STRUCTURAL CHALLENGES OF MUSLIM CAREER WOMEN IN INDONESIA

(An Islamic Perspective)

Authors

  • Rustriningsih - Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Ampel Surabaya

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21154/ijougs.v7i01.7911

Keywords:

Muslimah Karir, Tantangan, Islam Indonesia

Abstract

The modern paradigm shift of women from the domestic sphere to the public arena as career professionals has emerged as a critical discursive issue, particularly regarding their self-actualization and professional development. This study aims to investigate the structural challenges faced by career women in Indonesia and evaluate the conceptual perspectives of Indonesian Islamic movements regarding women's professional public roles. Employing a qualitative descriptive-analytical method based on a systematic library research design, this study synthesized an extensive corpus of related academic literature and policy frameworks. The findings demonstrate that the landscape for career women in Indonesia has progressively improved, with women increasingly occupying egalitarian positions alongside men in terms of career advancement opportunities across diverse public sectors. However, this expanding access remains severely constrained by systemic impediments. Despite their growing integration into the workforce, Indonesian career women continue to confront deeply entrenched barriers, including the double burden of balancing domestic and professional roles, persistent gender wage gaps, disparities in educational attainment, and various manifestations of gender-based violence. Regarding religious perspectives, both Islam Nusantara (represented by Nahdlatul Ulama) and Islam Berkemajuan (represented by Muhammadiyah) strongly endorse women's public participation. This institutional support is manifested through the establishment of autonomous women's wings intended to facilitate Muslim women's socio-political agency. Nevertheless, the progressive frameworks of these two major Islamic organizations have not yet fully dismantled the structural challenges inherent in the field, as patriarchal domination remains pervasive within Indonesian society. Consequently, this study underscores the urgent need for strategic interventions to mitigate these barriers by institutionalizing gender-responsive career frameworks, accelerating higher education for women, and enforcing rigorous legal protections against all forms of gender-based violence.

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Published

2026-07-05

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 01 (2026)

Section

Articles

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