Representasi Woman Leadership dalam Pemerintahan Daerah di Indonesia: Studi Perbandingan Illiza Sa'aduddin Djamal dan Sherly Tjoanda

Abstract

Women’s participation in politics in Indonesia continues to face various structural and cultural challenges rooted in patriarchal constructions from the New Order era to the Reform era. Although affirmative policies such as gender quotas have been implemented, women’s political participation often remains symbolic and has not fully reflected substantive equality. In this context, it is important to examine how the representation of women’s leadership is constructed across different social and cultural settings. This study aims to analyze and compare the representation of women’s leadership in local government through the cases of Illiza Sa’aduddin Djamal in Banda Aceh and Sherly Tjoanda in North Maluku. The research employs a qualitative approach with a descriptive-comparative method, utilizing literature review and media analysis from relevant sources. The findings show that Illiza Sa’aduddin Djamal’s leadership represents a negotiation between religious values and women’s political roles, using a cultural approach that is socially acceptable but still limited to elite groups. Meanwhile, Sherly Tjoanda represents a more open model of women’s leadership, where media and digital spaces play a significant role in shaping public perceptions of her leadership capacity. In conclusion, the representation of women’s leadership remains caught between individual capacity and persistent gender constructions. Therefore, more inclusive and contextual approaches are needed to promote more substantive women’s participation in local politics in Indonesia.