ALPHA FEMALE IN THE NOVEL THE ALPHA GIRL'S GUIDE

Various perspectives on gender differences today we often encounter in everyday life, the overlapping assessment between the roles of women and men we often hear in our environment. This research uses qualitative descriptive research methods as an approach or search to explore and understand the content of the novel centrally. Therefore, the researcher conducted direct interviews with readers of this novel in the city of Kupang, observed reading books and documented them and the data of this research were presented in the form of qualitative writing only. The Alpha Girl's Guide novel created by Herry Manampiring is based on observations, article research, direct interviews, and direct discussions with many women on social media. The content of this novel is very light, full of interesting illustrations, and very open. The Alpha Girl's Guide, is a novel that contains instructions for women to become Alpha Females who inspire and bring change. Become an independent woman who is intelligent, full of confidence in her potential and independent.


INTRODUCTION
Various perspectives on gender differences today we often encounter in everyday life, the overlapping assessment between the roles of women and men we often hear in our environment (Zafar & Ammara, 2024).Women are often underestimated, weak, and so on (Meslec & Aggarwal, 2018).When a woman continues her education to a higher level, it will be followed by the question of what to have a higher education in the end you will only be a housewife (Hattersley & Nicholson, 2024).There is also when a woman of mature age for marriage chooses not to be unmarried it will raise new questions again (Fama, 2024).
The social role of men and women is not something given and natural.But the construction of its true role has been shaped long before the culture and development of society reached the boiling point of progress (Bonvillain, 2020).There are at least two role theories, which can be used to look at the roles of men and women.(Koay & Lim, 2023) The role of women traditionally tends to deal with internal problems (within the home) (De Haas & Van Rooij, 2010).while men are making a living.According to Murniati (Cheek & Corbett, 2024) women are given more tasks for production that are used alone (domestic), while men produce for the market (public).
The wrong perspective so far needs to be addressed.Women have the same right to be ambitious, have big dreams, and achieve extraordinary things that are desired without the need for any cornering comments.Women have the same rights as men to make themselves successful without depending on others (Faniko et al., 2016).
Justice and gender equality have been fought for since the time of R.A. Kartini, where emancipation became a milestone in the freedom of Indonesian women to receive education equal to men (Wafa et al., 2023).Kartini is an influential female figure and a legend for Indonesia, because Kartini women today can feel a good impact that is beneficial in social life in this era of globalization (Pratidina & Pasaribu, 2023).
In the novel The Alpha Girls Guide there is an interesting quote, "Why should we feel our abilities are inferior, just because we are girls?"(Henry, 2015).Girls have extraordinary abilities.Women are entrusted with many things that cannot be passed by men (Godfrey et al., 2024).Therefore, through this study, researchers want to make women more aware of the great potential they have and more confident (Arenas et al., 2024).

RESEARCH METHODS
This research uses qualitative descriptive research methods as an approach or search to explore and understand the content of the novel centrally.Therefore, the researcher conducted direct interviews with readers of this novel in the city of Kupang, observed reading books and documented them and the data of this research were presented in the form of qualitative writing only (Moleong;1995:49).
With this method, it is expected to explore broad information and perspectives on the role of women.Data analysis techniques are carried out in stages, namely through data collection through in-depth interviews, united with existing theories and data and then discussed descriptively.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The Alpha Girl's Guide
The Alpha Girl's Guide novel created by Herry Manampiring is based on observations, article research, direct interviews, and direct discussions with many women on social media.The content of this novel is very light, full of interesting illustrations, and very open.
In this novel, readers are presented with interesting novel content, first about what is alpha female?The terms alpha male and alpha female were originally terms used for a group of fauna or animals such as primate species such as gorillas, chimpanzees, and also other mammal species, Manapiring (2015).The researchers observed that this group of species usually lives in groups and has social strata.There is a group that is dominant, leading, and also controls the right to marry.In this group of fauna, the alpha male becomes the leader, to protect his group from attacks by predators or other groups.The term "Alpha" is the first letter of the Greek alphabet, and therefore signifies the top member of the group.However, Alpha status is actually not only owned by males.In some primate species, alpha status is also shared by a female member, called an alpha female.In the primate group, alpha females are more visible in their influence over other female members.She is respected and respected by other female members, perhaps even male primates.This concept is applied to human life today, so we often find various mentions, alpha girl, alpha woman, and alpha female.Alpha female status is not solely claimed by the person himself but depends on recognition by other members of the group.
After understanding about alpha female, readers are invited to know the importance of education for a woman.Often we find in our lives women who decide to continue their education are subjected to the question, why have a higher education?
This novel opens the way of our mind, that a woman has the right to choose to continue her education because it can further explore the potential that exists in the woman herself.Continuing higher education for a woman is not just to get recognition but to prepare herself for everything that is uncertain in the future.
Higher education is a provision for women themselves, so they do not always depend on others, become more independent and can be a channel of help for others in need.That is the main point in this novel about women with higher education.
Another interesting thing that this novel offers is how to have quality in friendship and relationship with a man.The alpha girl's guide states quality is more important than quantity in a relationship.The quality of relationships built is based on the principles of equality and equality.Healthy friendships make a woman big at heart through conversations that have weight and value and meaning.The quality of relationships built by a woman also helps shape her own character.

Alpha Female in Perspective Symbolic Interaction Theory
In essence, humans are interacting creatures.When interacting, of course, there are symbols used and these symbols are the result of mutual agreement.In this regard, the emergence of the term Alpha Female is basically a symbol that is interpreted and mutually agreed upon as a result of a process of human interaction in society.
One theory that examines symbols and meanings is the theory of symbolic interaction.This theory talks about interaction, where nonverbal cues and the meaning of a verbal message, will affect the mind of the person who is interacting.In Mead's terminology, every nonverbal cue (such as body language, physical gestures, clothing, status, etc.) and verbal message (such as words, sounds, etc.) that is interpreted by mutual agreement by all parties involved in an interaction is a form of symbol that has a very important meaning.George Herbert Mead (1863Mead ( −1931)).
Symbolic interaction focuses on the importance of forming a meaning for human behavior, where the theory of symbolic interaction is inseparable from the communication process.In the process of interaction, of course, communication is needed to create a meaning then the meaning is constructed interpretively by individuals to create meaning that can be mutually agreed, as well as Herbert Blumer's thoughts about symbolic interaction (Blumer, 1998: 2): 1) People act towards other human beings based on the meaning that others give them.
2) Meaning is created in interactions between people 3) Meaning is modified through interpretive processes The theory of symbolic interactionism views that meaning arises from the process of social transactions carried out.The meaning or meaning of an object to someone grows from the way others behave towards that object.
Mead's symbolic interaction theory in Dadi Ahmadi (2008,307) states that the core of this theory is about the self, this means that the "self" is the most important of all components of the act of communication.Who we are and how we perceive ourselves, which will influence us in making communication contact or interaction with others (Devito in Elvinaro and Soemirat, 1995: 29).The self in the view of symbolic interactionism is a social object that establishes relationships with others in a process of interaction.
The emergence of the term alpha female is the result of a process of human interaction in society.From this interaction process, the next concept is given the term alpha female with the meaning of a woman who is intelligent and able to become a leader in her group who is able to look excellent in her daily life and is able to meet the demands as a woman.

CONCLUSION
The Alpha Girl's Guide, is a novel that contains instructions for women to become Alpha Females who inspire and bring change.Become an independent woman who is intelligent, full of confidence in her potential and independent.