From Popularity to Function: Legislative Performance, Substantive Representation of Female Celebrity Legislative Members for the 2019-2024 Period

Tutting Anggraeni, Teguh Yuwono, Fitriyah Fitriyah and Laila Kholid Alfirdaus
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Tutting Anggraeni: Universitas Diponegoro
Teguh Yuwono: Universitas Diponegoro
Fitriyah Fitriyah: Universitas Diponegoro
Laila Kholid Alfirdaus: Universitas Diponegoro

Technium Social Sciences Journal, 2026, vol. 85, issue 1, 194-205

Abstract: This study examines the performance of female members of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia with celebrity backgrounds during the 2019–2024 period. Although the quota policy has increased women's representation in the House of Representatives to 20.52% in the 2019 election, the presence of celebrity politicians is still often seen with scepticism because it is considered more dependent on popularity than legislative capacity. This study aims to explain how they carry out the legislative function, what factors support and hinder this performance, and the extent to which they provide substantive representation for constituents and on women's issues. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, this study examines two of the seven female celebrity members of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia, namely NA and DR, through a literature review of DPR documents, media reports, parliamentary monitoring records, and a limited number of semi-structured interviews. The analysis uses the Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña models and integrates theories of political elites, celebrity politics, political representation, and legislative performance. The findings show that celebrity backgrounds don't automatically determine low or high performance. Popularity is only effective as electoral capital. To be useful in parliamentary work, the capital must be converted into policy knowledge, organizational experience, party position, and negotiating skills. Nurul Arifin and DR demonstrated substantive performance through their involvement in the bill's discussion, leadership of the working committee, supervision, and advocacy on issues affecting women and vulnerable groups. This research offers the concept of conversion gap, the typology of substantive, participatory, and symbolic celebrity legislators, as well as the reading that women's presence in parliament is important, but not enough without substantive capacity and commitment.

Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:tec:journl:ojs:13747

DOI: 10.47577/tssj.v85i1.13747

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