Gendered media representation and political leadership: The case of Khofifah Indar Parawansa in Indonesia’s 2024 election

¹ Department of Politics and Governance Science, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Diponegoro, Indonesia
² Department of Politics and Governance Science, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Diponegoro, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

This study examines how gendered media framing shapes public perceptions of female political leadership in Indonesia, focusing on Khofifah Indar Parawansa during the 2024 East Java gubernatorial election. Although women’s political participation has increased through affirmative action and the growing visibility of female leaders, gender stereotypes continue to influence political communication. Using Robert Entman’s framing theory and a qualitative content analysis of news reports published by Mediaindonesia.com, this research identifies the dominant frames used to portray Khofifah’s leadership. Four key frames emerged: competence, religiosity, domesticity, and personal traits. The competence and religiosity frames emphasize administrative experience, policy achievements, and moral credibility, enhancing her legitimacy as a regional leader. Conversely, the domesticity and personal traits frames highlight nurturing qualities, emotional sensitivity, and maternal identity, revealing the persistence of gendered expectations that shape interpretations of female leadership. These combined narratives demonstrate an ambivalent pattern in which media coverage simultaneously strengthens women’s political visibility while reinforcing traditional gender norms. The study contributes to discussions on gendered mediation in Southeast Asian political communication and underscores the need for more gender-sensitive reporting practices to support equitable representation in regional executive elections.