The clash between the public and private gender relations in Taiwan

This lecture will discuss the paradox of the uneven progress in gender relations in Taiwan between the public and private spaces.

In contrast to many other Asian countries and its own historical context, Taiwan has made significant strides towards gender equality. Utilizing cross-country gender-related indexes as benchmarks, Taiwan emerges as relatively gender-equal, particularly highlighted by its performance on the Gender Inequality Index (GII). 

According to the UN's Gender Inequality Index (GII), Taiwan ranked second highest for gender equality in the world in 2012, and it has consistently remained in the top ten for the past decade (Taiwan’s Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, DGBAS). Moreover, Taiwan excels in female parliamentary representation compared to its Asian counterparts, consistently maintaining a top-ten GII ranking over the past decade. 

However, Taiwan's progress is not without complexities, as evidenced by its standing on the Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI). Taiwan ranked 91st among 179 countries for discrimination within families in 2019, but remarkably leaped to the 2nd position by 2023, showcasing an unusual and rapid advancement within a short span.

How can we address the paradox of uneven progress in gender relations in Taiwan？In the latter half of the twentieth century, Taiwan underwent profound social transformations propelled by modernization and democratization. Modernization transitioned Taiwan from an agrarian to an industrialized and eventually postindustrialized society, reshaping its socioeconomic fabric and gender dynamics. 

Concurrently, democratization witnessed the pivotal role of the women's movement in civil society, advocating fervently for gender equality. Yet, how has this movement influenced the state, market, and familial relationships? In what ways has it shaped the state and redefined gender relations in Taiwan? Lastly, how do we address the internal disparities and contrasting transitions in Taiwan's gender dynamics across private and public spheres, considering their temporal evolution?