Women And Local Democracy: A Study on The Engagement of Women Candidates in the 2020 Elections in Central Java

The aim of this research is to comprehend the involvement of women as candidate on head regional election on the year of 2020 in middle java. As we have known that there was a significant amount of woman as candidate where is ten fights for Regent or Major and seven of then winning the competition. There also six women candidates run for vice regent or vice Major and four of them also being the winner. Based on thus fact the research interested in analysing what the main factor that determine of women became nomination and winning the competition. Do strengthening gender identity also being important part that supporting women candidate in getting support from the voter? The method research is use qualitative descriptive with the main goal is getting of comprehensive answer of the research question. Instrument for collecting data based on depth interview with key informant. The result of research points out that it is harder for women to be nominated because of patriarchy that still treat as special and given priority for male candidate. For the competition process also not easy for women candidate because of an expensive cost of the competition. There were several factors that determine of women for winning competition. Firstly, they should have of an economic capital not only to meet of the campaign need but also of money politics practice that cannot be avoided by whoever of candidate. Secondly, they also must prepare with good political networking.