Decoding female political leadership: the interplay of culture, constraints and identity among Indonesian women politicians

Purpose This study investigates how an individual's culture, upbringing and systemic barriers affect the way women navigate the political landscape, while considering the persistent underrepresentation of women in Indonesian politics. This study offers a new Typology, offering insights into identity strategies that emerge among successful women political leaders. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative methodology was used, involving in-depth interviews conducted in office with nine elected female figures, including ministers and national and regional legislative bodies leaders of diverse major political parties. Thematic coding was used to analyse narratives and develop a typology of leadership identities. Findings The analysis revealed four distinct leadership identity typologies: the Cultural Strategist, Institutional Insider, Disruptive Innovator and Technocratic Builder. These identities reflect the complex interplay of systemic constraints, cultural expectations and personal agency shaping women's political involvement. These typologies demonstrate that women leaders strategically navigate political spheres through diverse, often overlapping identity performances rather than adhering to a single leadership model. Originality/value This study contributes a typology of female political leadership identities in Indonesia, offering insights into the micro-level strategies women use to assert influence in a structurally constrained system.