JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Researcher of the Association for Elections and Democracy (Perludem), Annisa Alfath assessed that women must be given as much space as possible in politics, including in the 2024 simultaneous regional elections which will be held soon.
She considered that women’s involvement in Pilkada could erase the stigma of women being taboo in politics. In addition, there are challenges ahead that the ‘touch’ of women’s leadership in various places is needed.
“Women should be facilitated or encouraged to enter politics, become regional heads for example, so that the policies produced can be more gender, child, and pay attention to marginalized groups,” Annisa said as quoted from Antara, Thursday (15/8/2024).
Annisa said there are three factors why ‘violence against women’ still occurs in politics.
First, he said, psychological barriers such as women being considered unsuitable to become leaders. Next is the matter of material, and finally related to the socio-cultural doctrine that is still patriarchal.
“If you look at it, many women who later run for or are elected as regional heads have a kinship with the previous regional head, such as wife, children or other blood relations with the aim of continuing the power of the previous regional head. This is very sad, but that is the reality,” she said.
She said that the role of women to run for regional leaders can at least be used as a new standard for political parties.
The new standard, for example, is meritocracy that continues to run by looking at a person’s track record. Political parties also need to provide understanding to the public that women’s leadership is equal to men’s. “Cadre of political parties with a gender perspective. Also political education to the public with a gender perspective to normalize women’s leadership,” she said.
Annisa also encouraged the state to create affirmative action policies. For example, in the legislative elections, there is a policy that political parties must carry a minimum of 30 percent female candidates.
A similar policy, she said, could be applied or modified quantitatively in simultaneous regional elections.
The government can also ease the requirements for independent candidates so that more women come forward without having to depend on certain political parties. “It is not impossible that there will be female candidates who then emerge,” she said.
This article has been published on Kompas.com with the title “Perludem Encourages Political Parties to Make Room for Female Regional Head Candidates”, https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2024/08/15/22082951/perludem-dorong-parpol-beri-ruang-bagi-calon-kepala-daerah-perempuan.