Social Role and Gender Equality in the Gender Mainstreaming Era: The Meaning of Subjectivity Study of Female Students Perception in Jakarta State University

Abstract

It is necessary to vary the meaning and extension of the legitimacy of the concept of traditional gender roles in gender discourse as the essence of gender equality. Gender equality that has been pursued through programs to empower women with the main aspects of economic income (in addition to education, health and political control) is in the dynamics of the strategic level. Based on a qualitative study of informants determined purposively as many as ten (10) female students in the college indicate that the perception of their social roles is progressive – “a new meaning” of traditional gender roles. The informant's subjectivity dominates the perception of their social role. With the method of critical interpretative analysis (phenomenology), through indepth interviews the informant does not prioritize economic aspects as a source of selfempowerment in his gender relations with men (husbands). Their discursive awareness determines the position of economic factors not as primary but under their traditional gender role which is educating and caring for children and the comfort of the household. Self-actualization is considered to be realized by more flexible ways of adjusting the role of the household. The role of educating and caring for these children is determined to consciously estimate and calculate the logical consequences. This paper encourages the need to increase and strengthen autonomy as a strategic criterion for Gender Equality policies. The principle of autonomy shows the high level of subjectivity and affection of women for their social (gender) roles, and the potential for democratic relations between men and women, the potential for gender equality. Keywords—subjectivity, traditional gender roles, discursive awareness, gender equality, autonomy