Empowering Indonesian women through UN Women: A Marxist Feminist analysis of policies and their impact

Indonesia continues to face structural gender discrimination, encompassing economic, political, and social inequalities that limit women’s empowerment. Although UN Women Indonesia has initiated policies and programs, their effectiveness is constrained by patriarchal norms, unequal resource distribution, and limited access in remote areas, resulting in suboptimal gender transformation. This study analyzes the role of UN Women Indonesia in empowering women from a Marxist Feminist perspective, highlighting violence reporting technologies (AI Chatbots, DELILA) and strategic collaboration with non-state actors. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed, focusing on policy advocacy, public education, and cross-actor collaboration, with data validity strengthened through triangulation of social media, official websites, and academic literature. The findings indicate that UN Women Indonesia promotes women’s empowerment and addresses gender-based violence through advocacy, social programs, cross-sector collaboration, and technology. From a Marxist Feminist perspective, women’s empowerment must be understood within the context of economic structures, class relations, and reproductive labor, requiring the integration of advocacy, community education, and structural policies to achieve substantial and sustainable gender equality. The results underscore the need for integrative, technology-based, and inclusive women’s empowerment policies that address resource redistribution, reproductive labor, and male engagement to effectively reduce patriarchal domination in Indonesia.