HUMANISMA : Journal of Gender Studies
Vol. 10 No. 1 (2026): June 2026

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

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



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Jul 2026

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.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

psga

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Environmental Science Social Sciences

Description

HUMANISMA: Journal of Gender Studies (e-ISSN: 2580-7765 & p-ISSN: 2580-6688) is a Academic Journal Publication by Center for the Gender and Children Studies of State University for Islamic Studies (UIN) Sjech M. Djamil Djambek Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Indonesia. It specializes in research on ...