Taiwan is often recognized globally for its progressive politics and democratic values. Yet, what remains less discussed is its impressive—and evolving—journey toward gender equality in governance. While many countries still grapple with tokenism or minimal representation, Taiwan has taken deliberate legal and political steps to build a more balanced democracy, where women aren’t just participants but changemakers.
Raising the Bar: A Call for Change in Local Government Act
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmaker Fan Yun recently turned the spotlight back on a key issue: the unequal representation of women in local politics. As the 11th Legislative Yuan neared the end of its second session, Fan urged the Internal Administration Committee to amend Article 33 of Taiwan’s Local Government Act. Her proposal: increase the mandated female-to-male ratio from 1:4 to 1:3 in local councils.
This change, though seemingly small, carries weight. The current law—last amended in 1999—requires one woman representative for every four seats in city and county councils. However, the law fails to ensure female representation in smaller districts where fewer than four seats are available. This legal gap has allowed as many as 40 out of 135 council constituencies to remain entirely male-dominated. Fan Yun’s push aims to fix this oversight and bring women into the local decision-making fold.
Why the Quota System Still Matters
Kaohsiung City Councillor Cherry Tang emphasized that the quota system has played a key role in increasing female participation in Taiwanese politics. She noted that women now comprise approximately 40 percent of the central legislature—a milestone reflecting decades of intentional policy and cultural shift.
And yet, despite these successes, there’s work to be done. While representation at the national level is strong, the numbers at city and county levels are still concerning. As of recent data, just 29.6 percent of 3,048 municipal seats are held by women. And in Taiwan’s foreign service—where there are no quotas—men continue to dominate leadership roles. Out of 110 overseas missions, 91 are still headed by men.
Historical Foundations and Legal Backbone
Taiwan’s journey to gender equality didn’t begin yesterday. The foundation was laid in 1946, when the Republic of China Constitution granted women equal rights and reserved a portion of elected positions for them. This early vision led to 201 women joining the National Assembly and 82 being elected to the Legislative Yuan, out of thousands of total seats.
As Li-min Hsueh, associate research fellow at the Chung-Hwa Institution for Economic Research, pointed out, these numbers were groundbreaking when compared to women’s political representation in many Western democracies at that time.
Subsequent laws, like the 1999 Local Government Act and Taiwan’s 2007 adoption of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), further anchored women’s rights in the political arena.
Where Progress Stalls: Leadership Without Quotas
Adjunct assistant professor JhuCin Rita Jhang from National Taiwan University highlighted a stark contrast: areas without quotas continue to reflect lower female representation. Cabinet positions, for instance, have only 23.5 percent women—well below the nearly 42 percent seen in the Legislative Yuan.
According to Jhang, critics of the quota system argue it compromises merit-based selection, but this is a false dichotomy. In reality, the system compensates for historical and structural barriers that have long prevented women from entering politics on an equal footing. Representation isn’t charity—it’s justice.
Jhang, who herself ran for office in 2020 under the Green Party banner, stressed that quotas are a mechanism to ensure the government reflects its diverse population. And the numbers back her up. The National At-Large and Overseas Compatriots Constituency enforces a 50 percent female quota, contributing significantly to women’s participation in parliament.
Looking Ahead: Toward a 50/50 Future
Taiwan has already elected two female vice presidents and, notably, had Tsai Ing-wen serve two full terms as president. And in the six major municipalities—Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung—women secured nearly 40 percent of council seats in the 2022 elections.
Still, the aspiration now is to move beyond quotas and toward normalization. Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, elected in 2024, has already expressed her hope to see female representation rise to 50 percent across all political platforms.
Such a future isn’t just desirable—it’s necessary. A truly democratic system must ensure that all segments of society are represented, especially in places where policies are drafted, budgets are made, and lives are impacted.
Taiwan’s efforts show that achieving gender parity in politics is possible—not only through cultural change but through bold legislative action. The Local Government Act revision might just be the next step in Taiwan’s journey, nudging local governments toward a future where every woman’s voice has not just a place, but power.
