Few women will stand as candidates in South Sulawesi’s regional elections, which will be held in 10 regencies on June 23, say experts.

Out of 55 candidates set to contest the elections, two women are standing for regent and four women for vice regent.

The two female regent hopefuls are Nursyamsina Aroepala (Selayar) and Fadhillah Mallarangeng in Pangkejene Islands (Pangkep).

The four women running for vice regent are Nurul Jaman (Pangkep), Rosiana Palloan (Tana Toraja), Indah Putri Indriana (North Luwu) and Andi Sumrah A.P. (Bulukumba).

Women’s participation in provincial elections has shown progress —  despite the current low number of female candidates, said experts and activists.

The number of female candidates was smaller in previous elections for governor, regent and mayor; South Sulawesi General Elections Commission (KPUD) head Jayadi Nas told The Jakarta Post in Makassar.

“In the history of South Sulawesi’s elections, only now has the number of women candidates has reached [its present] level,” he added.

Only one woman has held high office in the South Sulawesi administration: the current vice regent of Selayar, Nursyamsina Aroepala, who is running on a ticket with Muhammad Gunawan Muchtar for the Selayar regency for the 2010-2015 office term.  

Female leadership is not a novelty in South Sulawesi and women were successful rulers in the old kingdoms of Gowa, Bone, Soppeng and Luwu.

Regional elections can show that women can compete equally with men, said Muhammad Al Hamid, a political expert at Hasanuddin University in Makassar.

Elections are the right time and the right place for women to show that they are qualified, capable and skilled candidates for regional leadership positions, he added.

Muhammad said the small number of women candidates in South Sulawesi could be attributed to several factors.

People believe that women are lack the confidence and courage to play a strategic role as leaders, especially in the field of politics and governance, he said.

“Women tend to become their  companions to their husbands instead of playing a lead role themselves.”
External factors that limit electoral opportunities for women are indecisiveness and eastern cultural ideas that limit women to domestic roles, he said.

Women also have a lower level of education than men, he added.

Other social, economic and religious factors stand in the way of women who wish to become leaders, he added.

“These factors combine to reduce the chance of women to emerge in political arena, including in regional elections.”

“Women’s organizations should play a more active role in educating women politically to increase their courage and confidence and to acclimate them to competition in the political arena,” he added.

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