International Women’s Day on March 8 brings an opportunity to reflect on Japan’s ranking in the World Economic Forum’s latest global gender equal ranking — a lowly 125th among 146 nations.
Neighboring Taiwan — which isn’t in the WEF ranking — has a far higher percentage of female politicians than Japan, as well as a woman president.
A quota system has played a key role in boosting female participation in politics. But with an increasing number of women winning elections on votes alone, some Taiwanese are questioning whether it’s still needed.
In Taiwan’s January parliamentary election, more than 40 percent of candidates elected to the legislature were women.
Hsiao Yung-hsuan benefited from the quota system.
Hsiao Yung-hsuan is a member of the Miaoli County Council. She ran in the 2022 local election and won a seat under the quota system.
Under the quota, one out of four seats in Taiwan’s local assemblies must be held by a woman. Hsiao’s electoral district has eight seats, so two are reserved for female candidates.
One female candidate won her seat outright through votes. Hsiao finished 11th. But by coming in second among the female candidates, she claimed the seat that would have gone to the 8th place male candidate had the quota not existed.
The 27-year-old lawmaker says she aims to improve welfare policies.
Hsiao Yung-hsuan believes the quota system encourages women to take part in politics.
“The quota system gives women equal treatment and makes more women want to participate in politics. As a lawmaker I’d like to help many people.”
The Kuomintang ruled Taiwan for about four decades.
Taiwan was under the Kuomintang’s autocratic rule from the late 1940s until the 1980s.
Taiwanese participated in pro-democracy demonstration.
Women’s rights began garnering attention as the pro-democracy movement gained prominence in the 1990s. With the advent of democratic elections, local assemblies started introducing quota systems.
Several decades on, an increasing number of women are winning elections without using the quota system, including three-term Taipei City Council member Chien Shu-pei.
NHK correspondent Yoshida Mayu interviews Taipei City Council member Chien Shu-pei.
Chien together with female colleagues has improved access to childcare facilities, making it easier for mothers to work.
Chien and her colleagues have dramatically increased the number of childcare facilities in Taipei.
They have set up childcare facilities using available space in elementary schools, which can accept children even during long holidays for reasonable fee.
With the support of male colleagues, they have been able to increase the number of such facilities in Taipei from 18 to 54 in just eight years.
A mother praises the childcare facility that Chien helped establish.
“I think it’s wonderful for female lawmakers to promote the establishment of childcare facilities.”
Another mother says, “It’s very helpful to be able to have places that can care for children during the summer and winter holidays.”
Chien has focused on improving childcare facilities.
“Women are not the only ones who are interested in improving childcare policies. Male assembly members increasingly feel that policies related to childrearing can win votes. This makes it easier to have productive discussions on childrearing policies.”
National Taiwan University Professor Huang Chang-ling says the increase in the number of women taking part in politics has changed the mindsets of male lawmakers and opened the door for diverse opinions in politics.
National Taiwan University Professor Huang Chang-ling
She says, “One major effective outcome is that the Taiwanese no longer think politics is a man’s business. If you have all these women in politics, you think politics is something both men and women can do.”
Huang also points out how Taiwan’s political culture has evolved since the quota was implemented.
“In the old days, male Taiwanese politicians tended to conduct negotiations outside of the legislature, for example at a karaoke bar with female hostesses. That kind of practice is very common in Japan and probably other Asian countries. But now with all the female politicians, they have to conduct negotiations in the legislature. The political culture has changed a bit.”
Liu Mi-shan lost his reelection bid for the Tainan City Council due to the quota system.
In elections held in 2022, only four female candidates in four local assemblies needed the quota system to win seats. The success of the rest has prompted some male lawmakers to question its necessity.
Liu Mi-shan served one term in the Tainan City Council. He sought reelection, but lost due to the quota system.
Liu acknowledges the positive aspects of bringing more female lawmakers in the assembly, but feels Taiwan has progressed to the point where it’s time to review the system.
Liu questions whether the quota system is still needed given the success of women in Taiwanese politics.
“Is it necessary to continue the quota system now that many women are taking part in politics? The numbers of female and male lawmakers are roughly equal and I don’t think we need it anymore.”
A report by Japan’s Cabinet Office shows that as of 2020 about 120 countries and territories had introduced a quota system. Japan has not, and women account for about 16 percent of lawmakers in its Upper and Lower Houses.
Huang says, “If Japanese male politicians really care about the country’s national image, I think something needs to be done.”
