Improving The Quality Of Women In Parliament (Case Study: Golkar Faction Of Labuhanbatu Regency DPRD For The 2014-2019 Period)

Feb 27, 2025 by ADMIN 127 views

Improving the Quality of Women in Parliament: A Case Study of the Golkar Faction of Labuhanbatu Regency DPRD for the 2014-2019 Period

Introduction

The representation of women in parliament has become a crucial issue in the current government. Despite the increasing number of women in parliament, the quality of their representation remains a concern. This study aims to examine the problem of the quality of women in the Labuhanbatu Regency DPRD, specifically in the Golkar Faction, during the 2014-2019 period. The research focuses on understanding the gap between the number of women in parliament and their ability to produce policies that are sensitive to gender issues.

Background of the Problem

The presence of women in parliament is often seen as a positive indication of women's political participation. However, the reality is that the number of women in parliament does not always translate to effective representation. In the context of Labuhanbatu Regency, although there are women's representatives, there is no policy that is substantially beneficial for women. This phenomenon highlights the need to improve the quality of women's involvement in parliament, ensuring that they are not only quantitative but also able to represent the interests of women outside of parliament.

Research Methodology

This study employs a case study approach and interview method to collect primary data. The research involves a deep analysis of the results of the interviews and existing data to test theories related to women's political participation. The theories used in this study include:

The Theory of Women's Political Participation by Joni Lovenduski: This theory emphasizes the importance of understanding the factors that influence women's participation in politics.
The Concept of Women's Empowerment by Sarah H. Longwee: This concept highlights the need to empower women to take an active role in politics and decision-making processes.
The Understanding of the Role of Women in Politics by Julie Ballington: This understanding emphasizes the importance of women's representation in parliament and their ability to produce policies that are sensitive to gender issues.

Analysis and Findings

The results of this study show that the existence of women in the Labuhanbatu Regency DPRD did not automatically produce a policy that was sensitive to women. This indicates the need for strategic steps to improve the quality of women in parliament. Some steps that can be taken include:

Leadership Training: Providing women with leadership training to enhance their skills and confidence in representing women's interests.
Increasing Understanding of Gender Issues: Educating women about gender issues and their impact on society to ensure that they are equipped to produce policies that are sensitive to women's needs.
Collaboration with Women's Organizations: Collaborating with women's organizations outside parliament to ensure that women's voices are heard and their interests are represented.

Conclusion

Improving the quality of women in parliament, especially in the Labuhanbatu Regency DPRD, requires a more comprehensive approach. Joint efforts are needed between the government, legislative institutions, and the community to encourage gender-sensitive policies. With the right steps, the representation of women in parliament will not only be a number, but will contribute significantly in creating policies that benefit all levels of society, especially women.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Increase the Number of Women in Parliament: Increasing the number of women in parliament will ensure that women's voices are heard and their interests are represented.
Provide Leadership Training: Providing women with leadership training will enhance their skills and confidence in representing women's interests.
Collaborate with Women's Organizations: Collaborating with women's organizations outside parliament will ensure that women's voices are heard and their interests are represented.

Limitations of the Study

This study has several limitations, including:

Limited Sample Size: The study only focuses on the Golkar Faction of the Labuhanbatu Regency DPRD, which may not be representative of all women in parliament.
Limited Data Collection: The study only collects data from interviews and existing data, which may not provide a comprehensive understanding of the issue.

Future Research Directions

Future research should focus on:

Increasing the Number of Women in Parliament: Increasing the number of women in parliament will ensure that women's voices are heard and their interests are represented.
Providing Leadership Training: Providing women with leadership training will enhance their skills and confidence in representing women's interests.
Collaborating with Women's Organizations: Collaborating with women's organizations outside parliament will ensure that women's voices are heard and their interests are represented.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study highlights the need to improve the quality of women in parliament, especially in the Labuhanbatu Regency DPRD. The study recommends increasing the number of women in parliament, providing leadership training, and collaborating with women's organizations outside parliament. Future research should focus on increasing the number of women in parliament, providing leadership training, and collaborating with women's organizations outside parliament.
Frequently Asked Questions: Improving the Quality of Women in Parliament

Q: What is the current state of women's representation in parliament?

A: Despite the increasing number of women in parliament, the quality of their representation remains a concern. The study found that the existence of women in the Labuhanbatu Regency DPRD did not automatically produce a policy that was sensitive to women.

Q: What are the key factors that influence women's participation in politics?

A: The study used the theory of women's political participation by Joni Lovenduski, which emphasizes the importance of understanding the factors that influence women's participation in politics. These factors include:

Socio-economic factors: Women's socio-economic status, education, and employment opportunities can influence their participation in politics.
Cultural factors: Cultural norms and values can shape women's attitudes towards politics and their willingness to participate.
Institutional factors: The institutional framework of politics, including the rules and procedures of political parties and the electoral system, can influence women's participation.

Q: What is the role of women's organizations in improving the quality of women in parliament?

A: Women's organizations can play a crucial role in improving the quality of women in parliament by:

Providing leadership training: Women's organizations can provide leadership training to women to enhance their skills and confidence in representing women's interests.
Increasing understanding of gender issues: Women's organizations can educate women about gender issues and their impact on society to ensure that they are equipped to produce policies that are sensitive to women's needs.
Collaborating with parliament: Women's organizations can collaborate with parliament to ensure that women's voices are heard and their interests are represented.

Q: What are the benefits of increasing the number of women in parliament?

A: Increasing the number of women in parliament can have several benefits, including:

Improved representation: Women's representation in parliament can ensure that women's voices are heard and their interests are represented.
More inclusive policies: Women's participation in parliament can lead to more inclusive policies that benefit all levels of society, especially women.
Increased accountability: Women's participation in parliament can increase accountability and transparency in government.

Q: What are the challenges of improving the quality of women in parliament?

A: Improving the quality of women in parliament can be challenging due to:

Limited resources: Women's organizations and parliament may have limited resources to devote to improving the quality of women in parliament.
Cultural and institutional barriers: Cultural and institutional barriers can make it difficult for women to participate in politics and hold leadership positions.
Lack of awareness: There may be a lack of awareness about the importance of improving the quality of women in parliament.

Q: What are the future research directions for improving the quality of women in parliament?

A: Future research should focus on:

Increasing the number of women in parliament: Increasing the number of women in parliament will ensure that women's voices are heard and their interests are represented.
Providing leadership training: Providing women with leadership training will enhance their skills and confidence in representing women's interests.
Collaborating with women's organizations: Collaborating with women's organizations outside parliament will ensure that women's voices are heard and their interests are represented.