryle Kincaid. It is also proven that the
daughter, if only Lily did not ask for a main female character can overcome the
divorce from Ryle. Women will continue forms of violence she experienced.
to be victims of gender-based violence Meanwhile, the forms and impacts of
because they consider that the relationship gender based violence are as follows:
they live in is not detrimental. During this First, physical assault in the form of child
time, they are deceived by their love and abuse. This was experienced by the main
hope that their partner will change even character when she was a teenager carried
though it is not most likely to happen. out by her biological father. The impact of
Along with the process of tolerance, the violence is the physical injury on her
woman will find it increasingly difficult to forehead which requires nine stitches and
leave her partner because of the Lily's psychic form of deep hatred towards
relationship imprinted on the woman has the figure of her father. Second, violence
gone too far. Lily realized it and in the form of pornography. This non-
understood it deeply after a series of physical violence was seen when Lily
events that she experienced in succession. learned that a photo of herself was
In addition, the existence of a gender role displayed as a wall decoration in Ryle's
in society that affirms the position of men apartment without her permission. This
is higher than women and has the right to shows that Lily was made a sexual object
make women as a subordinated party, by Ryle. The impact of these acts of
increasingly making abusive relationships violence did not really affect the physical
seen as relationships that are not condition, but quite influential on Lily's
detrimental and can perpetuate the psychological condition.Third, physical
existence of abusive relationships. attacks. This happened when Lily
This condition is also related to the title of inadvertently laughed at Ryle's impulsive
the related novel "It Ends With Us" which actions until Ryle was provoked to push
is Lily's dialogue to her daughter, Lily's body. The impact of the violence is
Emerson. Abusive relations and gender that Lily received physical injuries and
based violence that have occurred need to traumatic experiences that reminded her of
be ended by them. Emerson is expected her father's mistreatment in the past.
not to have bad experiences like Lily had Fourth, physical attacks within the scope
with her father, which only leaves a bad of the household (domestic violence). This
impression as long as Lily can remember. happened when Lily was Ryle's wife. She
Lily hopes that Emerson can be loved as was pushed down the stairs because Ryle
well as possible.Lily and Ryle's learned that Lily had saved Atlas's
relationship can take place well after they telephone number by unintentionally.
have divorced. Lily's status as a single Therefore, Lily also experienced harsh
parent allowed Ryle to take turns looking actions. She was hugged tightly by force,
after Emerson. Meanwhile, Lily began to hit on the forehead with Ryle's head, and
open up to Atlas. bitten in the neck. The impact of the
violence was that Lily suffered physical
Conclusion and psychological injuries that made Lily
Based on the results of the above analysis, worse. Fifth, the act of rape in marriage.
the present researchers conclude that the Because of Ryle's jealousy after reading
main female character in the novel It Ends Lily's diary about Atlas, Lily almost went
through a raid. Even though Lily had Cook, Rebecca & Cusack, Simone. (2011).
pleaded in various ways, Ryle still tried to Gender Stereotyping:
crush her body andforce bodily relations Transnational Legal Perspectives.
with her.
USA: University of Pennsylvania
The study of Feminism onthe main Press
female character in this novel can be Ellsberg, Mary & Heise, Lory. (2005).
concluded from several aspects such as Researching Violence Against
being a strong woman after experiencing Women: A Practical Guide for
the dominance of private patriarchy in her Researchers and Activists. World
family, and being a victim of violence. Health Organization and Program
However, in addition, the female main
for Appropriate Technology in
character manage to be an independent
woman who is able take control of her Health (PATH): USA
own life and makea unanimous decision to Fakih, Mansour. (2013). Analisis Gender
file a divorce from her husband and go on dan Transformasi Sosial (Cetakan
living as a single parent. Kelima Belas). Yogyakarta:
Penerbit Pustaka Pelajar
Fromm, Erich. (1958). The Art of Loving.
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