Political Representation of Women in the 2019 Elections in the South Sumatra Regional People's Representative Council

The representation of women in politics is an intriguing issue within the realms of politics and democracy. According to the 1945 Constitution, every citizen has equal standing under the law and in governance, and every citizen, including women, must participate and engage in a fair decision-making process. Therefore, the representation of women in parliament is crucial, especially in advocating for women's interests. In the 2019 elections, South Sumatra was one of six provinces where the representation of women increased, making it an interesting subject for research. This study aims to: 1) Explain the political representation of women in the 2019 elections; 2) Provide an overview of the dynamics and political processes that occurred; 3) Explore the theory of social capital and its relation to the electoral success of women in becoming legislative members. This paper utilizes Samuel Huntington's theory of political participation, Hanna Pitkin's theory of representation, the quota policy from Dahlerup, and Robert Putnam's concept of social capital. The research method employed is a critical and in-depth analysis of relevant literature. The findings indicate an increase in the representation of women in the 2019 elections for the South Sumatra Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD); the recruitment conducted by political parties was based on organizational experience, educational background, and skills; and the primary factor for the electoral success of female candidates was social capital, which included support from family (husbands, parents) and relatives, as well as the professions of female candidates as advocates, entrepreneurs, activists, and professionals who are indeed closely engaged with the community.