Women’s Anxiety in Modern Javanese Literary Short Stories

This research aims to achieve three objectives: (1) to identify the forms of anxiety experienced by Javanese women, (2) to uncover the causes of this anxiety, and (3) to understand women’s ego responses or attitudes in addressing their anxiety as depicted in modern Javanese short stories published in Panyebar Selamat magazine in 2023. These objectives are analyzed using Sigmund Freud’s psychological theory of personality, particularly his concepts of anxiety. This qualitative research utilizes 12 short stories with psychological themes published in Panyebar Selamat in 2023. The data consists of words, phrases, and sentences that depict the anxiety of female characters. Data collection is conducted using library documentation techniques, while data analysis employs a descriptive approach guided by Freud’s theory. The findings reveal that neurotic anxiety is the most dominant form of anxiety experienced by female characters, appearing in 7 out of 12 short stories. Forms of anxiety include feelings of unease, embarrassment, discomfort, doubt, and depression. The causes of anxiety often stem from everyday life, such as economic factors, unfulfilled promises, romantic issues, filial obligations, and social status. The ego defense mechanisms adopted by the female characters to cope with their anxiety are predominantly positive, including sublimation, repression, projection, and distraction.