THE CONTESTATION OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE DISCOURSE IN INDONESIAN STATE ISLAMIC HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS: A GENDER COMMUNICATION ANALYSIS

Authors

  • Marhamah UIN Sultanah Nahrasiyah Lhokseumawe, Indonesia
  • Hartini Mudarsa Universitas Islam Negeri Sultanah Nahrasiyah Lhokseumawe , Indonesia
  • Fauzi Universitas Islam Kebangsaan Indonesia Bireuen , Indonesia
  • Shafira Ulfa Rahmani Universitas Gadjah Mada Yogya, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30983/humanisma.v10i1.10617

Keywords:

Discourse Contestation, Sexual Violence, Gender Communication

Abstract

The contestation of sexual violence discourse within State Islamic Higher Education Institutions (PTKIN) in Indonesia reflects tensions between gender equality, religious values, and institutional authority. This study aims to examine how sexual violence discourse is contested within PTKIN and how gendered power relations, religious values, and institutional interests shape communication practices surrounding prevention and response mechanisms. Employing a qualitative descriptive approach, the research draws on data collected through interviews, observations, and analyses of online news and institutional documents. The findings reveal three interconnected forms of discourse contestation: the operation of gendered power relations in defining sexual violence, communicative silencing that constrains victims’ voices and reporting practices, and competing narratives surrounding prevention and response mechanisms. These contestations demonstrate that sexual violence is not merely a legal or ethical issue but also a communicative and ideological arena in which progressive and conservative interpretations of gender, religion, and institutional responsibility compete for legitimacy. The study contributes to communication scholarship by conceptualizing sexual violence discourse as a site where gendered power relations, religious authority, and organizational interests intersect and shape institutional responses. Its novelty lies in offering a contextual understanding of discourse formation within Islamic higher education, thereby extending gender communication studies beyond conventional legal and policy-centered approaches.

References

Abrams, Zoe. “Explaining Societal Shifts in Victim Blaming and Perpetrator Culpability for Sexual Violence: Evidence From the #MeToo Era.” Sex Roles 91, no. 7 (2025): 1–28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-025-01590-6.

Adawiyah, Robiatul;, Reza Hilmy Luayyin, and M. Nabat Ardli. “Analisis Permendikbud Ristek No 30 Tahun 2021 Dan Konstruksi Sosial Kekerasan Seksual Di Perguruan Tinggi Perspektif Sosiologis.” Al Qodiri: Jurnal Pendidikan, Sosial Dan Keagamaan 19, no. 3 (2022): 781–96.

Ahrens, Courtney E. “Being Silenced : The Impact of Negative Social Reactions on the Disclosure of Rape.” American Journal of Community Psychology 38 (2006): 263–74. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-006-9069-9.

Az-Zahra, Rahma, and Ni Gusti Ayu Roselani. “A Critical Discourse Analysis of Sexual Violence Narratives in The Jakarta Post.” Lexicon 11, no. 1 (2024): 34. https://doi.org/10.22146/lexicon.v11i1.93145.

Bull, Anna. “Learning from Survivors: Reporting Parties’perspectives on How Higher Education Institutionsshould Address Gender-Based Violence Andharassment.” Higher Education Quarterly 78, no. 3 (2024): 1123-1137. https://doi.org/10.1111/hequ.12517.

Dufour, Gena K. “The Insidiousness of Institutional Betrayal: An Ecological Systematic Review of Campus Sexual Violence Response Literature.” Trauma, Violence, & Abuse 25, no. 5 (2024): 3903-3922. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380241265382.

Elizabeth, Dartnall & Rachel Jewkes. “Sexual Violence against Women: The Scope of the Problem.” Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 27, no. 1 (2013): 3-13. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2012.08.002.

Faturani, Raineka. “Kekerasan Seksual Di Lingkungan Perguruan Tinggi.” Jurnal Ilmiah Wahana Pendidikan 8, no. 15 (2022): 480–86. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7052155.

Firdaus, Muhammad Riyyan, Neneng Gina Agniawati Agniawati, and M Solahudin. “Johan Galtung’s Theory of Violence and Conflict: A Study of Pela Gandong’s Local Wisdom as a Media for Conflict Resolution in Ambon.” Gunung Djati Conference Series 4 (2021): 831–48. http://www.conferences.uinsgd.ac.id/index.php/gdcs/article/view/440/252.

Fitri, Ainal, Muhammad Haekal, Almukarramah, Fitri Meliya Sari. “Sexual Violence in Indonesian University: On Students’ Critical Consciousness and Agency.” Gender Equality: International Journal of Child and Gender Studies 7, no. 2 (2021): 153–67. https://jurnal.ar-raniry.ac.id/index.php/equality/article/view/9869.

Galtung, Johan. “Violence, Peace and Peace Research.” Organicom 15, no. 28 (2018): 33–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.11606/issn.2238-2593.organicom.2018.150546.

Gukurume, Simbarashe, and Munatsi Shoko. “Policing Toxic Masculinities and Dealing with Sexual Violence on Zimbabwean University Campuses.” HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies 79, no. 3 (2023): 1–8. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v79i3.8625.

Irwan & Hardianto Djanggih. “Pencegahan Dan Penanganan Kekerasan Seksual Di Lingkungan Perguruan Tinggi.” Journal of Philosopy (JLP) 3, no. 2 (2022): 260–77. https://doi.org/http://www.pasca-umi.ac.id/index.php/jlp/article/view/1471/1697.

Jailani, Muhammad. “Tinjauan Socio Legal Kebijakan Pencegahan Dan Penanganan Kekerasan Seksual (PPKS) Di Perguruan Tinggi Keagamaan Islam (PTKI) – Sk Dirjend Pendis Kemenag RI – Draft Peraturan Rektor Tentang PPKS.” Journal of Gender and Social Inclusion in Muslim Societies 1, no. 2 (2020): 119. https://doi.org/10.30829/jgsims.v1i2.8724.

Kramer, Cheris, Barrie Thorne, Nancy Henley. “Perspectives on Language and Communication.” Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society 3, no. 3 (1978): 638–651. https://doi.org/https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/493507.

Lazar, Michelle M. “Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis: Articulating a Feminist Discourse Praxis.” Critical Discourse Studies 4, no. 2 (2007): 141-164. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/17405900701464816.

Levitt, Peggy, and Merry, Sally. “‘Vernacularization on the Ground: Local Uses of Global Women’s Rights in Peru, China, India and the United States.’” Global Networks 9, no. 4 (2009): 441-461. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0374.2009.00263.x.

Marfu’ah, Usfiyatul, Siti Rofi’ah & Maksun. “Sistem Pencegahan Dan Penanganan Kekerasan Seksual Di Kampus.” Kafa’ah Journal 11, no. 1 (2021): 95–106. http://kafaah.org/index.php/kafaah/index.

Mendesa, Kaitlynn, Tanya Horeck and Jessica Ringrose. “Sexual Violence in Contemporary Educational Contexts.” GENDER AND EDUCATION 34, no. 2 (2022): 129–33. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540253.2022.2032537.

Meria, Aziza, Lukmanul Hakim, Radhiatul Hasnah, and Ruri Afria Nursa. “Women’s Leadership Model in Islamic Religious College (PTKIN) in Implementing Gender Responsive Program Policies (Case Studies at IAIN Bukittinggi, IAIN Ponorogo, and IAIN Metro Lampung) Aziza.” Gender Equality: International Journal of Child and Gender Studies 8, no. 2 (2022): 149–60. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.22373/equality.v8i2.13224.

Nurmila, Nina. “PROPOSING FEMINIST INTERPRETATION OF THE QUR’AN AND AFFIRMATIVE POLICY TO SUPPORT WOMEN LEADERSHIP IN INDONESIAN STATE ISLAMIC HIGHER EDUCATION.” Musawa, Jurnal Studi Gender Dan Islam 19, no. 2 (2020): 125–40. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.14421/musawa.2020.192.125-140.

O’Connor, Pat. “Is Gendered Power Irrelevant in Higher Educational Institutions? Understanding the Persistence of Gender Inequality.” Interdisciplinary Science Reviews 48, no. 4 (2023): 669-686. https://doi.org/10.1080/03080188.2023.2253667.

Ostridge, Lindsay. “Sexual Violence, Secrets, and Work: Rulingrelations of Campus Sexual Violence Policy.” Canadian Review of Sociology/Revue Canadienne de Sociologie 62, no. 1 (2025): 34–54.

Page, Tiffany. “Sexual Misconduct in UK Higher Education and the Precarity of Institutional Knowledge.” British Journal of Sociology of Education 43, no. 4 (2022): 566–83.

Pebriaisyah, Bz Fitri, Wilodati Wilodati & Siti Komariah. “Kekerasan Seksual Di Lembaga Pendidikan Keagamaan: Relasi Kuasa Kyai Terhadap Santri Perempuan Di Pesantren.” Sosietas 12, no. 1 (2022): 1–14. https://doi.org/10.17509/sosietas.v12i1.48063.

Rakhmawati, Dina, Mutimmatul Faidah, Iman Pasu Purba, Diana Rahmasari. “Strengthening the Ecosystem for Preventing and Handling Sexual Violence on Campus to Support Achievements SDGs Gender Equality.” E3S Web of Conferences 450, no. 01007 (2023): 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202345001007.

Rifa’at, Adikarti & Muhammad, Farid. “Kekerasan Terhadap Perempuan Dalam Ketimpangan Relasi Kuasa: Studi Kasus Di Rifka Annisa Women’s Crisis Center.” SAWWA: Jurnal Studi Gender 14, no. 2 (2019): 175–90. https://doi.org/10.21580/sa.v14i2.4062.

Setianingrum, Vinda Maya. “Crisis , Voice , Reputation : Organisational Communication and University Response to Sexual Violence Cases.” Jurnal Studi Komunikasi 10, no. 1 (2026): 169–82. https://doi.org/10.25139/jsk.v10i1.11360.

Setyowati, Retno Manuhoro, Errika Dwi, and Setya Watie. “Muted Group Theory Anomalies in Online Gender-.” Journal of Social Research 3, no. 1 (2023): 252–65. https://ijsr.internationaljournallabs.com/index.php/ijsr/article/view/1939/1137.

Soejoeti, Ariani Hasanah, and Vinita Susanti. “Memahami Kekerasan Seksual Dalam Menara Gading Di Indonesia.” Community : Pengawas Dinamika Sosial 6, no. 2 (2020): 207. https://doi.org/10.35308/jcpds.v6i2.2221.

Suhairi, Nur Afni Khafsoh &. “Pemahaman Mahasiswa Terhadap Kekerasan Seksual Di Kampus.” Marwah: Jurnal Perempuan, Agama Dan Jender 20, no. 1 (2021): 61 – 75. https://ejournal.uin-suska.ac.id/index.php/marwah/article/viewFile/10487/6578.

Syawal, Marsaa Salsabila, Afifah Dwiandini, Divya Hangesty Khaerunnisa and Irwansyah. “Exploring the Role of Muted Group Theory in Understanding Women’S Experiences: A Systematic Literature Review.” International Journal of Humanity Studies (IJHS) 7, no. 2 (2024): 279–94. https://doi.org/10.24071/ijhs.v7i2.7305.

Tannen, Deborah. “Gender Differences in Topical Coherence: Creating Involvement in Best Friends’ Talk.” Discourse Processes 13, no. 1 (1990): 73–90. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/01638539009544747.

Uzair Jan, Muhammad, Riaz Ullah, Muhammad Hamza & Ishtiaq Muhammad. “Muteness and Oppression of Women in The Wasted Vigil from the Perspective of Patriarchy and a Muted Group Theory.” JUniversity of Chitral Journal of Linguistics and Literature 7, no. II (2023): 292–300. https://jll.uoch.edu.pk/index.php/jll/article/view/349/278.

Wood, Julia T., dan Natalie Fixmer-Oraiz. Gendered Lives: Communication, Gender, and Culture. 14th ed. Cengage, 2020. https://www.cengage.com/c/student/9798214144870/?filterBy=Student.

Wulandari, Happy, Dyah Pithaloka, and Sherly Aidya Pasya. “Gender-Based Interpersonal Communication Behavior: When Women No Longer Muted.” LONTAR: Jurnal Ilmu Komunikasi 13, no. 1 (2025): 473–80. https://doi.org/10.30656/lontar.v13.i1.10288.

Downloads

Published

2026-07-01

How to Cite

Marhamah, Mudarsa, H., Fauzi, F., & Rahmani, S. U. (2026). THE CONTESTATION OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE DISCOURSE IN INDONESIAN STATE ISLAMIC HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS: A GENDER COMMUNICATION ANALYSIS. HUMANISMA : Journal of Gender Studies, 10(1), 44–62. https://doi.org/10.30983/humanisma.v10i1.10617

Citation Check

Similar Articles

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.