THE HIERARCHY OF WOMEN’S NEEDS AND CLASS OPPRESSION IN LADY CHATTERLEY’S LOVER: A MARXIST FEMINIST ANALYSIS

Cita Hikmah Yanti, Herdita Dwi Asriana

Abstract


This study explores the hierarchy of women’s needs and the manifestation of class oppression in Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence through the character of Connie. Using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and a Marxist feminist perspective, the analysis reveals how Connie’s psychological, emotional, and sexual needs are neglected in her aristocratic marriage, prompting her to seek fulfilment beyond class boundaries. Despite her privileged status, Connie’s unmet needs reflect systemic gender and class oppression. Her relationship with Mellors, a working-class man, becomes an act of liberation and resistance against patriarchal norms. This study argues that women's needs are not merely personal desires but are socially constructed and regulated through class and gender structures.


Keywords


women’s needs, Marxist feminism, Maslow’s hierarchy, class oppression, Lady Chatterley’s Lover

Full Text:

PDF

References


Ahyar, A. (2020). Teori Sosial Sastra. Yogyakarta: Pustaka Pelajar.

Chodorow, N. (1978). The Reproduction of Mothering: Psychoanalysis and the Sociology of Gender. Berkeley: University of California Press.

Donovan, J. (2000). Feminist Theory: The Intellectual Traditions of American Feminism (3rd ed.). New York: Continuum.

Friedan, B. (1963). The Feminine Mystique. New York: W.W. Norton & Company.

Lawrence, D. H. (1928). Lady Chatterley’s Lover. Florence: Tipografia Giuntina.

Mansour, N. (2017). Women’s basic needs and gender equality. International Journal of Gender Studies, 4(2), 45–58.

Marx, K., & Engels, F. (1848). The Communist Manifesto. London: Penguin Books.

Maslow, A. H. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50(4), 370–396. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0054346

Nussbaum, M. C. (2000). Women and Human Development: The Capabilities Approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Stalker-Firth, R. (2020). Sexuality and Human Psychology. London: Open Mind Publications.

Tong, R. (2009). Feminist Thought: A More Comprehensive Introduction (3rd ed.). Boulder: Westview Press.

Tyson, L. (2006). Critical Theory Today: A User-Friendly Guide (2nd ed.). New York: Routledge.

Wellek, R., & Warren, A. (1949). Theory of Literature. New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.32502/ecj.v10i2.10440

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2026 English Community Journal

The Departement of English Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Muhammadiyah Palembang

Jl. Jenderal A. Yani 13 Ulu, Seberang Ulu II, Palembang (30263), Indonesia.

Indexed by :

 

English Community Journal has been listed in :

 

Creative Commons License
English Community Journal by http://jurnal.um-palembang.ac.id/index.php/englishcommunity is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.