ABSTRACT

Title

Roles of Women in the Novels of Danielle Steel

Researchers

Carlo Joseph M. Dawal Lian S. Maravillas Alnee Joy A. Morin

Name and Address of Institution

Bicol University College of Arts and Letters Legazpi City

Type of Document

Unpublished Undergraduate Thesis

In order to realize the true importance of the roles of women in our society, this study endeavored to figure out the roles of the women characters in the novels of Danielle Steel. It likewise ventured to draw out the relevance of these roles to Gender and Development concepts. With the use of descriptive content analysis research method, the researchers aimed to draw out various roles and characteristics of women using Danielle Steels novels entitled Kaleidoscope, Sisters and Southern Lights. This study also intended to find out the significance of these roles and characteristics to Gender and Development concepts. The researcher went through in analyzing

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the varied roles and characteristics of women in order to establish its relevance to GAD concepts. The following findings were drawn: 1.a.) the roles of the women characters in the novels are that of a mother, sister, wife, daughter, step-mother, aunt, prosecutor, woman, grandmother, friend, lover, lawyer, girlfriend, artist, supermodel, producer, teenage girl, psychologist and psychiatrist; 1.b.) one of the characters in the novel entitled Kaleidoscope is Hillary Walker who portrayed the role of an eldest sister and manifested the characteristics of being protective and caring. As a career woman, Hillary is described to be strong, persevering, determined, hard-working and independent. Another woman character is Alexandra de Morigny who is described to be a submissive wife. Megan Abrams who portrayed the role as a doctor is illustrated as being helpful. Solange Walker is pictured out to be a loving and a sensible wife. As a woman, Solange manifested the characteristics of being intimidating and fearless. Eileen Jones who portrayed the role of a sister and an aunt is characterized to be greedy and abusive. Another character is Marjorie Patterson, an ambitious and a selfish wife. Margarett de Borne as a mother is loving while Rebecca Abrams who also

played the role of a mother is protective. In Danielle Steels novel entitled Sisters, the main characters are Sabrina, Tammy, Annie and Candy Adams who embodied the roles of a sister and a daughter. Sabrina who is the eldest sister and daughter, manifested the characteristics of being responsible, caring, affectionate and strong. Sabrina also played the role of an independent and a hard-working lawyer. As a girlfriend, she
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is loving. Tammy Adams, the second eldest daughter and sister is pictured to be thoughtful and loving. As an executive producer, she is described to be diligent. Annie Adams, is characterized as being strong and a loving sister and daughter. Annie also represented the role of an artist who manifested the qualities of being artistic and simple. She also portrayed the role of a girlfriend. The youngest of the group is Candy. She is described to be a loving daughter and sister. She also depicted the role of a successful supermodel who manifested the traits of being good-natured, easygoing, funny, irreverent, sweet and nave. Jane Adams, the mother of the girls and a wife to Jim is illustrated as being dedicated, supportive and caring. Ellen Steinberg, who is Annies psychiatrist, is very compassionate. Another woman character is Leslie Thompson, Jims new lover; she is described to be hateful. Desiree Lafayette portrayed the role of a psychologist while Marlene Weissman, the head of the modeling agency is characterized as being helpful. In Danielle Steels Southern Lights, Alexa Hamilton portrayed the roles of a mother, wife, daughter, lawyer and a woman. She is characterized as being protective, brave, loving, strong, honest and diligent. Savanna Beaumont played the roles of a perceptive, affectionate, beautiful and sensitive daughter and sister. Luisa Beaumont, represented the roles of a domineering, dishonest and unfaithful wife and mother. Muriel Hamilton portrayed the role of a strong mother. She also portrayed the role of a lover. 2.) The gender and development concepts relevant to the roles of women are Gender Subordination, violence against women, marginalization and multiple burden. The researchers have also found
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out that womens roles are very essential in the development of the society. They play crucial roles in maintaining continuous progress in all aspects of our community. The following conclusions were drawn out. Womens roles have changed in the past years. They are not anymore bounded and restricted because of gender inequalities. They have shown that they strongly deserve the respect and recognition. Women before were believed to be that vulnerable that is why they were casted primarily inside their homes making them confined. They did not have the freedom to explore the world and be able to show their skills and capabilities as a woman. But that perception was changed over the past few decades. Women of today are no more oppressed. They have started to gain significant positions in education, media, sports and politics. Based on the following findings and conclusions, the researchers recommended the following: 1.) Readers may use this study to broaden their knowledge about womens roles. 2.) The GAD center in the university should be improved by providing more materials about gender and development. 3.) Seminars regarding Gender and Development Concepts should be given more consideration by the Department of Education and CHED for the students to be more aware of its importance. 4.) Conducting seminars and workshops about Gender and Development should also be done in schools/ higher educational institutions for the students, especially the female ones to acquire further knowledge about women empowerment and gender equality in the Philippines. 5.) Future researchers may conduct a study focusing on values manifested in the
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novels of Danielle Steel through the elements of fiction. 6.) Future researchers may conduct the same study on novels from local authors to further discuss the Gender and Development Concepts in the Philippine settings.

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