Gender Justice in the Regulation of Joint Marital Property Following Divorce in Indonesia

Authors
  • Aisyah Putri

    Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Ampel, Surabaya, Indonesia

    Author

  • Nabila Azzahra

    Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia

    Author

  • Naufan Akmal

    Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

    Author

  • Oumar Diarra

    Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands

    Author

Keywords:
Array, Array, Array, Array, Array
Abstract

This study examines gender justice in the regulation of marital property following divorce in Indonesia by conceptualising the issue not merely as a matter of asset division, but as a broader problem of fragmented legal regimes, the redistribution of economic power, and the governance of post-divorce rights protection. Employing a normative legal methodology, the study adopts a qualitative analytical approach to examine the interaction between Indonesia's plural legal system and the protection of women's economic rights after marital dissolution. The findings reveal that Indonesia's legal pluralism generates inconsistent standards of protection, whereby individuals with comparable socio-economic circumstances may receive substantially different legal outcomes depending on the applicable normative regime and the interpretative approach adopted by the courts. Within this framework, marital property should be reconceptualised as an instrument for redistributing economic power, capable of addressing structural inequalities accumulated throughout marriage, including by recognising unpaid domestic labour and caregiving responsibilities as economically valuable contributions. The study further argues that gender justice cannot be achieved through normative reform alone, but requires a comprehensive reconstruction of family law governance based on a gender-responsive governance approach that integrates regulatory design, institutional capacity, judicial practice, access to justice, legal empowerment, evidentiary mechanisms, and the effective enforcement of judicial decisions. These findings underscore the need to harmonise Indonesia's plural legal regimes and strengthen judicial governance to ensure a more coherent, substantively just, and constitutionally grounded framework for the protection of post-divorce economic rights.

Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
References

Akbaba, B. G. (2025). Family mediation: A critical tool for enhancing women’s access to justice in Turkish family law. Women’s Studies International Forum, 110, 103091. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2025.103091

Alhaq, A. A. M. A., Mutawali, M., & Zein, A. (2025). Pluralism and justice in Indonesian Inheritance Law: A comparative analysis of customary, Islamic, and civil systems. KALOSARA: Family Law Review, 5(2), 43–50. https://doi.org/10.31332/kalosara.v5i2.11434

Anggraeni, R. R. D. (2023). Islamic Law and Customary Law in Contemporary Legal Pluralism in Indonesia: Tension and Constraints. Ahkam: Jurnal Ilmu Syariah, 23(1), 25–48. https://doi.org/10.15408/ajis.v23i1.32549

Ayu, R. F., Hassanal, M., Obubakar, M., & Sholehoddin, S. (2026). Legal Analysis of the Position of Women as Heads of Households in National Law. Indonesian Journal of Gender Justice and Family Law, 1(1), 52–68. https://doi.org/10.65586/ingefal.v1i1.4

Bariyah, O. N., Niwae, Y., & Pertaminawati, H. (2025). Judicial Discretion and Joint Property Interpretation at Banten PTA: Analyzing Justice, Contribution, and Legal Adaptation. FITRAH: Jurnal Kajian Ilmu-Ilmu Keislaman, 11(2), 343–370. https://doi.org/10.24952/fitrah.v11i2.17265

Brandt, S. (2023). The myth of gender neutrality in family court: A clinician’s perspective on determinations of “the best interest of the child.” International Journal of Applied Psychoanalytic Studies, 20(3), 403–434. https://doi.org/10.1002/aps.1838

Bukido, R., Muslihin, M. A., & Karimullah, S. S. (2025). Family Economic Empowerment Strategies in Gangga II Village: A Maqashid Shariah Perspective. Al-Mujtahid: Journal of Islamic Family Law, 5(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.30984/ajifl.v5i1.3438

Fahmi, A., Nasir, M., Anshari, N., Aminah, A., & Nurunnabi, M. (2025). Judicial Practices in Enforcing Post-Divorce Maintenance Rights for Women and Children in Indonesia. Indonesia Private Law Review, 6(2), 103–116. https://doi.org/10.25041/iplr.v6i2.4608

Fathony, M. R., Khiyaroh, L., Karimullah, S. S., & Kustiawan, M. T. (2024). Resistance to Gender Equality: Criticism of Physical Violence from the PKDRT Law Perspective. Indonesian Journal of Islamic Law, 7(1), 105–124. https://doi.org/10.35719/1xjdkk59

Fattah, A. A., Jumiyah, R., Alam, Z. S., Mediana, A. N., & Rauf, I. J. (2025). Negotiating Women’s Reproductive Rights Within the Framework of Islamic Law. Insani: Jurnal Pranata Sosial Hukum Islam, 1(2), 178–193. https://doi.org/10.65586/insani.v1i2.57

Gaddis, I., Lahoti, R., & Swaminathan, H. (2022). Women’s legal rights and gender gaps in property ownership in developing countries. Population and Development Review, 48(2), 331–377. https://doi.org/10.1111/padr.12493

Hayatullah, M., Nasir, M., Kumala, N., & Noval, N. (2026). Implementation of Gender Equality Principles in Religious Court Decisions Related to Divorce. Indonesian Journal of Gender Justice and Family Law, 1(1), 36–51. https://doi.org/10.65586/ingefal.v1i1.3

Hesti, Y., Harahap, B., & Nugraheni, A. S. C. (2025). Economic Vulnerability of Women after Divorce Towards a Gender Responsive Family Law Policy. 3rd International Conference on Law, Economics & Good Governance (ICLAW 2025), 597–605. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-519-5_47

Ikhsan, I., Rahayu, R., & Sularto, R. B. (2025). Bridging Law and Society: Reorienting Sociological Jurisprudence for Progressive Legal Reform in Indonesia. Jurnal Hukum Progresif, 13(2), 313–350. https://doi.org/10.14710/jhp.13.2.313-350

Karimullah, S. S. (2022). The Urgency of Building Legal Awareness on Care of Children in the Family. Amsir Law Journal, 3(2), 76–86. https://doi.org/10.36746/alj.v3i2.66

Karimullah, S. S. (2023). The Family Environment’s Impact on Human Values in Progressive Islamic Education. At-Tarbawi: Jurnal Kajian Kependidikan Islam, 8(2), 89–104. https://doi.org/10.22515/attarbawi.v8i2.7704

Karimullah, S. S. (2024a). A Feminist Critique of the Practice of Polygamy in the Context of Islamic Law and Human Rights. Indonesian Journal of Law and Islamic Law (IJLIL), 6(1), 38–53.

Karimullah, S. S. (2024b). Family First or Business First? Balancing Family and Business Interests in an Islamic Economic Perspective. Al-Hijrah: Journal of Islamic Economics And Banking, 2(2), 216–228. https://doi.org/10.55062/al-hijrah.v2i2.669

Karimullah, S. S., & Aliyah, S. R. (2023). Feminist Criticism of Traditional Understanding of Women’s Roles in Islam. An-Nisa’: Journal of Gender Studies, 16(2), 195–214. https://doi.org/10.35719/annisa.v16i2.177

Karimullah, S. S., Basuki, N. A., Sugitanata, A., & Aminah, S. (2024). The Concept of Nāfaqah in Islamic Law and Women’s Right to Financial Support. El-Izdiwaj: Indonesian Journal of Civil and Islamic Family Law, 5(2), 222–242. https://doi.org/10.24042/el-izdiwaj.v5i2.23534

Karimullah, S. S., Efendi, B., Sattar, S., & Ningsih, T. W. (2023). The Role of the Family in Instilling Islamic-based Business Ethics in Children. HAKAM: Jurnal Kajian Hukum Islam Dan Hukum Ekonomi Islam, 7(2), 270–287. https://doi.org/10.33650/jhi.v7i2.6972

Karimullah, S. S., Mukhid, Ibrahim, Z. S., & Muhajir. (2024). Rethinking Gender In Islamic Law. Musãwa Jurnal Studi Gender Dan Islam, 23(1), 99–113. https://doi.org/10.14421/musawa.2024.223.99-113

Karimullah, S. S., Nugraha, A. R., Nisa, I. S., & Andini, Y. (2023). The relevance of feminism in promoting gender reform in the context of progressive Islam. Jurnal Anifa: Studi Gender Dan Anak, 4(2), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.32505/anifa.v4i2.7187

Karimullah, S. S., Ruchiat Nugraha, A., Andini, Y., & Shofiyatun Nisa’, I. (2023). The Changing Role of Gender in Contemporary Muslim Families. Martabat: Jurnal Perempuan Dan Anak, 7(2), 167–188. https://doi.org/10.21274/martabat.2023.7.2.167-188

Karimullah, S. S., & Sugitanata, A. (2024). Urgensi Pemahaman Gender Pada Anak dalam Membangun Kepribadian yang Berkualitas. NOURA: Jurnal Kajian Gender Dan Anak, 8(1), 54–70. https://doi.org/10.32923/nou.v8i1.3340

Karimullah, S. S., Sugitanata, A., & Elmurtadho, F. (2023). Islamic Family Reform and its Relevance to the Prohibition of Sexual Deviations. AL-AQWAL: Jurnal Kajian Hukum Islam, 2(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.53491/alaqwal.v2i01.530

Kobko-Odarii, V., Leheza, Y., Sokolovskiy, K., Tatarenko, H., & Nestertsova-Sobakar, O. (2025). Reconstructing Gender Equality in Family Law: A Normative and Comparative Analysis of European Family Law Systems in Religious Context. Syariah: Jurnal Hukum Dan Pemikiran, 25(1), 195–214. https://doi.org/10.18592/sjhp.v25i1.17694

Kurniawan, M. R., Fathony, M. R., Yasin, D. T., Jibu, S. A., & Shamat, A. (2025). Political Analysis of Islamic Law on the Regulation of Interfaith Marriage in Indonesia. Insani: Jurnal Pranata Sosial Hukum Islam, 1(1), 32–47. https://journal.mahkotascience.org/index.php/insani/article/view/2

Lenggono, R. P. (2025). Islamic Inheritance Law in Practice Among Multiethnic Muslim Families in Indonesia. Insani: Jurnal Pranata Sosial Hukum Islam, 1(2), 127–143. https://doi.org/10.65586/insani.v1i2.39

Mahfiana, L., Osman, N. D. B., Ariyani, E., & Zahriani, L. (2025). Influence of Religion and Culture on Women’s Rights in Joint Property Settlements in Java, Indonesia. Ijtihad: Jurnal Wacana Hukum Islam Dan Kemanusiaan, 25(1), 117–138. https://doi.org/10.18326/ijtihad.v25i1.117-138

Malik, I., Karimullah, S. S., Okur, H., & Rahman, R. (2025). Gender Analysis in the Islamic Law-Based Ecofeminism Movement for Ecosystem Protection. El-Mashlahah, 15(1), 101–124. https://doi.org/10.23971/el-mashlahah.v15i1.9040

Mas’ udah, S. (2023). Power relations of husbands and wives experiencing domestic violence in dual-career families in Indonesia. Millennial Asia, 14(1), 5–27. https://doi.org/10.1177/09763996211039730

Muttaqin, M. A., Rifa’i, S. D., Yahya, H., & Sakinah, H. (2025). The Dynamics of the Relationship between Islamic Law and Customary Law in Inheritance Disputes in Indonesia. Insani: Jurnal Pranata Sosial Hukum Islam, 1(1), 80–95. https://doi.org/https://journal.mahkotascience.org/index.php/insani/article/view/6

Negara, T. A. S. (2023). Normative legal research in Indonesia: Its originis and approaches. Audito Comparative Law Journal (ACLJ), 4(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.22219/aclj.v4i1.24855

Nisa, I. S., Karimullah, S. S., & Aminah, S. (2022). Arif Sugitanata’s Argumentation In Cultivating A Sakinah Family In Long Distance Marriage Conditions. At-Ta’lim, 2(1), 72–80.

Rifa’i, S. D., Luthfi, M. H., Noer, M. A., & Layla, O. N. (2026). Reformulation of Marriage Law Based on a Gender Justice Perspective. Indonesian Journal of Gender Justice and Family Law, 1(1), 69–85. https://doi.org/10.65586/ingefal.v1i1.5

Sakinah, H., Syaiful, A., Malik, A., Nurhayati, N., & Hossain, A. (2026). Legal Policy on Women’s Protection in the National Family Law System. Indonesian Journal of Gender Justice and Family Law, 1(1), 19–35. https://doi.org/10.65586/ingefal.v1i1.2

Sianipar, G., Wahyunisa, H., Ayu, R. F., Ulfa, M., & Fajri, M. A. (2025). Analysis of Deradicalisation Strategies Through Family Programmes in Indonesia. Jurnal Pelita Raya, 1(2), 106–121. https://doi.org/10.65586/jpr.v1i2.21

Siregar, M. A. H., Abdeldzhalil, A., & Hamim, M. (2026). Reconstructing the Concept of Gender Justice in Indonesia’s Family Law System Based on Constitutional Values. Indonesian Journal of Gender Justice and Family Law, 1(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.65586/ingefal.v1i1.1

Sobardi, A., Rosidi, I., Jamal, K., & Khabibjonovna, K. N. (2025). The Legal Formulation of Marital Joint Property Disputes over Encumbered Assets Based on Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah and Its Implications for Islamic Legal Education. Al-Tadzkiyyah: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 16(2), 623–647. https://doi.org/10.24042/atjpi.v16i2.29717

Suwarni, S., Karimullah, S. S., Kaniah, K., Amanat, T., Safar, M., & Tjahyadi, I. (2024). Inclusive Sexual Education: Integrating Gender Approaches in Learning. AL-ISHLAH: Jurnal Pendidikan, 16(1), 416–427. https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v16i1.4690

Tansel, C. B., & Tilley, L. (2024). Reproducing socio-ecological life from below: Towards a planetary political economy of the global majority. Review of International Studies, 50(3), 514–533. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0260210524000251

Turatmiyah, S. (2025). Marital Property as Debt Collateral without Spousal Consent in Indonesia: Legal Validity, Execution, and Judicial Interpretation. Al-Qadha: Jurnal Hukum Islam Dan Perundang-Undangan, 12(2), 612–624. https://doi.org/10.32505/qadha.v12i2.12907

Turisno, B. E., Natalis, A., Asy’Arie, M. A. H. Al, & Anggayasti, U. H. (2025). Beyond textual reform: a semiotic and feminist critique of Indonesian civil code. International Journal for the Semiotics of Law-Revue Internationale de Sémiotique Juridique, 38(7), 2261–2291. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11196-025-10314-8

Van Uffelen, N. (2022). Revisiting recognition in energy justice. Energy Research & Social Science, 92, 102764. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2022.102764

Wati, T. P., Naimah, N., Karimullah, S. S., & Anggita, I. S. (2022). Consistency of Balinese Family Education in Forming a Love of Culture from Early Childhood. Devotion Journal of Community Service, 3(11), 1–126. https://doi.org/10.36418/dev.v3i11.221

Wiranti, B., Latif, F. A., Hibbatulloh, I., Sakinah, H., & Hidayatullah, M. W. (2025). Political Feminism and Women’s Representation in Public Policy in Indonesia. Jurnal Pelita Raya, 1(1), 1–16. https://journal.mahkotascience.org/index.php/jpr/article/view/11

Cover Image
Published
2026-05-01
Section
Articles
License

Copyright (c) 2026 Aisyah Putri, Nabila Azzahra, Naufan Akmal, Oumar Diarra (Author)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Gender Justice in the Regulation of Joint Marital Property Following Divorce in Indonesia. (2026). Indonesian Journal of Gender Justice and Family Law, 1(2), 86-103. https://doi.org/10.65586/ingefal.v1i2.17