Women Politics in Türkiye and the Reflection for Indonesia’s Village Governance

Authors

  • Titis Thoriquttyas Marmara University, Istanbul; State University of Malang
  • Nita Rohmawati State Islamic University of Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta
  • Wisnu Yaqzan Naba Independent researcher

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53013/bestuurskunde.5.1.1-12

Keywords:

Women Leadership, Village Governance, Muhtar, Gül Esin

Abstract

Although there has been significant progress in women’s rights in recent decades, traditional gender roles remain deeply embedded in Indonesia and Türkiye, particularly in rural areas. This study investigates a real-world instance of how women contribute to Turkish decision-making. The theoretical framework examines how gender dynamics, state policies, and leadership styles affect governance results in rural areas by incorporating two primary theories: participatory feminism and intersectionality. The first female Muhtar (elected village head of Türkiye), Gül Esin, made a name for herself as a role model for women across Türkiye, which had a lasting impact on village administration. This historical perspective highlights the increasing recognition of women’s perspectives within the village administration. This study uses library research to analyze Gül Esin’s leadership, village governance, and gender studies in Indonesia and Türkiye. This study uses document analysis to investigate the conceptualization and application of women’s leadership within Indonesian village governance. The findings underscore the critical role of women’s participation in village decision-making processes and demonstrate how their leadership contributes to more inclusive and effective governance. The study also offers policy recommendations, advocating for gender-sensitive policies and intersectional assessments in village governance, with a focus on marginalized communities. The results provide valuable insights into measures that can be implemented in similar situations regarding how village-level governance can be maximized to enhance women’s empowerment, particularly in the Indonesian context.

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Author Biographies

  • Nita Rohmawati, State Islamic University of Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta

    Nita Rohmawati is an alumna from Graduate Program of Islamic State University of Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta. She was completed her M.A thesis on topics related to gender, governance of Islamic educational institutions. Her areas of interest include Islamic studies, social studies, especially those related to gender in contemporary era.

  • Wisnu Yaqzan Naba, Independent researcher

    Wisnu Yaqzan Naba is an independent and junior researcher. Primarily, his research interest related to social sciences, political sciences and religious studies.

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Published

2025-04-30

How to Cite

Women Politics in Türkiye and the Reflection for Indonesia’s Village Governance. (2025). Bestuurskunde: Journal of Governmental Studies, 5(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.53013/bestuurskunde.5.1.1-12

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