Existency of Women Leadership at Village Level and Its Orientation against Gender Justice (Case Studies in Banda Aceh and Aceh Besar)

Abstract

Women's leadership at the village level is a new thing for the people of Aceh today, because previously it was very rare. Becoming a leader at the village level known as a keuchik is not easy, they face many challenges and obstacles. Moreover, in initiating and running pro-women programs. However, the community has been familiar with programs that are general in nature, not looking at gender sensitive. Village development, for example, is more focused on physical construction in the form of buildings, open non-physical development such as increasing the number of women who get education, support for women's economic empowerment and also concern for increasing health awareness for women.

Portrait of Gender and Development in Village Area, do They Shape Inclusivity?

“…Women's leadership in both regions and villages is still discriminated against by the assumption that women leaders are not prevalent in society. At the same time, the presence of female leaders is considered more able to accommodate the needs of women than male leaders (Harun, 2019;Munawiah & Dewi, 2021;Wang et al, 1996) because they are considered to have more political knowledge and experience and are supported by resources for understanding women's needs (Ban & Rao, 2008;Daulay & Saladin, 2017;Wang et al, 1996). The maternal traits that emerge in women leaders make them more acceptable, and people will follow their policies because they trust them more (Maily & Barlaskar, 2021).…”