The awareness of Generation Z about Manifestation of Women's

Subordination and Marginalization

Endah Siswati1), Yefi Dyan Nofa Harumike2), Fera Tara Batari3)

1)
FISIP, Universitas Islam Balitar Blitar
2)
FISIP, Universitas Islam Balitar Blitar
3)
FISIP, Universitas Islam Balitar Blitar

Email: endah.soepeno71@gmail.com

Abstract
This research examines Generation Z's awareness of the manifestation of two
forms of gender inequality, namely subordination and marginalization. This
descriptive quantitative research involved 100 male students and 100 female
students born between 1995-2010 as respondents. Data collection was carried out
by distributing questionnaires (google form) on WhatsApp social media. This
research found that the manifestation of women's subordination is not sufficiently
recognized by generation Z. This can be seen from the opinion of the majority of
respondents, both men and women, who agreed that men should be leaders and
women should be the ones who are led. The man must represent the family. Wives
are prohibited from working to earn a living without their husband's permission.
All the wife's activities outside the home must be with her husband's permission.
The wife must submit and obey her husband. Meanwhile, Generation Z's
awareness of the manifestations of marginalization is slightly better. The majority
of respondents do not agree that in equal work the wages of male workers are
greater than those of women. The majority of respondents do not agree that family
allowances are only intended for male workers. Only a few respondents agreed
that women were better off working at home. The majority of respondents do not
agree if it is said that women are only suitable to do work that does not require
expertise and skills, and are more suitable to do work that is of a service nature.

Keywords: gender, generation Z, marginalization, subordination, women.

INTRODUCTION

Men have dominated social life for a very long period of time. The root that
gives birth to this domination is patriarchy; a social system that places men as
holders of authority and central figures (Bressler, 2007). Men in the patriarchal
system are placed as the sole, centralized and everything rulers (Rokhmansyah,
2018), while also acting as the main controllers in society, while women have
little or no role or influence at all in social life (Ade and Dessy , 2017). Women
are also considered lower in rank than men because of their physical condition and
weaknesses. This assumption makes men superior and women inferior (Mahfudz,
1994).
The order of superiority and inferiority of men and women is a socio-
cultural construction, because naturally the position of every human being is equal
(Muhammad 2001, Nugrogo 2011, Kartini & Maulana 2019). This patriarchal
construction gives rise to various forms of discrimination, inequality and injustice
against women, such as stereotypes, subordination, marginalization, double
burdens and violence (Nugroho, 2011, Kartini & Maulana 2019). However,
patriarchal culture has been socialized and internalized by society from generation
to generation. This confirms male dominance while simultaneously perpetuating
forms of gender injustice so that justice and gender equality become increasingly
difficult to achieve (Kartini & Maulana 2019).
The Indonesian government has actually made various efforts to eliminate
gender discrimination and injustice. Several international conventions to achieve
gender equality have been ratified. Various legal and policy products have been
issued to realize gender equality and justice. Gender mainstreaming has been used
as a development strategy in all fields. Various programs and activities to build
community gender awareness have also been implemented (UNDP, 2019). If we
look at these various efforts, it is logical that society's gender awareness has
increased, including awareness about forms of gender inequality and their
manifestations. But what are the empirical facts? This research was conducted to
answer this question and focus the study on generation Z's gender awareness;
especially students regarding the manifestation of two forms of gender injustice,
namely subordination and marginalization. Why were generation Z students
chosen? The highly educated young generation born between 1995-2010 is part of
the generation that will determine the future. This generation is familiar with
technological developments and is adept at using them so it is assumed that they
can access a lot of information, including information about gender (Wibawanto,
2016). It is hoped that the results of this research can be used by government and
non-government institutions as a reference in preparing development programs
with a gender perspective.

RESEARCH METHOD
 This descriptive quantitative research focuses attention on generation Z's gender
awareness regarding the manifestation of two forms of gender injustice, namely
subordination and marginalization. Generation Z is the generation born between
1995-2010 (Muhazir and Nazlinda, 2015). The research population was 748 social
and political science students at Balitar Islamic University, Blitar, who were
assumed to have a tendency to be interested in social issues, including gender
issues. Next, using a quota sampling technique, the researchers selected 100 male
students and 100 female students born between 1995-2010 as respondents.
Research data was collected through a questionnaire (google form) and analyzed
using quantitative descriptive analysis methods. Researchers calculate and
compare the percentages of respondents' answers, then interpret the data and draw
conclusions logically and critically.

FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

Respondent Identity
Respondents consisted of 100 male students and 100 female students with an
age range of 19-27 years. The majority of respondents are Muslim (96%), and the
others are Catholic (2%), Christian (1.5%) and Atheist (0.5%). The majority are
Javanese (97.5%), and the other respondents are Chinese (1%), Mangarai (1%)
and Sundanese (0.5%).

Awareness of Repondents regarding Manifestations of Subordination

Respondents' awareness of subordination in this study was seen from respondents'
responses to nine formulated statements that were generally associated with
subordination. Researchers sorted the responses of male and female respondents
to compare the two. Researchers then combined the responses of male and female
respondents to determine the respondents' overall awareness of subordination.

Table 1
Responses of male respondents regarding manifestations of subordination

Num Statement Agree Doubtful Disagree Amount

 N % N % N % N %
Men must be leaders in the family
1 87 87 9 9 4 4 100 100
and society.
Men are leaders and women are
2 62 62 18 18 20 20 100 100
those who are led.
Men are decision makers and
3 40 40 30 30 30 30 100 100
women are decision implementers.
Men must represent the family in
4 76 76 11 11 13 13 100 100
society.
Important and vital decisions in the
5 61 61 18 18 21 21 100 100
family are in the hands of men.
The position of women in relation to
men in the family is swarga nunut,
6 38 38 36 36 26 26 100 100
neraka katut (hitch a ride to heaven,
ride along to hell)
Wives should not working to earn a
7 living without her husband's 80 80 14 14 6 6 100 100
permission.
All the wife's activities outside the
8 home must be with the husband's 80 80 15 15 5 5 100 100
permission.
The wife must submit and obey her
9 77 77 17 17 6 6 100 100
husband.

From the table above it is known that the majority of male respondents
agree: 1) men must be leaders in the family and society (87%), 2) men are leaders
and women are those who are led (62%), 3) men are decision makers and women
are decision implementers (40%), 4) men must represent the family in society
(76%), 5) important and vital decisions in the family are in the hands of men
(61%), 6 ) the wife must not work to earn a living without her husband's
permission (80%), 7) all the wife's activities outside the home must be with her
 husband's permission (80%), and, 8) the wife must submit and obey her husband
(77%).

Table 2
Responses of female respondents regarding manifestations of subordination

Agree Doubtful Disagree Amount

Num Statement
N % N % N % N %
1 Men must be leaders in the
67 67 15 15 18 18 100 100
family and society.
2 Men are leaders and women are
50 50 19 19 31 31 100 100
those who are led.
3 Men are decision makers and
women are decision 21 21 30 30 49 49 100 100
implementers.
4 Men must represent the family
42 42 29 29 29 29 100 100
in society.
5 Important and vital decisions in
the family are in the hands of 29 29 25 25 46 46 100 100
men.
6 The position of women in
relation to men in the family is
swarga nunut, neraka katut. 34 34 31 31 35 35 100 100
(hitch a ride to heaven, ride
along to hell)
Wives should not working to
7 earn a living without the 68 68 23 23 9 9 100 100
husband's permission
All the wife's activities outside
8 the home must be with the 75 75 16 16 9 9 100 100
husband's permission.
9 The wife must submit and obey 55 55 28 28 17 17 100 100
 her husband.

Based on the data above, it can be seen that the majority of female
respondents agree: 1) men must be leaders in the family and society (67%), 2)
men are leaders and women are those who are led (50%), 3) wives should not
working to earn a living without the husband's permission (68%), 4) all the wife's
activities outside the home must be with the husband's permission (75%), and, 5)
the wife must submit and obey her husband (55%). Meanwhile the majority of
female respondents did not agree that; 1) men are the decision makers and women
are the ones who implement the decisions (49%), 2) important and vital decisions
in the family are in the hands of men (46%).

Table 3
Responses of male and female respondents regarding manifestations of
subordination
Agree Doubtful Disagree Amount
Num Statement
N % N % N % N %
1 Men must be leaders in the
154 77 24 12 22 11 200 100
family and society.
2 Men are leaders and women
112 56 37 18,5 51 25,5 200 100
are those who are led.
3 Men are decision makers and
women are decision 61 30,5 60 30 79 39,5 200 100
implementers.
4 Men must represent the family
118 59 40 20 42 21 200 100
in society.
5 Important and vital decisions in
the family are in the hands of 90 45 43 21.5 67 33,5 200 100
men.
6 The position of women in 72 36 67 33,5 61 30,5 200 100
relation to men in the family is
swarga nunut, neraka katut.
 (hitch a ride to heaven, ride
along to hell)
7 Wives should not working to
earn a living without the 148 74 37 18,5 15 7,5 200 100
husband's permission
8 All the wife's activities outside
the home must be with the 155 77,5 31 15,5 14 7 200 100
husband's permission.
9 The wife must submit and obey
132 66 45 22,5 23 11,5 200 100
her husband.

The table above shows that the majority of male and female respondents
agree: 1) men must be leaders in the family and society (77%), 2) men are leaders
and women are those who are led (56%), 3) men must represent the family in
society (59%), 3) important and vital decisions in the family are in the hands of
the man (45%), 4) wives are not allowed to work to earn a living without their
husband's permission (74%), 5 ) all the wife's activities outside the home must be
with the husband's permission (77.5%), 6) the wife must submit and obey her
husband (66%).
Based on the data presented above, it appears that the majority of male
respondents agree with almost all statements that describe male dominance in
social and family life. The majority of female respondents also gave the same
agreement to most of the statements indicating male dominance in social and
family life. The majority of female respondents only disagreed on two issues
which stated that men are decision makers and women are decision makers (49%),
and that important and vital decisions in the family are in the hands of men (46%).
The rejection percentage is also no more than 50%.
The agreement of the majority of respondents, both men and women, on
statements indicating men's dominance over women and women's subordination,
indicates that generation Z's awareness or understanding of the position, role and
function of men and women in social and family life is still internalize patriarchal
social and cultural values. Generation Z still believes that women's position in
 relation to men is subordinate. While men are seen as ordinates who occupy a
central position; as the main ruler who holds control.

Awareness of Repondents regarding Manifestations of Subordination

Respondents' awareness of marginalization in this study was seen from
respondents' responses to seven formulated statements that were generally
associated with marginalization. Researchers sorted the responses of male and
female respondents to compare the two. Researchers then combined the responses
of male and female respondents to determine respondents' awareness of the
manifestation of marginalization as a whole.

Table 4
Responses of male respondents regarding manifestations of marginalization

Agree Doubtful Disagree Amount

Num Statement
N % N % N % N %
1 It is normal that the
wages/salaries of male
workers to be greater than
27 27 22 22 51 51 100 100
the wages/salaries of female
workers even though the
type of work is the same.
2 It is natural that family
allowances are only
intended for male workers 46 46 17 17 37 37 100 100
because they are the heads
of the family.
3 Men are more suitable to be
leaders and decision makers 55 55 23 23 22 22 100 100
than women.
4 Women are better off 44 44 27 27 29 29 100 100
 working or earning a living
at home than outside the
home.
5 Women are suitable for
work that does not require 23 23 23 23 54 54 100 100
special skills and abilities.
6 Women are more suited to
34 34 23 23 43 43 100 100
serving work than men.
7 Women are more suited to
work that requires diligence,
78 78 9 9 13 13 100 100
precision or accuracy and
patience than men.

The table above shows that the majority of male respondents agree; 1) family
allowances are only intended for male workers because they are the head of the
family (46%), 2) men are more suitable to be leaders and decision makers than
women (55%), 3) women are better off working or earning a living in home rather
than outside the home (44%) and, 4) women are more suitable to do work that
requires diligence, accuracy and patience than men (78%). On the other hand, the
majority of male respondents do not agree that the wages or salaries of male
workers are greater than the wages or salaries of female workers for the same type
of work (51%). They also disagree with the statement that women are more suited
to work that does not require special skills and expertise (54%), as well as serving
jobs compared to men (43%).
Table 5
Responses of female respondents regarding manifestations of marginalization

Agree Doubtful Disagree Amount

Num Statement
N % N % N % N %
1 It is normal that the 17 17 19 19 64 64 100 100
wages/salaries of male workers
to be greater than the
 wages/salaries of female
workers even though the type
of work is the same.
2 It is natural that family
allowances are only intended
18 18 19 19 63 63 100 100
for male workers because they
are the heads of the family.
3 Men are more suitable to be
leaders and decision makers 23 23 33 33 44 44 100 100
than women.
4 Women are better off working
or earning a living at home than 21 21 39 39 40 40 100 100
outside the home.
5 Women are suitable for work
that does not require special 8 8 26 26 66 66 100 100
skills and abilities.
6 Women are more suited to
14 14 26 26 60 60 100 100
serving work than men.
7 Women are more suited to
work that requires diligence,
57 57 22 22 21 21 100 100
precision or accuracy and
patience than men.

The data table above shows that the majority of female respondents disagree; 1)
wages or salaries for male workers are greater than wages or salaries for female
workers for the same type of work (64%), 2) family allowances are only intended
for male workers because they are heads of families (63%), 3) men are more
suitable to be leaders and decision makers than women (44%), 4) women are
better off working or earning a living at home than outside the home (40%) and,
5) women are suitable to do work that does not require expertise and skills
specifically (66%), and 6) women are more suitable to do working service than
men (60%). However, the majority of female respondents agreed that women are
 more suitable to do work that requires diligence, accuracy and patience than men
(57%).

Table 6
Responses of male and female respondents regarding manifestations of
marginalization

Agree Doubtful Disagree Amount

Num Statement
N % N % N % N %
1 It is normal for the wages or
salaries of male workers to be
greater than the wages or
44 22 41 20,5 115 57,5 200 100
salaries of female workers
even though the type of work
is the same.
2 It is natural that family
allowances are only intended
for male workers because 64 32 36 18 100 50 200 100
they are the heads of the
family.
3 Men are more suitable to be
leaders and decision makers 78 39 56 28 66 33 200 100
than women.
4 Women are better off
working or earning a living at 65 32,5 66 33 69 34,5 200 100
home than outside the home.
5 Women are suitable for work
that does not require special 31 15,5 49 24,5 120 60 200 100
skills and abilities.
6 Women are more suited to
48 24 49 24,5 103 51,5 200 100
serving work than men.
7 Women are more suited to 135 67,5 31 15,5 34 17 200 100
 work that requires diligence,
precision or accuracy and
patience than men.

The data table above shows that the majority of male and female
respondents disagree; 1) wages or salaries for male workers are greater than
wages or salaries for female workers for the same type of work (57.5%), 2) family
allowances are only intended for male workers because they are heads of families
(50%), 3) women should work or earn a living at home rather than outside the
home (34.5%), 4) women are suitable to do work that does not require special
skills and skills (60%) and, 5) women are more suitable to do service work than
men (51.5%). However, the majority of respondents agreed that men are more
suitable to be leaders and decision makers than women (39%), and women are
seen as more suitable to do work that requires diligence, accuracy and patience
than men (67.5%).
The responses of male and female respondents to manifestations of
marginalization are somewhat different. The majority of male respondents agreed
that they were more suitable to be leaders and decision makers than women. They
also agree that family allowances are only intended for male workers because they
are the heads of the family. They also think that women are better off working at
home. The answers of the majority of male respondents show that generation Z
men still refer to old views and values where men are placed in the public sphere
and act as heads of families who are responsible for carrying out productive
functions. Meanwhile, women are placed in the domestic sphere and act as
housewives who are responsible for carrying out reproductive domestic functions.
However, the majority of female respondents rejected the three things that
male respondents agreed with above. This indicates that generation Z women have
better gender awareness compared to generation Z men, especially regarding
issues of marginalization or discrimination. Generation Z women have understood
that they have the same opportunities and rights as men to take part in the public
sphere and carry out productive functions, and are also worthy of leading and
making decisions. Furthermore, the rejection of the majority of respondents, both
men and women, regarding differences in wages or salaries for male and female
workers indicates that generation Z has an awareness of the principles of justice
and gender equality by rejecting forms of marginalization and discrimination
caused by differences in gender. . Then, the rejection of the majority of
respondents, both men and women, regarding the statement that women are
suitable to do work that does not require skills and is of a service nature, shows
that generation Z has moved away from the old view which believes that the best
jobs for women are household and service work. The development of generation
Z's gender awareness may be related to their knowledge and experience of the
realities of the social life of women and men today, as well as the results of
development and gender mainstreaming promoted by the government in all areas
of life.
Meanwhile, in general, generation Z's gender awareness is still low,
especially in relation to manifestations of subordination and marginalization of
women, which is thought to be caused by patriarchal culture which is still firmly
embedded in people's lives (Rokhimah 2014, UNDP 2019). This happens because
the gender construction process has been going on for a very long period of time.
Patriarchal values and ideologies resulting from societal construction are
socialized and internalized from generation to generation so that tradition is
considered something natural and difficult to erode (Nugroho 2011, Kartini &
Maulana 2019, Siswati 2022). Furthermore, the gender socialization process
carried out through parents, family, peers, educational institutions, mass media
and social media, often contains gender-biased messages. Likewise with the
socialization and internalization of religious teachings and regional cultural
values. These gender-biased socialization messages reinforce and perpetuate
patriarchal culture (Muhammad 2001, Kasiyan 2008, Siswati 2015, Siswati 2019).
On the other hand, the gender socialization process carried out by government and
non-government institutions to build gender awareness has not been able to reach
the entire community (UNDP 2019). Meanwhile, society itself is not interested
and has an a priori attitude towards issues related to gender, thus hampering
efforts to build public awareness (Siswati 2022).
 However, efforts to increase generation Z's gender awareness of various
forms of gender injustice and their manifestations must continue to be pursued in
line with efforts to erode patriarchal culture and the division of traditional gender
roles. The government is required to continue to promote gender mainstreaming
strategies in every aspect of development, including carrying out gender outreach
regularly and continuously. Government and non-government institutions can
work together in carrying out this socialization process (Siswati 2022).
Furthermore, efforts to reinterpret and deconstruct religious texts and
thoughts that are unfair to women need to be continued and facilitated, as is done
by scholars such as KH Husein Muhammad and the Yellow Book Study Forum
(Muhammad 2001). Likewise, regional cultural values are discriminatory against
women and perpetuate male dominance. These cultural values need to be
reinterpreted and deconstructed (Siswati 2022).
In particular, students' gender awareness can be built through adjusting the
teaching curriculum on campus. New courses on gender and gender
mainstreaming can be added to the curriculum. At least gender themes or issues
can be included in existing course discussions (Siswati 2022). Students also need
to be facilitated to conduct research and be involved in various scientific forums
that discuss gender themes and issues (Susanti & Maubah 2020).

CONCLUSION
Even though the government has promoted various efforts to build society's
gender awareness, generation Z's gender awareness regarding manifestations of
subordination and marginalization is not yet good enough. Generation Z's
awareness of the position, role and function of men and women in social and
family life still refers to old patriarchal social and cultural values. Generation Z
still views women's position in relation to men as subordinate. Meanwhile men
are the ordinates who occupy a central position; as the sole ruler in control.
However, generation Z, especially women, seems to have understood that
they have the same opportunities and rights as men to take part in the public
sphere and carry out productive functions. They have understood the principles of
justice and gender equality so that they reject forms of marginalization and
discrimination that originate from gender differences.

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