"Western education that followed by womenhood gives influence to their life because the contradiction of traditional and modern thought in Minangkabau society, such as contained in Sitti Nurbaya (Marah Rusli), Ka/au Tak Untung (Selasih), and Pertemoen II (A.St. Pamoentjak). The educated women figure in the novels have experience in their life because of education. The purpose of the study is to describe educated Minangkabau women and their conflict in the society. The study uses sociology of literature approach because of relating to the situation of Minangkabau society at the beginning of period Western education coming to Minangkabau.
The result of the study describes educated women whom have thought, view, wishing, attitude, and action which influenced by education. The consequence of the education produces infraction, conflict, or contradiction in their life. It's caused by their thought, view, wishing, attitude, and action don't jibe with norm and custom in the society. The educated women don't have strength to face conflict or contradiction which happened. They surrender to the conflict which happened in their life. The surrendering result suffering to the women figures. Sitti Nurbaya and Muslina are the figures whom don't receive the surrendering fully, so that they do resistance to the conflict. The resistance doesn't give result. On the contrary, they have worse suffering. The educated women have "defeat" in facing the conflict bacause the tradition of the society which's still strong."
Depok: Fakultas Ilmu Pengetahuan dan Budaya Universitas Indonesia, 1998
