Exploring the Role of Gen Z Women: A Case Study of Aqeela in the Television Drama Asmara Gen Z
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70211/wesw.v2i2.303Keywords:
Cultural Identity, Gender Studies, Gen Z Women, Indonesian Television Drama, Media RepresentationAbstract
This study investigates the representation of Gen Z women in Indonesian television drama through a case study of Aqeela in Asmara Gen Z. The research addresses the growing importance of media in shaping perceptions of gender and youth identity, particularly among female Gen Z who negotiate between traditional expectations and modern aspirations. Using a qualitative research design, the study applied content analysis and Barthes’ semiotic approach to ten purposively selected episodes that highlight Aqeela’s character development. The analysis revealed a clear transformation in Aqeela’s portrayal: from an empathetic and caring figure in the early episodes, to a reflective and assertive individual in relational contexts, a socially engaged leader in collective settings, and ultimately an empowered character capable of confronting injustice. These findings demonstrate that Indonesian sinetron can function not only as a medium of entertainment but also as a cultural text that negotiates gender roles and articulates hybrid identities of young women. The study contributes to media and gender scholarship by offering evidence of how television narratives can construct multidimensional female characters, and it provides practical implications for educators and media practitioners to use popular culture as a platform for discussing gender equality and youth empowerment.
References
P. Limilia, R. A. Gelgel, and L. R. Rahmiaji, "Digital Literacy Among Z Generation in Indonesia," Jan. 2022, pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.15405/epsbs.2022.01.02.1.
P. Mertala, S. López-Pernas, H. Vartiainen, M. Saqr, and M. Tedre, "Digital natives in the scientific literature: A topic modeling approach," Comput. Human Behav., vol. 152, p. 108076, Mar. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2023.108076.
A. Febliza, A. Kadarohman*, S. Aisyah, and N. Abdullah, "Generation Z and the Use of Digital Technology: A Review from 2014 to 2023," J. Pendidik. Sains Indones., vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 53-67, Jan. 2025. https://doi.org/10.24815/jpsi.v13i1.40797.
Arfian Suryasuciramdhan, Lapina Lena, Khansa Luqyana Meida, and Yesya Vatria Barasa, "Analisis Perubahan Representasi Gender Dalam Iklan Televisi Di Indonesia," TUTURAN J. Ilmu Komunikasi, Sos. dan Hum., vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 01-13, May 2024. https://doi.org/10.47861/tuturan.v2i3.1010.
A. F. Sonni, V. C. C. Putri, M. Akbar, and I. Irwanto, "Platform-Specific Masculinities: The Evolution of Gender Representation in Indonesian Reality Shows Across Television and Digital Media," Journal. Media, vol. 6, no. 1, p. 38, Mar. 2025. https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6010038.
N. Kurnia, K. Indasah, and A. Amarilisya, "Tren Kajian Media, Gender dan Inklusi Sosial dalam Senarai Jurnal Komunikasi di Indonesia," J. Ilmu Komun., vol. 20, no. 2, p. 117, Aug. 2022. https://doi.org/10.31315/jik.v20i2.6784.
P. A. Lestari and H. Y. A. Elfattah, "Media, Gender, and Identity: Challenges and Strategies for Equitable Representation," Sinergi Int. J. Commun. Sci., vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 73-86, Apr. 2025. https://doi.org/10.61194/ijcs.v3i2.652.
Maria Petersen and Ida Madsen, "Media Representation of Gender Roles : An Analysis of Television and Advertising in Contemporary Society," Int. J. Humanit. Soc. Sci. Rev., vol. 1, no. 2 SE-Articles, pp. 21-26, May 2024. https://doi.org/10.62951/ijhs.v1i2.138.
A. Sutandio, "The final girls in contemporary Indonesian horror films: reclaiming women's power," Cogent Arts Humanit., vol. 10, no. 1, Dec. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2023.2186593.
S. A. Putri, "Analysis of Women's Representation in Indonesian Films," Enigm. Cult., vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 40-42, Feb. 2024. https://doi.org/10.61996/cultural.v1i2.48.
N. Biasini and A. Saskia Zahwa Zeusta, "Reconstruction of Women Portrayal in Indonesian Movies," 2024. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.112315.
Y. Hasan, R. R. Wulan, I. K. Nurhayati, and D. A. W. Sintowoko, "Women on the screen: A comparison of gender representation in Indonesian cinema," ProTVF, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 92-111, Mar. 2025. https://doi.org/10.24198/ptvf.v9i1.58206.
B. A. Q. A'yun, I. H. Ramadhan, S. N. Aini, and A. Akalili, "Symbolic Violence Representation Against Women in 'Suara Hati Istri - Anjani' at an Indonesian Television," in Proceedings of the International Conference of Social Science and Education (ICOSSED 2021), Paris: Atlantis Press SARL, 2023, pp. 25-30. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-494069-55-8_5.
Basri and M. Afifulloh, "K-drama and Indonesian film hybridity in shaping youth identity: A postcolonial study," Int. J. Innov. Res. Sci. Stud., vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 939-947, Feb. 2025. https://doi.org/10.53894/ijirss.v8i1.4470.
Qanitah Salma, Rini Sartika, and Putri Handayani, "Analisis Interaksi Dan Respon Penonton Di Media Sosial Terhadap Sinetron 'Asmara Gen Z' Dengan Menggunakan Teori Uses And Gratification," Filos. Publ. Ilmu Komunikasi, Desain, Seni Budaya, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 205-212, Jan. 2025. https://doi.org/10.62383/filosofi.v2i1.513.
S. M. Mahmudah, M. Rahayu, and K. Prasetyo, "Virtual identity in the use of Tiktok for youth in Jakarta, Indonesia," Bricol. J. Magister Ilmu Komun., vol. 9, no. 2, p. 209, Sep. 2023. https://doi.org/10.30813/bricolage.v9i2.3916.
D. Yoanita, V. G. Chertian, and P. D. Ayudia, "Understanding gen z's online self-presentation on multiple Instagram accounts," J. Stud. Komun. (Indonesian J. Commun. Stud., vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 603-616, Jul. 2022. https://doi.org/10.25139/jsk.v6i2.4922.
L. U. Sitompul, F. Noviani, and S. Sembiring, "Constructing Self Identity through Social-Media: In the Perspective of Gen Z," in Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Law, Social Sciences and Education, ICLSSE 2023, 1st June 2023, Singaraja, Bali, Indonesia, EAI, 2023. https://doi.org/10.4108/eai.1-6-2023.2341418.
M. Winarnita, N. Bahfen, A. R. Mintarsih, G. Height, and J. Byrne, "Gendered Digital Citizenship: How Indonesian Female Journalists Participate in Gender Activism," Journal. Pract., vol. 16, no. 4, pp. 621-636, Apr. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2020.1808856.
B. Istiyanto, K. Y. S. Putri, V. L. Muzykant, A. M. Siregar, and A. V. Khadiz, "R. Barthes's Semiotic Approach to Media Reports: Indonesian Сase," Rudn J. Lang. Stud. Semiot. Semant., vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 430-442, 2024. https://doi.org/10.22363/2313-2299-2024-15-2-430-442.
J. W. Creswell and C. N. Poth, Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches. SAGE Publications, 2017. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=gX1ZDwAAQBAJ.
N. K. Denzin and Y. S. Lincoln, The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research. SAGE Publications, 2017. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=AmPgDQAAQBAJ.
Setyaningsih and P. Palupi, "Beauty Representation in Scarlett Whitening Advertisement: Roland Barthes' Semiotic Analysis," Proceeding ISETH (International Summit Sci. Technol. Humanit., pp. 456-467, Apr. 2023. https://doi.org/10.23917/iseth.2970.
F. Isnaini, B. Setyono, and S. Ariyanto, "A visual semiotic analysis of multicultural values in an Indonesian English textbook," Indones. J. Appl. Linguist., vol. 8, no. 3, p. 545, Jan. 2019. https://doi.org/10.17509/ijal.v8i3.15253.
Nurhasanah Purba and Khairunnisa Tambunan, "Semiotic Analysis of Roland Barthes on Wardah Advertisement Version 'I Face of Indonesia,'" LingLit J. Sci. J. Linguist. Lit., vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 113-126, Sep. 2021. https://doi.org/10.33258/linglit.v2i3.511.
E. Barus, A. Aisyah, E. F. Siregar, and R. Risnawaty, "An Analysis of Roland Barthes' Semiotic Theory: Focusing on Denotation, Connotation, and Myth," Int. J. Educ. Res. Excell., vol. 4, no. 2 SE-Articles, pp. 355-363, Jul. 2025. https://doi.org/10.55299/ijere.v4i2.1438.
K. O. Dharma, F. Pratami, and Z. N. Sadiyyah, "Family Meanings in Perunggu's '33X' Music Video: The Study of Semiotic Analysis Roland Barthes," Sinergi Int. J. Commun. Sci., vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 13-27, Feb. 2024. https://doi.org/10.61194/ijcs.v2i1.225.
N. Rinjani and K. Pertiwi, "Investigating Women Leadership Construction in New Media: Indonesia's Context," 2022. https://doi.org/10.4108/eai.27-7-2021.2316919.
R. Ajjawi, J. Tai, M. Dollinger, P. Dawson, D. Boud, and M. Bearman, "From authentic assessment to authenticity in assessment: broadening perspectives," Assess. Eval. High. Educ., vol. 49, no. 4, pp. 499-510, May 2024. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2023.2271193.
C. Seemiller and M. Grace, Generation Z: A Century in the Making. Routledge, 2018. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429442476.
S. Banet-Weiser, Empowered: Popular Feminism and Popular Misogyny. Duke University Press, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1215/9781478002772.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Faridha Noer Barkah, and Chania Pitrisia
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.