Indonesian Muslim Women Ministers:

Participation and Significance of the Muslim Women's Movement in Indonesia since the Early Reformation to the Present

Fajar Apriani

Thalita Rifda Khaerani

 

Abstract: After 20 years of reform, the Muslim women’s political movement has succeeded in producing a number of policies from a gender perspective. This shows that women’s civil society groups have been able to push the pro-gender policy even though the number of women’s representation in parliament is only 30%, and only a handful of them have made to the cabinet. The gender responsive policy agenda in Indonesia still faces obstacles and challenges. This article explores the presence of women in the Indonesian cabinet since the beginning of the reform period (2004) to the present, and examines the factors promoting and impeding women’s representation in politics and government. This study uses a feminist institutionalism approach by collecting data through existing resources, and by examining the gaps and appropriateness of women’s achievements and challenges in government (cabinet). The results of the study show that the electability of women as legislators is still far below 30%. Additionally, even women are present in parliament, they are unable to make considerable political contributions. On the other hand, when Muslim women become ministers in cabinet and a part of the executive branch of power, they have the unique opportunities of making policies having direct impact on women and reform the gender-discriminatory face of government. Women ministers can be seen as agents of change as they have a good bargaining position in determining every policy direction and are expected to be able to represent their aspirations in fulfilling women’s need and interest so that they are no longer neglected.