MASCULINITY IN LEGAL STRUCTURES AND WOMEN'S DIGITAL ECONOMIC ACCESS: A REFLECTIVE CRITIQUE BASED ON THE GENDER INEQUALITY INDEX (IKG) 2024
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58258/n3ws5256Keywords:
gender inequality, digital economy, legal structuresAbstract
This study examines the intersection of patriarchal legal structures and women's economic participation in Indonesia's digital economy through the lens of the 2024 Gender Inequality Index (IKG). Using qualitative document analysis of official statistics from Indonesia's Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), this research reveals that despite national IKG improvements to 0.421, structural masculinity embedded within legal frameworks continues to constrain women's digital economic access. The analysis demonstrates that provinces with the lowest gender inequality DKI Jakarta (0.147), DI Yogyakarta (0.163), and Bali (0.183) exhibit stronger legal infrastructure and digital connectivity, while regions with higher IKG values, particularly Papua Pegunungan (0.579) and Papua Barat (0.558), face compounded disadvantages of patriarchal norms and limited digital infrastructure. The research critically examines three dimensions of gender inequality: reproductive health, empowerment, and labor market participation, revealing how masculine-centered legal structures perpetuate digital divides. Findings indicate that only 22.46 percent of legislative representatives are women, and female labor force participation (56.42 percent) remains significantly lower than males (84.66 percent), directly impacting women's digital entrepreneurship opportunities. This study contributes to gender studies by theorizing how legal masculinity operates as a structural barrier to digital economic inclusion, arguing that genuine digital transformation requires fundamental legal reforms that dismantle patriarchal assumptions embedded in regulatory frameworks governing digital commerce, financial technology, and online entrepreneurship.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Suci Ramadhani Putri (Author)
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