Obstacles and Strategies for Women's Success Towards Nominating for the House of Representatives

Abstract

This study aims to examine in depth what women experience in running as candidates for the people's representative council and how women strive to achieve positions as candidates for the people's representative council. This study also examines Women as leaders not only in business corporations but also politics which causes imbalance and certainty of power distribution with Women as minioritas. Critical incident technique (CIT) research conducted in East Java. Informants involved in this research included female candidates for the House of Representatives, colleagues and community leaders and governors. Data is analyzed in several stages, namely analyzing within case data, searching for cross case patterns, shaping hypotheses, efolding literature and reaching closure. The results of this study show that the motivation of appreciation and self-actualization is a driver for women to run as candidates for the people's representative council, as well as the influence of role model relationships. In addition, the results of the study also identified obstacles faced by women to achieve positions as candidates for the people's representative council, which stemmed from internal and external obstacles. Internal barriers include belief in women's nature, multiple roles, emotions and family work conflicts. The external barriers come from personal issues, religious issues regarding female leaders, and gender stereotypes. To overcome the obstacles faced, this study reveals strategies carried out by women in the form of personal driven reinforcement including motivation, commitment and personal characteristics of agentic and communal women. In addition to personal driven reinforcement, other strategies undertaken to overcome obstacles are personal approaches and social network development.