A DISCOURSE ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AS A POLICY FOR INCREASING WOMEN’S ROLE IN INDONESIAN BUREAUCRACY

The increasing number of women civil servants in the bureaucratic workforce in Indonesia was not followed by an increasing number of women structural officials, especially at the top level (high leadership position). Lack of women civil servants holding high leadership positions means that women’s roles in decision-making in bureaucracy are lag behind men. Positive action such
as affirmative action against women is one popular policy to address the lack of women in any other area (i.e. political area). However it is not a popular issue in bureaucracy. The focus of this study is to analyze and discuss whether affirmative action is needed in promoting women’s roles in managerial and decision-making within the bureaucracy in Indonesia. Qualitative methods
are used in data collection and analysis in this study. Interviews were conducted with key person related to civil service in central and local government’s institutions, both in central and local government. Eight key persons interviewed came from the National Civil Service Agency, and Local Civil Service Agency of the Province of DIY and the Province of Bali. Some relevant literatures are reviewed to corroborate this analysis. The results of this study show two opposing opinions about affirmative actions against women in bureaucracy. On the one hand, affirmative action is needed as a policy to provide more opportunities for women to have roles in decision making in the bureaucracy. On the other hand, the policy of affirmative action is considered degrading the ability of women to compete with men in the achievement of their career. Some
arguments underlie these two opposing opinions. One of them is culture