Representation of Women in the film “Women From Rote Island”

Abstract

This study explores the representation of women in the film Women from Rote Island through John Fiske’s television semiotics framework. The film presents the struggles of women living in a patriarchal culture, facing sexual violence and social stigma within traditional Rote Island communities. The research adopts a qualitative descriptive method and applies semiotic analysis across three levels: reality, representation, and ideology. The focus of analysis includes the main female characters—Martha, Orpa, Bertha, and Oma.

Findings indicate that the film depicts women in multiple dimensions: as victims of sexual trauma, as authoritative maternal figures, and as collective agents of social resistance. The narrative highlights a conflict between customary norms and women's pursuit of justice through formal legal systems. Scenes depicting rape, marginalization, and protest emphasize women's resistance against structural oppression.

The representations align with radical feminist theory, which critiques entrenched gender-based power imbalances. This research contributes to the fields of communication, culture, and gender studies by demonstrating how film can function as a platform for social advocacy and a site for challenging patriarchal ideologies.