Linguistic Negotiation of Feminist Discourse Among Generation Z Students in Indonesian Islamic Higher Education

Abstract

This study explores how Generation Z students at Indonesian Islamic Higher Education Institutions (Perguruan Tinggi Keagamaan Islam Negeri/PTKIN) articulate feminist ideas within religious academic contexts. Employing a qualitative research design grounded in critical discourse analysis (CDA), the research examines feminist discourse as a form of social practice shaped by institutional norms, religious values, and ideological constraints. Data were collected from 18 in-depth interviews, three Focus Group Discussions, and 45 Instagram posts produced by students actively engaging with gender-related issues. Analysis was conducted using Fairclough’s three-dimensional model of CDA, integrated with van Dijk’s socio-cognitive approach and Islamic Feminist Theory. The findings reveal that feminist discourse among Gen Z students is not expressed through overt ideological claims but through strategic, context-sensitive linguistic practices. Three dominant strategies emerge: lexical hybridization, mitigation and politeness, and narrative-based experiential discourse. Feminist concepts are reframed using Islamic ethical and jurisprudential vocabulary, allowing gender justice claims to gain moral and religious legitimacy. These strategies also reflect students’ careful social and ideological positioning, as they avoid explicit feminist labeling while aligning their discourse with Islamic values and community norms. Tensions between feminism and Islam are negotiated through discursive ijtihad, emphasizing Qur’anic principles of justice and compassion while de-emphasizing patriarchal interpretations. Overall, the study demonstrates how Gen Z students construct a contextual form of Islamic feminism that prioritizes ethical reasoning, religious legitimacy, and social harmony over ideological confrontation.