Konsep kepemimpinan berbasis kesetaraan gender sebagai pilar pembangunan berkelanjutan

Abstract

Leadership is one of the essential elements in guiding organizations and governments toward shared goals, since it shapes direction, policy, and the management of resources. Yet leadership practice in many fields is still marked by gender inequality that narrows women’s access to strategic positions, even though the capacity to lead should be measured by competence rather than sex. This paper examines how leadership grounded in gender equality can serve as a pillar of sustainable development, while also exploring how women’s leadership is viewed within Islam. The findings show that Islam does not prohibit women from leading as long as they possess competence, integrity, and the ability to carry out their responsibilities, as illustrated in the story of Queen Balqis in Surah An-Naml. Leadership based on gender equality has been shown to enrich decision-making perspectives, encourage innovation, and strengthen public trust in the institutions it leads. Even so, its implementation still faces obstacles such as stereotyping, patriarchal culture, subordination, and the double burden experienced by women. Changing mindsets and gaining support from families, educational institutions, and governments are therefore necessary so that leadership opportunities can be accessed fairly by both men and women. With consistent application, gender-equality-based leadership can become one of the foundations for building governance that is inclusive, fair, and sustainable.