This report presents research on gender and corruption in two public sectors in Indonesia that have regulatory frameworks for women’s representation: legislative bodies and electoral management bodies (EMBs: KPU and Bawaslu). The study examines the perceptions and views of male and female members of these institutions on corruption, the factors that influence their acceptance or rejection of corrupt practices, and the role of women’s political representation in the anti-corruption agenda in Indonesia. The aim is to explore and evaluate the role and impact of women’s political representation in combating corruption and supporting anti-corruption initiatives in Indonesia’s public sector.
The research employs a mixed-method approach, combining surveys, in-depth interviews, and literature reviews for data collection. Surveys were conducted with 205 members of the provincial KPU (General Election Commission) and provincial Bawaslu (Election Supervisory Body), considering the participants’ demographic characteristics. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 individuals from six categories of informants: members of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), provincial and district/city legislative councils (DPRD), political party members, members of KPU RI and provincial KPU, members of Bawaslu RI, provincial Bawaslu, civil society activists, and academics. These interviews aimed to explore their views on gender and corruption in legislative and electoral management bodies. Literature reviews were used to enrich the research data and provide a broader perspective on the studied issues.
The study’s findings indicate that, generally, corruption is gender-neutral, meaning both women and men are equally vulnerable to engaging in corrupt practices. However, there are significant gender-based differences in perception: men perceive women to be more prone to corrupt behavior than men. Conversely, the majority of female respondents believe that women are more capable of implementing an anti-corruption agenda than men. Attitudes and behaviors towards corruption and anti-corruption are influenced by individual will and intention, regardless of gender.
