Proceedings International Conference Bali Gender Studies Forum
Proceedings of the International Conference Bali Gender Studies Forum (BGSF) presents selected scholarly papers on public policy, gender equality, disability, and social inclusion in support of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The proceedings cover multidisciplinary perspectives on gender justice, women’s leadership, legal reform, and inclusive development, providing a platform for academic discourse and policy-oriented research.
A Critical Analysis of the Devotee Phenomenon and the Vulnerability of Persons with Physical Disabilities in Digital Spaces
Data from CATAHU (the Annual Record on Violence Against Women) reveal a rising trend of gender-based violence affecting persons with disabilities. Within this spectrum, the phenomenon of devotees, or individuals who fetishize disabled bodies, reflects a digital form of exploitation that transforms the bodies of persons with disabilities into sexualized objects within virtual spaces. This dynamic often erases the boundaries between desire, control, and dehumanization. Despite its growing visibility, this issue has yet to be adequately addressed in legal frameworks or gender-based violence discourses. This study explores how the devotee phenomenon functions as a form of virtual violence and how persons with disabilities interpret their experiences within such relationships. Employing a qualitative approach through in-depth interviews and a literature study, this study involves disability advocates and service organizations, such as the Rifka Annisa Women’s Crisis Center, the Society for Assistance and Protection Disability Activists (SAPDA; Women, Disability, and Child Advocacy Center), and the Disability Advocacy and Inclusion Network (SIGAB). The findings are expected to enrich our understanding of how fetishization intersects with ableism and gendered power relations and contribute to the development of inclusive digital protection frameworks that uphold the sexual rights of persons with disabilities.
Copyright (c) 2026 Proceedings International Conference Bali Gender Studies Forum
Reimagining Grassroots of Women’s Leadership Epistemic Agency and Collective Power in Rural Indonesia
This paper reimagines grassroots women’s leadership as an epistemic and collective process rooted in everyday struggles for justice, care, and survival. Drawing from field experiences and reflections compiled in Her Place, Her Power: Growing Together for Women’s Rights and Agency in Rural Communities, this paper explores how women in rural Indonesia–living in forest-edge, agrarian, and coastal contexts–develop leadership not merely as positional authority but as epistemic agency: the power to create, interpret, and share knowledge emerging from lived realities. Through participatory research and feminist-decolonial analysis, this study highlights how these women challenge exclusionary governance structures, negotiate recognition, and co-create local strategies for gender equality and environmental well-being. Their leadership is relational and transformative, combining care-based ethics, intergenerational solidarity, and community-based learning. By situating their experiences within Indonesia’s broader policy environment and the 2030 SDGs agenda, this paper argues that epistemic leadership offers a pathway toward gender-just and inclusive innovation. It calls for a rethinking of leadership development and knowledge systems that genuinely value local women as co-producers of transformative change.
From Love to Death: Sociological Analysis of Safe Space Violations and Phenomena Intimate Femicidism in Indonesian Society
Intimate femicide, or the murder of a woman by a partner or ex-partner, is the culmination of the tragedy of an acute cycle of gender-based violence. In Indonesia, this phenomenon is categorized as an ordinary crime, ignoring a fundamental sociological dimension: the violation of the safe space of the domestic domain. This study analyzes how social norms and patriarchal systems turn intimate relationships into deadly zones while dissecting how public discourse reproduces violent ideologies. Specifically, this study traces the sociological processes that escalate dominance to fatal violence. The theory of gender sociology that forms the main framework of analysis is Evan Stark’s Coercive Control Theory, combined with the concept of hegemonic masculinity (R.W. Connell), helping to explain the systematic attempts of perpetrators to dominate. Connell), helping to explain the systematic attempts of perpetrators to dominate. Meanwhile, to dissect the reproduction of violence in digital narratives, this study adopts Critical Discourse Analysis (AWK) by Norman Fairclough (1992; 1995) through three dimensions: Text Analysis (examining linguistic elements that rationalize perpetrators); Discourse Practice Analysis (highlighting the amplification of framing mainstream media by netizens); and Social Practice Analysis (linking findings to power structures). The results of the study show that intimate femicide is a logical consequence of the relationship marked by men's sense of entitlement to women's autonomy. The analysis of social practices confirms these findings by attributing them to the Theory of Male Proprietariness, in which the reduction of motives in social media is a reflection of an ideology that naturalizes male control. Coercive control has transformed domestic spaces into locations of absolute surveillance and power. This study concludes that sociological recognition of femicide as an embodiment of structural failure is urgent to formulate prevention strategies that target the roots of toxic masculinity at the community level.
Extractive Industry Toxicology: Study of Reproductive Health Protection based on the Fatwa of the Indonesian Women's Ulama Congress (KUPI)
The mining industry poses risks to the reproductive health of workers and their descendants. Exposure to toxins in mining areas causes reproductive health problems in male workers, which also affects women's reproductive health and leads to the birth of children with various disabilities. However, the Minerba Law and occupational safety regulations do not regulate protection against these risks. This study examines the framework of the Indonesian Women Ulema Congress (KUPI) to provide recommendations for protecting workers' reproductive health issues related to the extractive industry. The concepts used are adillah (arguments) and istidlal (analysis), which give rise to fiqhiyyah rules to emphasize the prohibition of all forms of destruction of fellow human beings and the natural environment. This approach has led to KUPI's recommendation (tazkiyah) to the state to prioritize workers' protection, especially for vulnerable groups such as women and children, and to ensure their protection from the toxic effects of the extractive industry through sustainable policy instruments and targeted programs.
From Village Flowers to Strategic Leaders: An Analysis of Triple Role Synergy, Customary Law, and Hegemonic Reproduction Discourse on the Limited Access of Balinese Women in Batubulan Traditional Villages
Objective: To critically analyze the synergistic factors (gender, structural, and sociological) that limit Balinese women's access to career opportunities for strategic leadership positions in the indigenous village system, despite their economic empowerment. Methodology/Approach: This study uses an acritical qualitative approach with a descriptive castudyydyydy design in Batubulan Traditional Village, Gianyar. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with seven professional women. The analysis utilizes the triple role theory, cultural hegemony, and critical discourse analysis (CDA). Results/Findings: This restriction was caused by the interaction of three barriers: 1. Triple Burden (Career, Domestic, Customary) causes Structural Time Poverty, paralyzing political participation. 2. Awig-Awig creates Formal Exclusion by requiring the status of Purusa (male) for strategic roles. 3. Hegemonic discourse and social surveillance by Orte Pisaga (neighbors) upholds obedience, transforming structural oppression into a moral obligation. Limitations: This study is limited to the specific context of the traditional governance of Batubulan village, which limits the generalizability of the findings across the Bali region. Contributions: This research provides a multi-dimensional framework (gender law sociology) to understand the persistent political exclusion of educated women in modernized traditional societies, providing direct information on gender studies, anthropology, and local governance policies. Novelty: Orte Pisaga’s explicit linkage and analysis of the triple burden, formal exclusion, and social surveillance mechanisms as one interlocking system that creates structural time poverty in the Balinese context.
Reframing Disability Education Rights: A Normative Inquiry into Article 10 (a) of Indonesia’s Law No. 8/2016
Purpose: This study aims to examine the legal protection of the equal educational rights of persons with disabilities in Indonesia, with a specific focus on Article 10(a) of Law Number 8 of 2016 concerning Persons with Disabilities, which guarantees the right to quality education at all units, pathways, and levels through inclusive and special education. Method: This study employs a normative legal approach using statutory analysis. The method involves examining laws and regulations, reviewing legal documents, and analyzing international legal principles, particularly the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), as a comparative and normative framework for the study. Results: The findings revealed that although legal norms guaranteeing educational rights for persons with disabilities have been explicitly formulated, their practical implementation remains ineffective. Consequently, these provisions can be categorized as empty norms, where legal guarantees exist formally but fail to provide substantive legal protection in practice. Conclusion: The study concludes that Article 10(a) of Law Number 8 of 2016 has not yet effectively functioned as a legal foundation for inclusive education in Indonesia. The gap between normative legal provisions and their implementation undermines the realization of equal educational rights for persons with disabilities. Limitations: This research is limited by the absence of empirical data examining the actual implementation of inclusive education policies across different educational units and regions in Indonesia. Contribution: This study contributes to the development of inclusive education law, disability studies, and public policy by critically analyzing core legal provisions on disability rights. Its novelty lies in focusing on a single pivotal article as the legal basis for inclusive education in Indonesia and linking it to the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Legal Analysis of the Application of Gender Equality to Twins of Different Sexes in Melasti Manak Salah in Pedawa Village, Buleleng Regency.
Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the relevance of gender equality in the implementation of the Melasti Manak Salah tradition in Pedawa Village, Buleleng Regency, Bali. Specifically, it examines how gender equality values are applied within this customary practice and assesses their compatibility with national legal principles and human rights standards. Method: This study employs an empirical juridical method using sociological and legislative approaches. Data were collected through field observations, interviews with community members and customary leaders, and an analysis of relevant laws and regulations related to gender equality, child protection, and human rights. Results: The findings show that Prior to the prohibition, the people of Pedawa Village believed that the birth of twins of different sexes caused spiritual imbalance and misfortune. Consequently, infants born under these circumstances were often isolated to preserve customary purity. This practice led to discrimination and was inconsistent with the principles of gender equality and child protection. However, the research also identifies a social and legal shift toward recognizing equal rights for boys and girls. Conclusion: The study concludes that the Melasti Manak Salah tradition, as previously practiced, conflicts with gender equality and human rights principles. The evolving perspective within the community reflects a growing harmonization between customary and national law, demonstrating an effort to balance cultural preservation with the protection of fundamental human rights. Limitations: This research is limited to a single customary community, which may restrict the generalizability of the findings to other regions with different cultural practices and social dynamics. Contribution: This study contributes to legal anthropology, gender studies, and human rights discourse by illustrating how customary traditions can be adapted to contemporary legal and human rights frameworks. It provides insights into the process of harmonizing local wisdom with national law, particularly in promoting gender equality and child protection within Indigenous communities.
Unraveling vasectomy stigma: gender dynamics among single individuals in Jakarta
Purpose: This study analyzes how health communication and shifting gender power relations shape vasectomy perceptions among unmarried young people in urban Jakarta, addressing a gap in research that previously focused solely on married couples. Methodology/Approach: A qualitative interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) was conducted on five single individuals (N=5; 25–30 years, S1 education) in Jakarta. Data were collected via in-depth remote interviews and analyzed using Collaizzi’s seven-step method. Results/Findings: The findings confirm that Persistent Social Stigma (linked to masculinity loss) operates as a Social Reality (SCR Theory). Gender Dynamics show a conflict between male autonomy and the desire for collaborative decision-making. Health communication from trusted sources is crucial for internalizing these facts. Vasectomy is increasingly viewed as an act of shared responsibility and gender equality. Conclusion: This study concludes that vasectomy perceptions among unmarried young people in urban Jakarta are shaped by health communication and changing gender power relations. While stigma related to masculinity persists, effective communication from trusted sources helps reframe vasectomy as shared responsibility and gender equality. Addressing masculine norms is therefore essential for reducing stigma and strengthening inclusive reproductive health policies. Limitations: The findings have restricted generalizability due to the small, specific sample (highly educated, urban Jakarta). Contribution: This study Contributes to Gender Studies and Public Health Policy by guiding the BKKBN to develop culturally sensitive destigmatization strategies emphasizing responsible masculinity.
BRIDGING THE GENDER DIGITAL DIVIDE: THE ROLE OF DIGITAL LITERACY IN WOMEN’S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT IN THE SOCIETY 5.0 ERA (A CASE STUDY OF MICRO-ENTREPRENEURS IN BALI, INDONESIA)
The advent of Society 5.0 opens up significant opportunities for society to adapt to technological advances that integrate physical and digital spaces. However, the gender gap presents a significant challenge, particularly for women who lack the knowledge to understand and master digital technology. This study aims to analyze the role of digital literacy in reducing the gender gap and promoting women's economic empowerment in the digital era. The appropriate research method for this study is descriptive qualitative, using literature studies and observations of groups of women micro-entrepreneurs in local communities, particularly in Bali. Data were collected from online publications, digital empowerment programs, and government reports related to digital literacy and gender equality. The results show that improving digital literacy skills has a significant impact on women's access to online marketing, financial management, and business competitiveness. Community based training programs, government support, and inclusive public policies have proven to be important factors in driving women's transformation from "tech-illiterate" to digitally literate. The limitations of this study lie in the scope of the data, which is still qualitative and does not cover all regions of Indonesia. Nevertheless, this study contributes to the study of gender and digital empowerment by offering concrete strategies to strengthen women's roles in an equitable digital economic ecosystem. Thus, women's digital transformation is not only a form of technological skill enhancement, but also a concrete step towards gender equality and achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Climate Change Vulnerability of Women in Small Island Communities (A Case Study of Pari Island, Indonesia)
Purpose: To assess the climate change vulnerability of women on Pari Island, Thousand Islands Archipelago, Indonesia, using the IPCC framework through a gender-specific lens. Methodology/approach: A gender-sensitive mixed-methods vulnerability assessment was applied, combining a composite indicator framework with qualitative inquiry. The analysis had three stages: (1) Adapting IPCC's dimensions (exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity) to identify indicators from the literature and adjusted to data availability for Pari Island. (2) For each indicator, data were collected from primary and secondary sources and then scored for women on an ordinal 1-5 scale using empirically and context-informed thresholds. Component sub-indices and an overall Gendered Vulnerability Index (GVI) were constructed using equal-weighted averaging. (3) Qualitative information obtained to complement the vulnerability index through purposive sampling of key informants in-depth interviews. Results/findings: Women on Pari Island experience moderate exposure to climate hazards (E = 3.0), moderate climate change sensitivity (S = 2.94), and relatively low adaptive capacity (AC = 3.44). The overall GVI of 3.12 places women in a moderate-to-high vulnerability class, with qualitative findings showing how structural gender inequalities and reliance on climate-sensitive fisheries and tourism shape everyday climate risks, despite strong social cohesion and emerging community initiatives. Limitations: The assessment is limited to a single small-island case study and a finite set of indicators derived from the literature and constrained by data availability. Several indicators could not be scored at the island scale and relied on district-level proxies, while others lacked gender-disaggregated data. The use of a 1-5 ordinal scale treated as quasi-interval data, equal weighting of components, and unquantified uncertainty in the underlying datasets introduces potential statistical imprecision and means that the index should be interpreted as a relative, rather than definitive, measure of women’s climate vulnerability in Pari Island. Contribution: This study contributes to the development of methodologies for assessing gender-responsiveness and provides insights into how to develop and implement women-centered adaptation strategies in small islands. Novelty: This study introduces a multi-phased Gendered Vulnerability Index, incorporating qualitative inquiry to capture aspects of gendered adaptation dynamics.
Digital Spaces as a Terrain for Feminist Resistance Against Mainstream Masculinity in Indonesia
This article examines how digital citizenship initiatives in Indonesia reflect feminist International Relations (IR) critiques of participation and power, which remain predominantly masculine and elitist in nature. Historically, political engagement and public participation have been structured around male dominance, framing participation as a masculine-coded activity. Although feminist movements have long struggled for women’s political inclusion, gender disparities persist, including in digital spaces. Internet access, an essential prerequisite for digital participation, remains uneven worldwide: in 2019, only 48 percent of women had access to the internet compared to 58 percent of men. This gender gap continues to shape who is able to enter and meaningfully engage in digital deliberation in terms of quantity and communicative expression. Through a literature-based analysis, this study explores how Indonesian digital citizenship initiatives, such as Jakarta Feminist, Emancipate ID, and networks of Indigenous women and advocacy groups, embody feminist critiques of patriarchal participation structures. The analysis focuses on how these initiatives integrate gender-inclusive practices, including vulnerable group-friendly design features, moderation mechanisms that amplify women’s voices, and gender-disaggregated participation data. The findings suggest that digital citizenship in Indonesia not only broadens opportunities for public participation but also serves as a political arena that challenges traditional hierarchies of power, contributing to the redefinition of participation in more gender equitable terms.
Evaluation of Public Space Facilities Supporting the Needs of Female Users in Denpasar City
Public spaces play a crucial role in fostering social interaction, health, and overall urban wellbeing. However, the extent to which these spaces accommodate women's specific needs often remains overlooked in urban planning. This study aims to evaluate the extent to which facilities at Lapangan Renon, one of Denpasar City's main public spaces, meet the needs of female users and ensure their safety. Using the framework of gender-responsive urban design, this research employs a descriptive field observation approach to assess the adequacy of existing facilities in addressing women's needs. The findings show that while Lapangan Renon is physically accessible to women, its design and facilities do not fully respond to women’s specific needsInadequate facility maintenance, lack of lighting, absence of breastfeeding space, and lack of security measures such as CCTV or on-site security personnel reduce women’s sense of safety and comfort when using the space. The spatial separation of children’s play areas restricts women’s use, especially for caregivers. These issues indicate a gender-neutral yet implicitly masculine design orientation. Beyond contributing to the broader discourse on gender-responsive public policy, this study also offers practical recommendations for urban planners and local governments in creating public spaces that are equitable, safe, comfortable, and empowering for women, both in Denpasar City and in other urban areas with similar characteristics.
Gender-Responsive Grievance Mechanisms in Climate Projects: Lessons from M4CR in Indonesia
This study examines how the Feedback and Grievance Redress Mechanism (FGRM) under Indonesia’s Mangroves for Coastal Resilience (M4CR) project mainstreams Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) to strengthen social accountability and ensure equitable benefits. Using a public policy perspective in political science, this research adopts a qualitative method: analysis of policy documents (Project Appraisal Document, Environmental and Social Management Framework, Stakeholder Engagement Plan, Labor Management Procedures) and administrative project data (GRM logs and M&E indicators) across four priority provinces. The analysis is guided by the policy cycle and an intersectionality lens; analytical strategies include directed content analysis, multilevel actor mapping, and cross-province comparative analysis. Initial findings indicate that the FGRM design meets formal standards, yet implementation gaps persist in access for women and persons with disabilities (literacy, mobility, privacy) and in survivor-centerer handling of SEA/SH. We identify prerequisites for effective implementation: designated female focal points, safe anonymous channels, disaggregated data practices, and budgeted community-based outreach. Limitations include heterogeneous administrative records across provinces. The paper offers an operational evaluation framework for gender-responsive FGRM integrated into project M&E systems; its novelty lies in coupling GEDSI indicators with social accountability to map design–delivery gaps in a national-scale, nature-based program.
Global Cooperation and Gender Equity in the Green Economy: Challenges to Indonesian Women's Participation in Green Jobs
This study aims to examine the role of international cooperation in improving gender equality in the green economy, with an emphasis on the barriers faced by Indonesian women in engaging in green employment. This study emphasizes the importance of international cooperation and domestic policies in building a green economy that is equitable and inclusive for all genders. Although the transition to a green economy creates new job opportunities, women's participation in Indonesia remains low because of social, cultural, and structural barriers. Women are under-represented in the energy and STEM fields, face discrimination in recruitment processes, and have limited access to sustainable training. Reports from the IMF (2024) and UN Women (2024) emphasize that increasing women's participation can accelerate sustainable innovation and equitable climate policies. This study employs a literature-based qualitative method to examine Indonesian women's involvement in green jobs. Information was gathered from international and national journal articles, reports from global organizations such as UN Women, the World Bank, and the ILO, and government policy documents related to the green economy and gender issues in Indonesia. The analysis employed a thematic approach, highlighting structural barriers such as limited access to training, wage inequality, and the underrepresentation of women, along with social barriers, including gender stereotypes and established norms. Furthermore, this study highlights the potential of international partnership initiatives to increase women's participation in green jobs. The results suggest that while many challenges still limit engagement, global engagement and inclusive programs offer significant potential to strengthen gender equality and promote a just and equitable green economy shift in Indonesia.
Joint Efforts between the Indonesian Government and International Organizations in Combating Child Marriage in Indonesia
Perkawinan anak merupakan permasalahan serius di Indonesia dengan puluhan juta kasus pernikahan di bawah usia 18 tahun setiap tahunnya. Akan tetapi, dalam beberapa tahun terakhir jumlah perkawinan usia anak-anak justru mengalami tren penurunan secara signifikan. Tercatat dalam kurun waktu tahun 2020 hingga tahun 2024 persentase perkawinan anak menurun drastis dari 10,35% menjadi 6,92%. Meskipun demikian, secara absolut banyaknya anak-anak, terutama perempuan di beberapa daerah di Indonesia yang mengalami pernikahan masih terbilang sangat tinggi. Adanya penurunan angka perkawinan anak di Indonesia tidak lepas dari berbagai upaya yang telah dilakukan pemerintah Indonesia melalui revisi Undang-undang Perkawinan dan penetapan Strategi Nasional Pencegahan Perkawinan Anak. Di samping itu keterlibatan aktif organisasi internasional juga tidak dapat dikesampingkan dalam upaya mengatasi tingginya angka perkawinan anak di Indonesia. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memberikan gambaran analitis mengenai adanya keterlibatan dan peran aktif dari organisasi internasional dan organisasi internasional non-negara dalam penanganan permasalahan perkawinan anak di Indonesia. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan mengaplikasikan teknik studi literatur dalam menganalisis serangkaian upaya yang telah dilakukan berbagai organisasi internasional dalam membantu program pemerintah Indonesia menurunkan angka pernikahan anak di Indonesia. Secara umum, penelitian ini menemukan bahwa inisiatif pemerintah Indonesia diikuti dengan adanya berbagai program bantuan dan advokasi khusus yang dilakukan organisasi internasional seperti United Nation’s Children Funds (UNICEF) dan Save the Children dalam upaya meningkatkan kesadaran masyarakat Indonesia akan bahaya perkawinan anak dan menurunkan tingginya angka perkawinan anak di Indonesia.
Legal Analysis of the Application of Gender Equality to Twins of Different Sexes in Melasti Manak Salah in Pedawa Village, Buleleng Regency
This studyaims to analyze the relevance of gender equality in the implementation of Melasti Manak Salah as an effort to cleanse the village of the birth of children of differentsexes because they are considered to bring bad luck in Pedawa Village, Buleleng RegencyBuleleng, Bali. The purpose of this study is to analyze the application ofgender equality values in the Melasti Manak Salah tradition, whichis still practiced by the people of Pedawa Village, and to examine its compatibilitywith national legal principles and human rights. This study usesan empirical juridical method with a sociological and legislative approach.The results of this research show that beforeit was banned, the people of Pedawa Village believed that the birth of twins of differentsexes brought spiritual imbalance, so that babies bornwith different sexes were usually isolated to maintain the purity ofcustoms. This practice gave rise to discrimination and was contrary to the principles ofgender equality and child protection. In addition, it shows a social and legal shift towards the recognition of equal rights for boysand girls, reflecting the harmonization between customary law andnational law in maintaining a balance between tradition and human rights.
Policy Justice for Natural Resource Management: Advancing Women's Participation in Public Administration
This paper examines the intersection of gender justice and natural resource management (NRM) policy, arguing that meaningful women's participation in policy development and implementation represents a fundamental requirement for equitable and sustainable public administration. Through critical analysis of existing policy frameworks and empirical evidence from Southeast Asian contexts, this study demonstrates that exclusionary governance structures perpetuate unequal access to resources, decision-making authority, and benefit-sharing arrangements. The paper proposes an integrated framework of "gendered administrative justice" that repositions women not merely as beneficiaries but as essential agents in shaping natural resource governance. We contend that justice in NRM policy necessitates structural transformations in institutional participation mechanisms, epistemic recognition of women's ecological knowledge, and redistributive mechanisms that acknowledge women's differential vulnerability to resource degradation. This framework offers both theoretical advancement and practical pathways for public administrators and policymakers seeking to operationalize gender-responsive governance in resource management contexts.
Political Communication Of Balinese Hindu Women In The Domestic Realm: Cultural, Religious, And Customary Perspectives
This research seeks to investigate Balinese Hindu women’s political communication as a form of resistance to the patriarchal culture of Bali and their changing socio-cultural, religious, and political positioning. The study follows qualitative approaches using literature reviews as research methodological steps. The analysis draws on narrative communication, existence, and feminist theories. The research highlights the use of political communication by Balinese Hindu women as a form of resistance to the patriarchal political order. The women’s engagement in politics and the clash of cultural patriarchy in the politics of and their sacred esteemed place in Balinese Hindu culture is a phenomenon. A limitation of the study is the reliance on secondary literature, which for political communication research, exclude the most recent empirical realities and the voices of the women. The study adds to the political communication and gender studies scholarship, particularly for policymakers, in the context of women’s development and empowerment initiatives within Bali's distinct socio-cultural context. The study’s contribution lies in the balance of sacred culture, religion, and political activism framed as political communication and resistance by Balinese Hindu women.
The Relevance of Applying Traditional Sanctions in Karang Memadu Village, Penglipuran, to Achieve Gender Equality in Sustainable Development Goals
This study aims to analyze the relevance of applying Karang Memadu customary sanctions to efforts to achieve gender equality within the framework of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study focuses on the relationship between customary values, social norms, and the principles of gender justice that have developed in the Penglipuran Traditional Village, Bali. This study uses a qualitative method with a literature review approach by examining various scientific literature, customary documents, previous studies, and regulatory sources related to customary law and gender equality. This approach allows researchers to critically examine the position of women in the customary structure, the applicability of Karang Memadu sanctions, and the opportunities for adapting customary norms to contemporary thinking about gender equality. The study results show that although Karang Memadu sanctions function as a social mechanism to prevent polygamy, some customary rules still place women in a less balanced position than men. However, there is potential for a more inclusive reinterpretation that preserves customary values while supporting the principle of gender equality. This study is limited to a literature review and the local context of Penglipuran Village without the involvement of field data collection. This study is expected to enrich the discussion on harmonizing customary law with the sustainable development agenda.
The Hegemony of Catur Warna in Balinese Marriage Practices: The Subordination of Caste-Based Women within Balinese Social Structure
Catur Warna is often regarded as the cosmological foundation of Balinese society, emphasizing harmony and social order. However, in practice, this system acts as a hegemonic mechanism that shapes women’s life choices, especially for caste-based Balinese women in terms of marriage and family relations. Drawing on Antonio Gramsci’s concept of hegemony, this study examines how Catur Warna is reproduced through social consent and constructed through customary norms, family socialization, and the community’s symbolic legitimation. This research employs a literature-based approach, analyzing scholarly books, journal articles, previous studies, customary texts, and academic publications related to Catur Warna, the Balinese social structure, and gender relations. The findings indicate that hegemony functions through the regulation of marriage, post-marital identity transformation, and stricter moral standards imposed on caste-based women, particularly in inter-caste marriages. These mechanisms are not sustained through coercion but through the internalization of obedience and the normalization of women’s downward social mobility following Nyerod marriage practices. Such patterns constrain women’s autonomy and reinforce gender inequality in Balinese societies. The novelty of this study lies in its use of Gramscian hegemony to interpret Catur Warna as cultural power reproduced through social consent rather than merely as a tradition. This study contributes to gender studies in Bali by demonstrating that female inequality is perpetuated by both customary law and social consciousness.
THE TEENAGER CARE METHOD TO ENHANCE TEACHER SUPPORT IN THE PREVENTION OF EARLY MARRIAGE BASED ON GENDER JUSTICE
Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the effect of the Teenager Care intervention method on enhancing teacher support for the prevention of early marriage in schools based on gender justice principles. Methodology: This study employed a quasi-experimental design with a one-group pretest–post-test approach. This study was conducted at Singosari Public Junior High School. The respondents were 44 teachers selected from a total population of 50 who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria of this study. Data were collected using the Teacher Support Questionnaire. This study utilized IBM SPSS Statistics 26 software with a 95% confidence level. Data analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test. Results: The findings revealed a significant increase in teacher support for engagement in preventing early marriage through gender-based education after the implementation of the Teenager Care intervention method (p < 0.001). Limitation: This study was conducted in a single area and did not examine the long-term effects of the intervention. Contribution: This study contributes to strengthening teacher support as gender-based change agents in the prevention of early marriage. Novelty: The application of the Teenager Care intervention method to enhance teacher support in preventing early marriage has not been tested previously.
Transforming Masculinities through Family and Community: Post-Conflict Lessons for Gender Equality
This study examines the transformation of masculinities within family and community settings in post-conflict regions of Aceh, Maluku, and Bangsamoro, drawing on a secondary analysis of the dataset from Reconstructing Masculinities: Gender Dynamics After Conflict in Aceh, Maluku, and Bangsamoro Mindanao (Affiat, Rahmadhani & Nakayama, 2024). This study applies a qualitative thematic approach grounded in theories of hegemonic and caring masculinities to explore the expression of masculinities in household and communal practices. The findings indicate a norm shift away from physical aggression as a marker of manhood, but persistent reinforcement of dominance continues to reproduce gendered hierarchies within households and community institutions. Provider- and protection-based roles remain central to male identity, sustaining their decision-making authority and reinforcing constraints on women’s autonomy and economic participation. Simultaneously, men’s increased inclination to value peaceful conflict resolution and responsibility in fatherhood opens the way for caring masculinities grounded in relational interconnectedness, shared caregiving and domestic duties. However, these shifts are hindered by unresolved trauma, economic insecurity, and religious and customary authority as defenders of the norm. Masculinity transformation requires systemic gender-responsive interventions that strengthen the emotional and economic infrastructures of care and structural inequality, as well as engage the family and community as sites of change.
WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP IN PREVENTING GENDER-BA A CASE STUDY OF THE POS PENGADUAN SEKOLAH PEREMPUAN IN DAUH PURI KAJA VILLAGE, DENPASAR
Gender-based violence (GBV) in Indonesia, including Bali, remains prevalent, predominantly within the domestic sphere, with low reporting rates due to social stigma, patriarchal power relations, and limited access to protection services. This study aims to analyze the role of women’s leadership in preventing GBV at the community level, particularly through strengthening the Sekolah Perempuan (Women’s School) Complaint Desk (Pos Pengaduan) in Dauh Puri Kaja Village, Denpasar, Bali. This study employed a qualitative approach with a case study design. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and observations and were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that women’s leadership functions as both a primary and secondary prevention agent of GBV by transforming awareness, power relations, and social norms. The Sekolah Perempuan serves as a safe space that strengthens women’s collective courage to recognize and resist gendered violence. Women’s leadership also reinforces the Complaint Desk as a community-based social protection mechanism through the cadre development of women paralegals and building social trust in services. The effectiveness of the Complaint Desk is supported by continuous critical education and cross-sectoral networks but is constrained by women leaders’ double burden, limited resources, social stigma and cultural resistance, and inadequate long-term recovery services. This study confirms that women’s leadership constitutes the core architecture of GBV prevention and social protection systems at the community level in the Philippines. Recommendations emphasize strengthening village policy legitimacy, gender-responsive budgeting, and inclusive and sustainable strategies for social norm changes involving the community.
Women's Leadership Models in Sustainable Agricultural Value Chains: A Systematic Literature Review
This study aims to identify various models of women's leadership that play a role in strengthening sustainable agricultural value chains and analyze their contributions to gender empowerment and inclusive development in the agricultural sector. The method used was a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) with the PICOC (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Context) approach and the PRISMA 2020 guidelines to ensure a systematic and transparent literature selection and analysis process. Data sources were obtained from Scopus, ScienceDirect, DOAJ, and Google Scholar databases for the period 2015-2025. Bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer was used to map the interrelationships between concepts and research trends related to leadership in women in agricultural value chains. The study results indicate three main leadership models–transformational, participatory, and community-based–that significantly promote value chain efficiency, social innovation, and environmental sustainability. A limitation of this study is its reliance on secondary literature sources without empirical verification in the field. The findings of this study contribute to the development of gender-based leadership theory, formulation of sustainable agricultural policies, and strengthening of women's capacity in rural development and agribusiness.
Why Gender Mainstreaming Falls Short in Indonesia’s Energy Transition Policies
This study examines gender mainstreaming in Indonesia’s energy sector and evaluates gender poverty issues, specifically analyzing why current gender mainstreaming efforts fail to address structural gender inequalities. Using a qualitative policy analysis approach that utilizes document review and literature analysis, the theoretical framework draws from the politics of justice perspective, specifically three tenets of energy justice: distributional, recognition, and procedural justice. Despite its efforts toward gender mainstreaming initiatives, the findings show that Indonesia’s current policies still lack these three tenets, from limited women representation in the energy sector, higher energy poverty prevalence among women, to patriarchy and surface-level empowerment programs. As this study focuses primarily on national-level policies, it may not fully represent regional variations in policy implementation across Indonesia's diverse provinces. However, it contributes to gender and energy studies by providing a critical analysis of Indonesia's energy transition policies from a gender justice perspective, particularly for policymakers, for a more inclusive energy transition in Southeast Asia. Nevertheless, by addressing these issues, the study's novelty lies in its ability to explain the stagnation of Indonesia’s gender mainstreaming efforts in this sector, which further aligns with the implementation of SDG 5 and 7 to a greater extent.
The Politics of Women's Representation in Waste Management in Jombang Regency
It aims to analyze the strategy and impact of the role of the Indonesian Green Studio in encouraging women's political representation in waste management in Jombang Regency. Using qualitative studies through direct observation to grassroots women and stakeholders as well as participatory observation in eight waste banks, and waste management policy analysis. The results/findings show that Sanggar Hijau Indonesia has successfully advocated for environmental policy through three strategies: (1) evidence-based representation by demonstrating the technical success of grassroots waste management (2) the transformation of women's roles from managers to drivers of environmental policy (3) recognition of women's leadership is realized through the Sampah Sayang policy, which results from a tactical coalition between women, bureaucrats, and civil society elements The limitations in this study are limited to the Jombang context and require further studies to test the sustainability of women's representation. This research contributes to the theory of ecofeminism and environmental politics by offering a model of environmental movement advocacy from grassroots and policymakers. The novelty of this study reveals a performance-based legitimacy mechanism where the technical capacity of waste management by women becomes the basis for their political recognition in the policy process.
Objective: To critically analyze the synergistic factors (gender, structural, and sociological) that limit Balinese women's access to career opportunities to strategic leadership positions in the indigenous village system, even though they have economic empowerment. Methodology/approach: This study uses a Critical Qualitative approach with a Descriptive Case Study design in Batubulan Traditional Village, Gianyar. Data were collected through indepth interviews with 7 professional women. The analysis utilizes Triple Role Theory, CulturalHegemony, and Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). Results/findings: This restriction is caused by the interaction of three barriers: 1. Triple Burden (Career, Domestic, Customary) causes Structural Time Poverty, paralyzing political participation. 2. Awig-Awig creates a Formal Exclusion by requiring the status of Purusa (male) for strategic roles. 3. Hegemonic discourse and social surveillance by Orte Pisaga (neighbors) upholds obedience, transforming structural oppression into moral obligation. Limitations: This study is limited to the context of the specific traditional governance of Batubulan Traditional Villages, which limits the generalization of findings across the Bali region. Contributions: This research provides a multi-dimensional framework (Gender-Law-Sociology) to understand the persistent political exclusion of educated women in modernized traditional societies, providing direct information on gender studies, anthropology, and local governance policies. Novelty: The explicit linkage and analysis of Triple Burden, Formal Exclusion through Awig-Awig, and social surveillance mechanisms by Orte Pisaga as one interlocking system that creates Structural Time Poverty in the Balinese context.
The Childfree Phenomenon As A Paradox In The Modern Family In Bali
The phenomenon of childfree, the conscious decision of individuals or couples not to have children, has become a social issue reflecting changing values within the modern family. This choice emerged alongside the rise of individualism, gender equality, and freedom to determine one's life direction. However, this decision is often considered a deviation from traditional norms that view the ideal family as a reproductive and progeny-oriented institution. From a sociological perspective, this situation creates a paradox: on the one hand, childfree reflects social progress in the form of individual autonomy and women's freedom over their bodies and social roles; on the other hand, it generates stigma and resistance because it contradicts the conventionally understood function of the family. Through a literature review, this paper analyses childfree as a reflection of the transformation of family values in the modern era, using functionalism, feminism, and individualization approaches to understand the tension between personal freedom and social norms in contemporary family construction. This paper emphasizes the urgency of understanding the changing functions and roles of the modern family, while also presenting a perspective on women's bodily autonomy.
Intimate femicide, or the murder of a woman by a partner/ex-partner, is the culmination of the tragedy of an acute cycle of gender-based violence. In Indonesia, this phenomenon is categorized as an ordinary crime, ignoring a fundamental sociological dimension: the violation of the safe space of the domestic domain. This research aims to analyze how social norms and patriarchal systems turn intimate relationships into deadly zones while dissecting how public discourse reproduces violent ideologies. Specifically, this study traces the sociological processes that escalate dominance to fatal violence. The Theory of Gender Sociology that becomes the main framework of analysis is the Coercive Control Theory of Evan Stark combined with the concept of Hegemonic Masculinity (R.W. Connell), helping to explain the systematic attempts of perpetrators to dominate. Meanwhile, to dissect the reproduction of violence in digital narratives, this study adopts Critical Discourse Analysis (AWK) by Norman Fairclough (1992; 1995) through three dimensions: Text Analysis (examining linguistic elements that rationalize perpetrators); Discourse Practice Analysis (highlighting the amplification of framing mainstream media by netizens); and Social Practice Analysis (linking findings to power structures).The results of the study show that intimate femicide is a logical consequence of the relationship marked by men's sense of entitlement to women's autonomy. Analysis of social practices confirms these findings by attributing them to the Theory of Male Proprietariness, in which the reduction of motives in social media is a reflection of an ideology that naturalizes male control. Coercive control has transformed domestic space into a location of absolute surveillance and power. This study concludes that sociological recognition of femicide as an embodiment of structural failure is urgent to formulate prevention strategies that target the roots of toxic masculinity at the community level.
Social Media Response and the Role of Balinese Women in Addressing the Flood Crisis in Denpasar City
This study examines social media responses and the role of Balinese women in addressing the flood crisis that struck Denpasar City in September 2025. Data were obtained through observation, literature review, and interviews with credible informants, and analyzed using W. Timothy Coombs’ Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT, 2015). However, within the SCCT framework, the phenomenon of hyperreality also emerged, elevating the flood event into a national issue. Social media platforms such as WhatsApp, TikTok, and Instagram played a crucial role in disseminating information, shaping public opinion, and mobilizing social solidarity. However, within the SCCT framework, the phenomenon of hyperreality also emerged, elevating the flood event into a national issue. Meanwhile, Balinese women demonstrated a significant role by educating families about waste management, maintaining environmental cleanliness, and providing direct assistance to affected victims. Although social media proved strategic in shaping narratives and collective solidarity, structural mitigation and community participation remain key to preventing similar disasters in the future. Although social media proved strategic in shaping narratives and collective solidarity, structural mitigation and community participation remain key to preventing similar disasters in the future.
The Wounds of Patriarchy Amid The Principle of Gender Equality
Patriarchal culture refers to a social system that places men in dominant roles across familial, professional, and public spheres, perpetuating gender-based power imbalances. In Indonesia, such norms are deeply rooted, and the state has acknowledged their role in sustaining inequality, particularly within household structures. To address this, Law Number 23 of 2004 on the Elimination of Domestic Violence was enacted as a legal instrument to support gender equality. However, in practice, these principles often clash with entrenched patriarchal values inherited through generations and normalized within societal traditions. This study explores how patriarchal culture hinders the realization of gender equality in Indonesian family life. Using a normative juridical method, it analyzes the 2004 law alongside relevant literature to evaluate the tension between legal ideals and cultural realities. The findings indicate that legal frameworks alone are insufficient to counter deep-seated patriarchal beliefs, which continue to cause harm. A noted limitation is the absence of empirical field data. Nevertheless, this research contributes to the discourse on gender and family law by advocating a multidimensional approach—integrating education, legal reform, and cultural reinterpretation. Its novelty lies in proposing gender mainstreaming in education and revisiting local values to cultivate a more just and equitable social structure for women.
The Dynamics of Resilience Kindergarten Teachers at Regular School X in Supporting Special Needs Children (ABK)
This study describes the dynamics of resilience among kindergarten teachers in regular school X who support children with special needs (ABK). It used a qualitative approach with a case study method, involving three teachers as participants. Data were collected through interviews and observations and analyzed using NVivo software. The research results show that teacher resilience is formed through three main components according to Grotberg (1995), namely I Have, I Am, and I Can, which are strengthened by seven aspects of resilience according to Reivich and Shatte (2002). The study has limitations regarding access to the internal scope of the school (support and policies from the foundation and access to official documents). These limitations impact the dominance of the analysis on the perceptions and experiences of the teachers. The findings contribute to the resilience of kindergarten teachers supporting children with special needs. Spirituality emerges as a significant source of strength in creating meaning for teachers in fulfilling their roles. They perceive their profession as a calling from God and a form of service, enabling them to endure and grow in facing the challenges of supporting children with special needs in regular schools.
The phenomenon of being childfree, the conscious decision of individuals or couples not to have children, has become a social issue reflecting changing values within the modern family. This choice has emerged alongside the rise of individualism, gender equality, and freedom to determine one's life direction. However, this decision is often considered a deviation from traditional norms that view the ideal family as a reproductive and progeny-oriented institution. From a sociological perspective, this situation creates a paradox: on the one hand, childfree reflects social progress in the form of individual autonomy and women's freedom over their bodies and social roles; on the other hand, it generates stigma and resistance because it contradicts the conventionally understood function of the family. Through a literature review, this paper analyzes childfree as a reflection of the transformation of family values in the modern era, using functionalism, feminism, and individualization approaches to understand the tension between personal freedom and social norms in contemporary family construction. This paper emphasizes the urgency of understanding the changing functions and roles of the modern family, while also presenting a perspective on women's bodily autonomy.