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CONFERENCE PROGRAM AND ICGCS 2021

ABSTRACT BOOK

Gender and Politics

The Problem of Attitude’s Consistency and Voting Behavior

for the People of West Sumatra Towards Female Regional

Head Candidates in Regional Elections

Asrinaldi, Andri Rusta, Ilham Aldelano Azre

Universitas Andalas

The issue of women's representation in political institutions in West Sumatra Province is still under the
spotlight of many parties. Many scientists attribute male dominance to social, cultural, and religious factors

that place women only in the domestic sphere rather than in the public domain. In fact, in this modern
age, the public fully supports women to participate in political activities without any distinction from men.

Unfortunately, this public support is not consistent with their political actions in the regional head
elections or general elections. This inconsistency in attitudes and actions has raised questions from many

parties. Are there still problems with the people's social, cultural, and religious systems in Indonesia to
doubt whether they decide to vote for women's names when they receive ballots in the general election?

After the general election took place, it turned out that not many women who participated in the election
contest got seats in the legislative body. Likewise, with regional head elections (Pilkada), women are
candidates but do not get community support. Survey data released by the Spektrum Political Institute,

which examines the perception and voting behavior of the people of West Sumatra regarding female
candidates in regional head elections, strengthen the existing phenomenon. Indeed, there are inconsistent

perceptions and attitudes of the community with their actions in choosing women during the regional
head election. The survey results found that the people of West Sumatra, the majority of whom are ethnic
Minangkabau, give good ratings and attitudes to women involved in political activities in this area. As

many as 56.9% believe that the Minangkabau social and cultural system supports women in engaging in

political activities. Likewise, with the beliefs of the people of West Sumatra, as many as 68.5% believe that
no belief or prohibition does not allow women to engage in politics. As many as 60.3% of society believe
that women can compete with men in political activities. In this regard, this article will discuss why there is

a consistency problem between the votes and attitudes of West Sumatra voters and their choice in the
Pilkada. This article is derived from research using a qualitative approach using the literature review

method. The analysis in research refers to the publication of secondary data from research results and
government documents that are already in print and on the internet. This article finds that the real
problem is not with voters' assessment and attitudes towards women's involvement in politics. However,

their political support is inconsistent with their judgment and attitude when voting in regional head
elections. In addition, this article also explains the tendency of voters not to elect women as candidates for

regional head. There are several reasons for them; first, pragmatism affects their political choices because
of the robust intervention through money politics, strong patronage, and clientelism. Second, the

implication of their shared political knowledge is due to the failure of political party-political education. It
is difficult for them to make rational choices and tend to choose according to

the direction of their patrons. Third, the limited access in the economic sector to finance the necessities of
life also impacts people's attention in the political field, impacting their political choices. Fourth, the
domination of information from specific political candidates about regional head candidates so that

blocking access to information about women candidates for regional head also affects the inconsistency
of their political choices.

Keywords: Political behavior, Women, Local election, Consistency, Representation

Short Biography:

Asrinaldi is a senior lecturer at the Department of Political Science, Andalas

University. He focuses on studies in elections, political behavior, local political

culture, and democracy. Some of his writings that have been published in the form

of articles are The Power Network of Penghulu Adat in the Concurrent Regional

Election in West Sumatra (2017) and Problems with the implementation of Adat

Basandi Syarak, Syarak Basandi Kitabullah Philosophy (2020).

Andri Rusta is a lecturer at the Department of Political Science, Andalas University.

He focuses on studies in elections and political behavior. He is currently finishing

his doctoral study in Universitas Padjajaran, majoring Political Science.

Ilham Aldelano Azre is a lecturer at the Department of Public Administration,

Andalas University. He focuses on studies in state-owned enterprise. He is currently

finishing his doctoral study in Universitas Indonesia, majoring Public

Administration.

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