Perceived Masculinities of 2024 Indonesian Presidential Candidates: Revisiting the Notion of Familial Values

This study investigates the ways 2024 Indonesian presidential campaign provides critical insights into what is considered to be ideal male leadership in Indonesia. The year of 2024 is an important political year in Indonesian history as it will be the year when the fifth presidential election will be held. The year of 2023 is even more important as this is the phase when intensive political lobbies among political parties are taking place to determine eligible candidates of the next Indonesian president and vice president.

The primary data of this study is campaign oratories, as well as interviews with the presidential candidates. The oratories and interviews were conducted in 2023 after they have been announced formally by their supporting party to be their chosen candidates.
Presidential campaign oratories and interviews are important sites to delve into the notion of Indonesian masculinities. Indonesian presidents have been dominated by male figures and politics in general have been associated with males. However, previous studies on Indonesian masculinities provide evidence of the furtherance of restrained masculinities. This challenges the notion of being male that we have understood so far. One consistent factor identified in those studies is the presence of familial values as important markers of Indonesian masculinities. With new internal and external challenges, as well as global socio-cultural trends, this study will examine whether the notion of familial values is still an important marker of the next Indonesian male leader.