Building Women’s Resources in Local Politics: A Case of Indonesia Political Women’s Caucus Karawang

Abstract

Women have historically been underrepresented in political spheres. They remain underrepresented in the region's political institution, especially at local levels of governance. Political women's organizations as institution that build women's capacity in politics are still not fully able to increase the competence of women who want to enter politics. Whereas building women's resources in politics is one of the prerequisites for women to understand and fight for pro-women political policies. This paper examines the efforts of political women caucus in Karawang in building women's resources in local politics. This study is based on the concept of gendering moral capital. Moral capital as a specific political value of virtue that inclines others, in particular the political public and followers. Drawing on single case study research in Karawang, data collection techniques were carried out with in-depth interview, observation, and literature study. The informant of the research was the management of Karawang Regency Political Women Caucus. The results of the study show that building women's resources in local politics is carried out through various programs for the Karawang political women's caucus that are oriented towards increasing the knowledge, capabilities and leadership of political women. This research also find the three figures of local political women to be increased representation of women in local legislative positions, namely women from harmonious families, women who care about community, and women as fighters for women. Keywords: gendering moral capital, local political women figure, political women, women in development