Pengaruh kewenangan pemerintah daerah terhadap implementasi kebijakan kesetaraan gender di Provinsi Jambi

Abstract

This study examines the influence of local government authority on the implementation of gender equality policies in Jambi Province. Despite having significant authority under Law No. 23 of 2014 on Local Government—such as the power to draft regulations, allocate budgets, strengthen institutions, and coordinate across sectors—the provincial government has not fully optimized these capacities. Representation of women in the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) for the 2024–2029 period stands at only 12% (7 out of 55 members), far below the mandated 30% quota, reflecting systemic barriers to women’s political participation and policy influence. Using Steven Lukes’ power relations theory, the study finds that obstacles to gender equality occur not only at the level of formal decision-making but also in agenda-setting and the deeper ideological domain, where patriarchal norms remain entrenched. Furthermore, applying the gender mainstreaming framework of UN Women reveals weaknesses in four key areas: (1) policy and legal frameworks, which lack harmonization with national commitments; (2) institutional mechanisms, which remain underdeveloped; (3) capacity and resources, constrained by limited gender-responsive budgeting and lack of sex-disaggregated data; and (4) participation and empowerment, hindered by low women’s representation in politics and decision-making. The findings suggest that while local governments possess broad formal authority, successful implementation of gender equality policies requires political will, institutional capacity, and efforts to transform unequal power relations. Strengthening cross-sector collaboration and embedding gender perspectives throughout planning, budgeting, implementation, and evaluation processes are essential to achieving substantive gender equality in Jambi Province.