Affirmative Strategies for Increasing Women’s Participation and Representation in Public Leadership in Sungai Penuh City

Abstract

Increasing women’s participation and representation in public leadership in Sungai Penuh City requires a comprehensive affirmative strategy. This policy is grounded in Sungai Penuh City Regional Regulation No. 7 of 2021 on Gender Mainstreaming (PUG) and its derivative Regional Action Plan for Gender Mainstreaming (RAD PUG), aimed at addressing cultural, structural, and internal capacity-related challenges that continue to constrain women’s strategic roles. This policy paper aims to formulate the most appropriate policy alternatives to support the transformation of women’s participation and representation in public leadership in Sungai Penuh City. The study employs public policy analysis by identifying problems using the USG (Urgency, Seriousness, Growth) method, analyzing root causes through a problem tree, and evaluating policy alternatives based on William N. Dunn’s criteria, including effectiveness, efficiency, adequacy, equity, responsiveness, and appropriateness. The policy alternatives analyzed include strengthening policies and institutions, optimizing women’s roles in politics and public leadership, and providing political and leadership education. These initiatives are expected to address cultural barriers and patriarchal norms that have limited women’s representation in the legislature, particularly through political mentorship programs. These policy alternatives are intended to reduce gender inequality in Sungai Penuh City. The implementation of these policies is expected to reduce the Gender Inequality Index and increase the Gender Empowerment Index in Sungai Penuh City, thereby strengthening women’s participation in politics and government bureaucracy.