FACTORS AFFECTING THE ELECTABILITY OF FEMALE LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS IN THE SUMBAWA LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS 2024

Abstract

Elections are the primary means of implementing democracy that guarantee citizens’ political rights, including women’s right to participate in the political process. Although affirmative policies to promote women’s representation have been implemented, women’s electability in legislative institutions remains relatively low. This study aims to analyze the factors influencing the electability of female legislative candidates who were successfully elected in the 2024 Legislative Election in Sumbawa Regency. This research employs a descriptive qualitative approach, with data collected through in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation. The findings indicate that women’s electability is influenced by integrated political strategies, including push marketing through direct engagement with the community, pass marketing through the support of community leaders and local networks, and pull marketing through the use of mass media and social media. In addition, women’s electability is determined by the management of political modalities, including political capital, economic capital, and social capital, with social capital emerging as the most dominant factor due to strong social networks and public trust. This study emphasizes that women’s success in local political contests is not solely determined by affirmative action policies but also by individual women’s capacity to manage political strategies and optimize their available modalities