Student perceptions of women's participation in the Legislature: Case study in Malang City government agency

Problems regarding gender equality in Indonesia enter various domains and fields, one of which is in the realm of Legislative politics. The existence of women in the legislative sphere is often underestimated. Therefore, a survey was conducted on students' perceptions as agents of change in responding to women's participation in the legislative membership, especially in the DPRD. The case study was in the Malang City DPRD. This survey uses a descriptive qualitative method of case studies in the Malang City DPRD. Based on the results of a survey conducted by students from various faculties and different universities, they agree that the presence of women in DPRD membership will contribute to the policies formulated by legislative institutions in the future.


INTRODUCTION
A democratic country will hold quality general elections to realize the principle of sovereignty for the people to produce and elect representatives of the people who will sit in the people's representative institutions, both at the central level (members of the DPR-RI and DPD) and those in the regions.(Provincial DPRD and Regency/City DPRD).A People's Representative Council is commonly known as a legislative body both at the center and in the regions ideally filled with people who can become representatives and convey people's aspirations, wishes, suggestions, and criticisms, including aspirations from citizens.Both men and women.In 2020, the sex ratio of the Indonesian population was 102.This means that there were 102 males for every 100 females.From the 2020 Population Census results conducted by the National Statistics Agency, the total number of Indonesian women was 133.54 million, or 49.42% of the total population in Indonesia, which was 271.35 million (BPS, 2021).This means that in the people's representative institutions or legislative bodies, ideal conditions should be achieved in the representation of Indonesian women or achieving the ideal ratio and equal to the number of Indonesian female population.Based on the results of the 2019 election, women's representation in the National Legislative Council (DPR-RI) is at 20.8% or 120 female legislative members out of 575 members of the Indonesian House of Representatives (KPU, 2019).Although it still has not reached the target of representing 30 percent of women, this percentage has increased rapidly from the first Indonesian election where the percentage of women was only 5.88%.
Women are citizens who, like men, have the same political rights.The participation of a woman is essential because there are many issues related to women's interests, which are very necessary for the representation of women in the Legislature.The data shows that women's participation and representation in politics has a tiny percentage, especially in the Legislature.This is due to discrimination.Such discrimination is carried out against women, which causes injustice and gender inequality for women.Whereas the guarantee of the equality of men and women, especially in the fields of government and law, has existed for a long time, which is contained in the 1945 Constitution, 17 August 1945, Article 27 paragraph (1), which states that: "All citizens are equal in law and government." Problems regarding the existence of women in the Legislative Body need to be looked at more broadly.Students' perception as agents of change or carriers of change needs to be studied in solving this gender and political problem.The way of view born by students will be taken into consideration and the future with the perception of women in the future, the government, especially the institutions authorized to resolve gender issues, can consider it in decisionmaking and can make new policies regarding the presence of women in the Legislature, especially in the DPRD.

METHODS
The research entitled Student Perceptions of Women's Participation in the Legislature: (Case Study in Malang City DPRD) uses a descriptive qualitative method that focuses on extracting in-depth information.Therefore, this researcher uses survey methods and questionnaires to obtain the required data.Data comes from students and different departments and universities.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Gender and politics themselves have a strong relationship.Gender relations and politics itself can be found starting from a narrow environment such as a family between husband and wife to the social level, such as practical politics.Why is the family mentioned as a narrow political sphere?Aisyah (2014), the family itself is the minor institution of society and the state with its social structure and system.Zamroni (2013) states that the form of male domination over women (patriarchy) is based on political relations over the powerlessness of women; it shows that other patriarchies cause particular problems.
However, many current movement practices involve women in all forms of action in Indonesia.For example, Rasimah Ismail raised awareness and increased a sense of nationalism among women.In addition, there is Marsinah, who upholds human rights and is known as a labor hero.Currently, the involvement of women in politics is regulated by law, namely Article 27 paragraph (1) of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, which affirms that the position of men and women as citizens is equal (Nurcahyo, 2016).Mukhlishi & Supandi (2017) in Law Number 2 of 2008 concerning Political Parties, the representation of women at least meet the minimum quota of 30% to sit in the Legislature.However, this does not make women look safe; they are still vulnerable to male domination in a political body.Women's political representation plays a vital role if we want to place or enforce gender-friendly democracy (gender democracy).This can be reflected in the representation of women during the Old Order and New Order eras, which experienced significant ups and downs.Then during the reform era, gender equality began to be applied to improve the quality of more advanced forms of government.Nurcahyo (2016) stated this is important because the decision-making process involves all elements of society without seeing any differences in society.Hasanah & Musyafak (2017), many women have worked in the informal sector, which is generally not recorded.Their role reaches 70% of micro and small businesses.In addition, on the employment side, more than 70% of women have contributed crucially by sending foreign exchange to Indonesia or money for the life of their families, reaching $ 5.7 billion.These statistics are evidence that strengthening women's representation in politics is very important to pay attention to the women's community in Indonesia, who make a significant contribution to the country.
This study aims to describe the answers by respondents to the questions in the questionnaire to explain students' perceptions of the presence of women in the DPRD.The following are the results of the answers to the questionnaire from the respondents: In Indonesia, for example, during the New Order election, which was held eight times, women's representation was not more than 12%.Meanwhile, in the reform era, in the 1999 election, women's representation in the Legislature fell to 9%.Meanwhile, in the 2004 election, women's representation was only around 11%; this figure is far from the expectation of a 30% quota for women's representation as mandated in Article 65, paragraph 1 of Law No. 12 of 2003 (Rafni, 2018).The Election Law in 2004 ratified the rules for women's representation in politics with a minimum quota limit of 30 percent for women to sit in the Legislature.In the election law, it is indirectly a form of gender equality efforts for women in the political space and area.In the Law of the Republic of Indonesia, Article 6 No. 39 of 1999 concerning Human Rights states that the general election system, parties, election of members of the Legislature, and the appointment system in the executive and judicial fields following the specified requirements must make the representation of women (Mukarom, 2008).
Most of the respondents (53,8%) strongly agree about the inclusion or representation of women as members of the Malang City DPRD.The representation of female DPRD members in Malang City indicates that students still consider gender equality in politics to be an urgency to this day.Men and women have equal rights, positions, obligations, and opportunities in all aspects of family, community, nation, state, and development; however, due to the perspective of gender differences that are still very much embedded in the view of society, resulting in different roles between men and women.Society places the status and role of men in the public sector as the head of the family and breadwinner.In contrast, women are placed in the domestic sector as housewives whose only obligation is to care for household work (Malau, 2015).
Many of respondents strongly disagree (46.2%) about the views of women sitting in the Legislature being underestimated because of their role as housewives.Until now, there are still many people who think that women are only in household matters while men are always on the political line related to power.Women are still considered taboo for leadership issues.At this time, many women have participated in the world of politics, but so many obstacles are faced.The low representation of women legislators is caused by patriarchy, which makes women's position not equal to that of men.
Many of respondents (61.5%) do not agree regarding the elimination of discrimination against women in political membership, especially among the legislative members of the DPRD.In addition, 23.1% of respondents did not agree with eliminating discrimination against women, and 15.4% of respondents agreed with the elimination of discrimination.This indicates that most respondents are still not aware of eliminating discrimination against women in politics.It is suspected that there are still binding regulations regarding the involvement of women sitting in parliament.
The New Order government has recognized and ratified gender equality in the United Nations Convention on Women's Political Rights in Law Number 68 of 1956 and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women with Law Number 7 of 1984.However, in practice, efforts to recognize gender equality are not followed or followed up with more substantial efforts to elevate the status of Indonesian women.As a result, women have ignored the right to equality and justice between men and women (equality and equity), namely the existence of equal rights and opportunities and treatment in all fields and all activities (Nugroho, 2013).
Many of respondents (69.2%) strongly agree about the balance between the number of men and women in DPRD membership.Moreover, 30.8% of respondents agree about implementing gender balance in the Political World.
Quotas are gender-neutral, but most of the quotas applied in the world aim to increase women's representation because the problem usually arises the lack of women's representation.The existence of this quota has received pro and contra responses from various parties.On the one hand, quotas can compensate for the actual obstacles that prevent women from being involved relatively.However, on the other hand, quotas are considered discriminatory, undemocratic, and do not provide equal opportunities for all (Artina, 2016).
The application of this quota is often interpreted as a sign of discrimination against a gender by many people.Artina (2016), the quota for women in the legislative parliament is a certain amount or percentage of the members of an agency or institution.However, the application of this quota is also based on the point of view of the individual sitting in the parliament or the institution concerned.Many of the arguments underlying the imposition of quotas are essential for institutions because they make decision-making healthier and acceptable to all parties.However, everything is returned to the institution regarding applying a balanced quota between men and women in its membership.
Many of respondents (69.2%) strongly agree about women's participation in DPRD membership.This is in line with Priandi and Roisah's (2019) statement that the role of women in politics should have a proportionate portion.There is no need to doubt the ability of women to participate in politics.Therefore, there must be a movement that encourages gender-sensitive government policies.The involvement of women is vital in the body of government institutions.If politics is dominated by men only, that will happen by expanding the scope of politics towards problems and issues that were initially considered not political issues, such as child welfare, protection of women's reproduction, and others (Astuti, 2008).
The existence of women in DPRD membership is a form of women's welfare in the political space and area.The existence of women's representation in politics also means providing opportunities for women to be more involved in politics.Lately, the involvement of women in politics has been seen a lot.More and more women are currently sitting in the Legislature, bureaucracy, and other political positions.Few women serve as regents and governors, and some can even serve for two terms.Some women are in political parties that continue in the legislative body (Gusmansyah, 2019).
Respondents do not agree (46.2%) that female DPRD members are considered unstable in making decisions.Wahyudi (2019), building civil society means covering male and female citizens.In the political system in Indonesia so far, women are placed after men.The low participation of women in politics causes women's roles to be less accommodated in several political decisions because they tend to lack a gender perspective.
Moreover, as many as 53.8% of respondents also strongly agree that women's participation in decision-making changes the dynamics and brings change for women.The representation of women in parliament in decision-making is significant because it relates to the engagement generated by State institutions and the public.In addition, the involvement of women in decision-making can bring different perspectives to solving problems because women think more holistically and are more responsive to gender.Thus, the participation of women in parliament will also impact the formulation of policies and legislation that can encourage the implementation of gender mainstreaming (Wahyudi, 2019).
The existence of women in parliament is essential because women still experience discrimination, both cultural and structural discrimination.If examined more deeply, the traditions of Indonesian society, which are patriarchal and religious-based doctrines, can be a source of this cultural discrimination.Furthermore, this structural discrimination can be seen in laws and regulations that standardize women's gender roles which are only limited to the domestic sphere, and some regional regulations that are less friendly to women with religious justification (Artina, 2016).
53.8% respondents strongly agree that women and men must have equal access to become DPRD members.Meanwhile, 7.7% of respondents did not agree regarding the equality of access between men and women in legislative membership.
In (Artina, 2016), Law Number 10 of 2008 concerning the Implementation of General Elections for Members of the People's Representative Council, Regional Representative Council and Regional People's Representative Council has provided opportunities for women to place their cadres in legislative institutions.This means the law has provided guarantees for women to participate in the nomination process until they are elected in the general election.
61.5% respondents agree that the representation of women in DPRD membership will contribute to the policies formulated by legislative institutions in the future.Astuti (2008), the presence of women in politics is seen as more moral because they are more concerned with issues in Conventional Politics such as the economy, education, housing, environment, and social welfare than Hard Politics, such as the budget for purchasing weapons, war, and nuclear.

CONCLUSION
The ideal condition for the representation of Indonesian women in the people's representative institutions or legislative bodies should achieve the ideal ratio and equal the number of Indonesian women populations.Women are citizens of a democratic country that will hold quality general elections in order to realize the principle of sovereignty for the people to produce and elect representatives of the people who will sit in the people's representative institutions, both those at the Central level (members of the DPR-RI and DPD) and those who are members of the DPR-RI and DPD.Being in the Region (Provincial DPRD and Regency/Municipal DPRD as men have the same political rights.A woman's participation is essential; this is because there are so many issues related to women's interests that are very necessary for women's representation in institutions.The data shows that women's participation and representation in politics have a tiny percentage, especially in the Legislature.Students agree that the presence of women in DPRD membership will contribute to policies formulated by legislative institutions in the future.The presence of women in politics is seen as more moral because they are more concerned with issues in Conventional Politics such as the economy, education, housing, environment, and social welfare than in Hard Politics, such as the budget for purchasing weapons and war.