Gender Issues Seen as Challenges by Indonesian Youth

A survey conducted by the Seventeen Pioneer Foundation (PP17) through Kawula17 reveals that Indonesian young people's understanding of gender issues remains limited.

68% of young respondents claimed to understand these issues, but only to a limited extent. 22% reported not understanding them at all.

These two proportions are significantly higher than those who understand sufficiently (9%) or in depth (1%).

Despite this largely limited understanding, young people could still identify several gender-related challenges in Indonesia.

The most significant issue was sexual violence and harassment, selected by 36% of respondents. This was particularly highlighted by women (40%), housewives (46%), those living in Java (39%), and Sulawesi (41%).

The critical issue of sexual violence and harassment was also chosen by those with a highly progressive (48%) and progressive (43%) activism level. Furthermore, those who felt angry (38%) and very angry (42%), and those who were very interested (42%) in this issue also highlighted it.

The next biggest gender issue was domestic violence (KDRT), selected by 31% of respondents, followed by the rise in child marriage at 19%. The issue receiving the least attention was female genital mutilation (sunat perempuan), at only 2%.

The following list shows gender issues that remain challenges in Indonesia in mid-2025:

• Sexual violence and harassment: 36%

• Domestic violence: 31%

• Rising child marriage: 19%

• Sex and health education: 18%

• Father absence: 14%

• Lack of protection: 12%

• Gender pay gap: 11%

• Postpartum women: 10%

• Limited breastfeeding facilities: 10%

• Stigma against marginalized groups: 9%

• Access to education: 7%

• Traditional gender roles: 7%

• Limited political representation: 6%

• Limited paternity leave: 5%

• Violence against journalists: 5%

• Female genital mutilation: 2%

• Others: 1%

• None of the above: 0%

This survey on the challenges of gender issues involved 1,303 out of 1,342 respondents aged 17-35. Respondents were distributed across Java (60%), Sumatra (19%), Sulawesi (8%), Kalimantan (6%), Nusa Tenggara (6%), and other regions (2%). The gender composition was 49% female and 51% male.

The majority of respondents were private sector employees and civil servants (37%), followed by housewives (16%), students (11%), fresh graduates (9%), and others (26%).

The survey was conducted from July 10-17, 2025, using computer-assisted self-interviewing (CASI) or online survey methods.

(Read: Generation Z in Indonesia: Limited Understanding of Gender Issues)