Dharma Wanita, State Ibuism, and Women's Silent Politics during The New Order Era

This research analyses the relationship between the state and women through a literature-based study of Dharma Wanita during the New Order era, examining key works such as those of Julia Suryakusuma, Saskia Wieringa, and various other historical sources. Using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), this study reveals how state discourse shaped women’s roles and how women responded to these constructions. The analysis shows that despite operating under the tight control of the New Order’s authoritarian structure, the organization still provided, albeit in limited and concealed forms, spaces for women to negotiate their roles, assert agency, and engage in subtle forms of resistance. Within these constrained spaces, women were able to challenge the assumption that they were entirely subordinate to the state. These findings offer significant contributions to gender and political studies in the context of authoritarian regimes. First, the research demonstrates that state–women relations were not entirely top-down and monolithic, but instead marked by tensions and ongoing negotiation. Second, state-sponsored women’s organizations should be read not only as instruments of ideological control but also as potential arenas for the articulation of women’s political interests. Ultimately, this study underscores the need for institutional reforms grounded in gender justice and recognition of women’s autonomy as full political subjects. The experience of Dharma Wanita during the New Order era serves as a crucial lens for understanding how gendered power operates and for envisioning pathways toward more egalitarian structures and policies.