1. Women in Taiwan Chou, Bih-er, Clark, Carl, and Clark, Janet, Women in Taiwan Politics: Overcoming Barriers to women’s participation in a Modernizing Society, 1990 Chou, Bih-er, Clark, Carl, and Clark, Janet, Women in Taiwan Politics: Overcoming Barriers to women’s participation in a Modernizing Society, 1990 Clark, Cal and Clark, Janet. The Social and Political Bases for Women’s growing political Power in Taiwan, Maryland Series in Contemporary Asian Studies, 2002. Clark, Cal and Clark, Janet. The Social and Political Bases for Women’s growing political Power in Taiwan, Maryland Series in Contemporary Asian Studies, 2002. 1

2. Women in Taiwan Introduction Introduction Democratization in Taiwan Democratization in Taiwan The Taiwan Women’s Movement The Taiwan Women’s Movement Equal Rights for Women Equal Rights for Women –Rapid Industrialization –The Reserved Seat System –Political Participation Current status of women Current status of women 2

3. Introduction Evidence of human settlement in Taiwan dates back 30,000 years – first inhabitants may have been different from those currently on the island. – –Ancestors of the current Taiwan aborigines are genetically related to the Malays and the Polynesians.   They settled in Taiwan about 4,000 years ago.   Linguists classify their languages as Austronesian – an estimated 380,000,000 people around the world are thought to be of Austronesian descent. – –Map showing the distribution of the Austronesian language family (light pink).

4. Introduction (2) Different European countries had dealings with Tawan: – –A Portuguese ship came across the main island of Taiwan and named it "Formosa", meaning "Beautiful Island” but the Portuguese did not try to colonize it (1544). – –The Dutch set up a commercial base and began to import workers from Fujian province as laborers (1624). – –The Spaniards also built a settlement in the north for a brief period, but were driven out by the Dutch in 1642. Zheng Cheng-gong 郑成功, of the Ming dynasty, retreated to Taiwan (1662) after he was defeated in his fight against the Manchus (Qing Dynasty: 1644-1911). – –Zheng defeated the Dutch and established a base of operations on the island to try to re-conquer the China Mainland.

5. Introduction (3) The Qing defeated the Zheng forces (1683) and ruled it for 200 years. – –The Qing ceded Taiwan to Japan (1895) – after the First Sino-Japanese War (1984-1985). Taiwan was returned to China – Republic of China (ROC) -- ruled by Kuomingtang (KMT) (1945) – after the Japanese surrendered at the end of World War II. After Chiang Kai-shek was defeated by the Communists, he and his troops retreated to Taiwan (1949).

6. Introduction (4) In Taiwan, Chiang Kia-shek and the KMT continued to claim to be the legitimate government of all China. In Taiwan, Chiang Kia-shek and the KMT continued to claim to be the legitimate government of all China. –The KMT Government kept the institutions and the laws of the ROC as a continuation of its rule during the Republican Period (1911-1949). Therefore:  Women had the vote and could stand as candidates for elections as had been decided by the Constitution of the ROC (1936).  Women had a guarantee of a minimum of 10% of seats (Reserved Seat System) in legislative bodies at all levels of government (1946 – Constitution of the ROC). 6

7. Democratization in Taiwan Democratization in Taiwan was a three stage process: Democratization in Taiwan was a three stage process: –Chiang Kai-shek Rule: 1950s and 60s –  Political power was in the hands of Mainlanders (those who came from the China Mainland after 1949) -- 15% of population.  Political repression of the opposition (Taiwanese – descendants of Fujian workers imported by the Dutch) -- kept the oppression at a minimum.  Local elections were allowed -- factions fought against each other. –Local elections was a valuable base for future reform. –Electoral competition became legitimized and regularized. 7

8. Democratization in Taiwan (2) –Taiwanese political factions were integrated into the lower levels of the political regime. –Chiang Ching-kuo Reforms: 1972 –  Gradual liberalization of policies including electoral politics.  Bringing more Taiwanese and educated technocrats into high level positions.  Tolerating more open opposition such as the formation of human rights groups and social action groups.  1986 – –The major opposition party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), was legalized – prior to then, non-KMT members could only run as independents. 8

9. Democratization in Taiwan (3)  1987: Martial law was abolished. –The senior legislators, elected in the 1940s before the Government moved to Taiwan, were forced to retire. –There were direct elections for top executive positions – including the Governor for Taiwan Province, the mayors of Taipei and Kaohsiung, and in 1996, the president.  1996: Taiwanese voted for president (again in 2000, 2004 and 2008  1996: Taiwanese voted for president (again in 2000, 2004 and 2008).  2000: election of Chen Shui-bien (DDP) as President. –The emergence of DDP as the largest party in the Legislative Yuan after the 2001 elections. 9

10. The Taiwan Women’s Movement The women’s movement in Taiwan is in its 3 rd decade. The women’s movement in Taiwan is in its 3 rd decade. Early in the 50's and 60's, there were women organizations such as YWCA and Women's Association in Taiwan. Early in the 50's and 60's, there were women organizations such as YWCA and Women's Association in Taiwan. –The major purposes of these organizations were to assist the elderly and the disabled, and, most of all, to function as a communication channel for their members. –Members were women from wealthy families. In the early 1970s the first wave of Taiwan women’s movement arose after Ms. Shiow-Lien (Annette) Lu 呂秀蓮 declared her "New Feminism." In the early 1970s the first wave of Taiwan women’s movement arose after Ms. Shiow-Lien (Annette) Lu 呂秀蓮 declared her "New Feminism." –Ms. Lu returned to Taiwan after her education at Harvard University. 10

11. The Taiwan Women’s Movement (2) –She had been exposed to the American Feminist Movement during her studies in the US. –She published her book, New Women Principle or Shing Nyu Shing Zhu Yi ( 新女性主義 ). Her book brought the public's attention to the unequal treatment of women in Taiwan society. Her book brought the public's attention to the unequal treatment of women in Taiwan society. Shortly after she published her book she was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment – she served 5 years and 4 months and was released to go to the US for treatment of thyroid cancer. Shortly after she published her book she was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment – she served 5 years and 4 months and was released to go to the US for treatment of thyroid cancer. Two reasons were given for her imprisonment: Two reasons were given for her imprisonment: 1.Her participation in demonstrations for democracy (Taiwan Independence). 11

12. The Taiwan Women’s Movement (3) 2. Her publication: “Your motive to launch such a movement is to destabilize the society, especially to arouse dispute between the husbands and the wives of our high ranking officials so that their marriages may be broken”. The Awakening of Women magazine was founded in 1982 to arouse women's self-awareness and to strive for women's rights. The Awakening of Women magazine was founded in 1982 to arouse women's self-awareness and to strive for women's rights. –To mobilize more women, the Awakening Foundation was later established in 1987 to fight for women's rights and to improve the social conditions of women, raise feminist consciousness, to eliminate sexism and to promote gender equity. 12

13. The Taiwan Women’s Movement (4) Many different women's organizations have been formed since the martial law was lifted in 1987. Many different women's organizations have been formed since the martial law was lifted in 1987. –Some provide practical services and assistance to women. –Others, actively take part in political and social movements to:  Urge the modification of laws;  Monitor the government's implementation of public policies to improve women's status in Taiwan society. Women in Taiwan have done well for two important reasons: Women in Taiwan have done well for two important reasons: –The rapid industrialization of Taiwan –The Reserved Seat System 13

14. Equal Rights for Women Rapid Industrialization When the KMT went to Taiwan, it had brought: – –Precious metal and foreign currency reserve (approx. US$170) of China to the island. – –Many Chinese intellectual and business elites. Taiwan was able to jumpstart its economy as: – –Japan had already built an agricultural and industrial infrastructure in Taiwan. – –The US provided US$4 billion in financial aid and soft credit (over the 1945-1965 period).

15. Equal Rights for Women Rapid Industrialization (2) Since women’s status was portrayed as equal to that of men: Since women’s status was portrayed as equal to that of men: –Women in the countryside had some freedom of choice in marriage even during the first 30 years of KMT rule. –Girls with elementary and junior high education were encouraged by government to enter the workforce. –To supplement their agricultural income, most families sent their daughters into the factories where they lived in dormitories.  The wages of these young girls were sent back to the family who gave them an allowance (the money was sometimes used to support a son for further education) –Work exposed the young girls to the larger society and they gained increased independence and self-esteem. 15

16. Equal Rights for Women Rapid Industrialization (3) –The economic contribution of the young girls encouraged their families to value them more and to delay their marriage. –The girls were more mature when it was time for marriage and can then have a say in the choice of partners. As Taiwan became more urbanized and nuclear family residence was more common, the marriage bond became stronger and working women depended on their mothers-in-law for child care (1970s). As Taiwan became more urbanized and nuclear family residence was more common, the marriage bond became stronger and working women depended on their mothers-in-law for child care (1970s). Despite the fact that Taiwan has a strong patriarchal society, rapid industrialization has enabled women to move into professional and administrative positions. Despite the fact that Taiwan has a strong patriarchal society, rapid industrialization has enabled women to move into professional and administrative positions. –Women’s position depended upon their class positions and educational attainments. 16

17. Equal Rights for Women The Reserved Seat System The reserved seat system of about 10% of positions in the legislature was guaranteed by the ROC Constitution (1936). The reserved seat system of about 10% of positions in the legislature was guaranteed by the ROC Constitution (1936). –Example:  If 5 seats were available and a slate of 5 men had the highest number of votes, the 5 th had to step down to give the place to the woman with the highest number of votes. –The woman gaining the highest number of votes was guaranteed the seat whether she finished 7 th or 8 th. By the 1970s and 1980s, women occupied more than their minimum number of seats on the lower council elections (between 1/5 and 1/3). By the 1970s and 1980s, women occupied more than their minimum number of seats on the lower council elections (between 1/5 and 1/3). By the mid-1980s, women occupied 10% of the seats on the National level. By the mid-1980s, women occupied 10% of the seats on the National level. 17

18. Equal Rights for Women The Reserved Seat System (2) Chiang Kai-shek had tolerated democratic opposition by Mainlander intellectuals. Chiang Kai-shek had tolerated democratic opposition by Mainlander intellectuals. –Wives began to run for election and many were elected. –Wives of imprisoned opposition members (those who stood for Taiwan Independence) also ran for election as Independents.  Wives of imprisoned opposition “Family member” Chiashu 家屬 campaigns became a way to express dissent.  Two wives of opposition leaders were elected in 1980. –These women used their offices to champion for the opposition “cause” and helped establish the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in 1986. 18

19. Equal Rights for Women The Reserved Seat System (3) Male opposition leaders were released from prison after the end of martial law in 1987. Male opposition leaders were released from prison after the end of martial law in 1987. They gained control of the party (DPP) and were not focused on women’s issues. They gained control of the party (DPP) and were not focused on women’s issues. When women fought for their rights within the party, it was agreed that 25% of the DDP slate would go to the women. When women fought for their rights within the party, it was agreed that 25% of the DDP slate would go to the women. –These women actively represented the interests of women. The initial cabinet of Former president, Chen Shui-bian had more women than the previous KMT cabinet. The initial cabinet of Former president, Chen Shui-bian had more women than the previous KMT cabinet. 19

20. Equal Rights for Women Political Participation Women’s Success in Legislative Yuan Elections Women’s Success in Legislative Yuan Elections 20 Year# of women elected% of Total winners 196919% 1975411% 19891313% 19984319% 20013917%

21. Equal Rights for Women Political Participation (2) Women’s cabinet positions: Women’s cabinet positions: 21 # of women % First cabinet with women, 1988 Post: Minister of Finance 1% Last KMT cabinet, 1999415% First DPP cabinet, 20001323%

22. Equal Rights for Women Political Participation (3) 2005: 2005: –2 county magistrates (8.7%); –234 councilwomen (26%), –32 Legislators of the Legislative Yuan (18.2%); –17 councilwomen in Taipei (32.7%) and –10 councilwomen in Kaohsiung (22.7%) in the 2002 election. Kaohsiung, the second largest city of Taiwan, has a female mayor, beginning 2007. Kaohsiung, the second largest city of Taiwan, has a female mayor, beginning 2007. – http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%99%B3%E8%8F%8A http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%99%B3%E8%8F%8A –http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%99%B3%E8%8F%8A 22

23. Current status of Women Despite the achievements there are still problems: Despite the achievements there are still problems: –Political Participation:   36.6% of personnel in civil service are women but they are mostly in the lower ranks (41.4 ％ ).   Only 11.9% of political appointees are women. – –Gender Gap in pay – in the industry sector, women are paid 69.2% of males; in the service sector, they are paid 83.1%. Can CEDAW help the women when Taiwan is not a member of the UN? Can CEDAW help the women when Taiwan is not a member of the UN?  see National statistics at:  For more information of data on women see National statistics at: –http://eng.stat.gov.tw/public/data/dgbas03/bs2/gender/Image s%20of%20Women.pdf 23

24. Current status of Women (2) Since the ROC/Taiwan Government was forced to give up its seat in the UN (1971) to the PRC, Taiwan has continued to fight for the inclusion of its government and its 23 million people within the UN. Since the ROC/Taiwan Government was forced to give up its seat in the UN (1971) to the PRC, Taiwan has continued to fight for the inclusion of its government and its 23 million people within the UN. –Taiwan is still recognized as the legitimate government of China by about 23 small nations in Africa, South America, and the Pacific Islands. CEDAW is one of the UN treaties that allow non-UN nations to actively participate; in 2007, the Taiwan Legislature passed and adopted CEDAW. CEDAW is one of the UN treaties that allow non-UN nations to actively participate; in 2007, the Taiwan Legislature passed and adopted CEDAW. –CEDAW has not yet accepted Taiwan but suggested that Taiwan participate in international non-government organization (NGO) events - - Taiwan NGOs have been actively participating in such activities with funding from the Government. 24

25. Current status of Women (3) The Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM) of Taiwan in 2004 was 0.692, ranked the 20 th among 75 countries. – –In Asia, it is second to Singapore (18th), ahead of Japan (43rd) and South Korea (54th).   Indicates the advancement of women in terms of political participation and economic empowerment. – –GEM (produced by the UN) uses the female share of parliamentary seats, the female share of positions as legislators, senior officials and managers; female share of professional and technical positions, and the ratio of estimated female to male earned income.