Gender Representation in Local Politics: Challenges and Opportunities for Women’s Political Leadership

Abstrak

This study examines Gender Representation in Local Politics: Challenges and Opportunities for Women’s Political Leadership by analysing how women’s presence in local institutions is transformed, constrained, or strengthened as leadership. The objective is to explain barriers, enabling factors, and implications of women’s representation in local politics. This research applies a qualitative method with a case study design because the issue requires in-depth understanding of lived experiences, institutional practices, and meanings rather than numerical measurement. The study was conducted in Makassar City, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, where party competition, activism, and gender equality debates intersect. Data were obtained from fifteen purposively selected informants, including women politicians, party officials, election administrators, activists, academics, journalists, and community leaders, because they possess knowledge of women’s participation and leadership. The findings show that women’s leadership is limited by party gatekeeping, campaign-financing inequality, gender stereotypes, informal elite networks, and restricted access to strategic decision-making. However, opportunities emerge through community legitimacy, civil society support, political education, and coalition-building. The study recommends gender-sensitive party reform, fair campaign support, inclusive legislative leadership, and collaboration between political institutions and civil society.