Taiwan Universities Fall Short on Gender Equity: Survey Reveals Gaps in Support

Student Advocacy Group Highlights Deficiencies in LGBTQ+ Support, Committee Transparency, and Inclusive Practices.

Taipei, April 18 - A recent survey conducted by a student advocacy group across 17 universities in Taiwan has revealed significant shortcomings in gender equity support, sparking calls for greater institutional accountability and improved practices.

Released two days before Taiwan's Gender Equity Education Day, the survey, conducted by the Student Alliance for Gender Equality, highlighted crucial areas needing immediate attention. The findings underscore the disparity between legal mandates and actual implementation across both public and private universities.

Under the Gender Equality Education Act, every school in Taiwan is required to establish a gender equality committee. This committee is tasked with investigating gender equity cases, planning for a safe and gender-fair campus, and other key responsibilities.

Sydney Shao (邵思宇), a student at National Taiwan University (NTU) and a member of the university's gender equity committee, noted concerning transparency issues. "Two institutions did not make their gender equity committee member lists available," Shao stated. "Only two disclosed members' stances on gender equity or relevant professional experience." Furthermore, the survey revealed that none of the participating universities allow student involvement in the selection process of committee members, and a majority fail to disclose selection criteria.

Shao questioned the lack of transparency, stating, "How can students who have been hurt feel reassured under such an opaque system?" She also pointed out the reality of understaffed gender equity committees, noting that six surveyed schools have no full-time personnel dedicated to these critical affairs, relying instead on part-time staff. Even at institutions with dedicated staff, like NTU, one full-time officer can be responsible for nearly 8,000 students.

Lillian Hsiao (蕭錦蓮), a student at Kaohsiung Medical University's Graduate Institute of Gender Studies, further emphasized the lack of support for individuals with diverse gender identities. Despite Article 20 of the Gender Equity Education Act, which mandates that teachers maintain gender equity awareness and avoid discrimination, Hsiao revealed that only four of the 17 universities have established anonymous reporting mechanisms available to address discrimination.

Hsiao shared a poignant anecdote about a nonbinary student who was publicly questioned by a teacher in class, highlighting the pervasive fear of reporting incidents due to potential academic repercussions. She emphasized that such incidents of discrimination make it challenging for students to feel safe and secure while learning.

Josephine Tai (戴靜茹), a student at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, addressed the need for more inclusive dormitory arrangements, particularly for transgender students. The survey indicated that only six universities offer gender-friendly dormitories, and 14 have not made their transfer mechanisms for gender-diverse students publicly available. Tai noted that this lack of clarity often leads to uncertainty and anxiety for students seeking to change dormitories.

In response to these findings, Wu Lin-hui (吳林輝), head of the Ministry of Education's (MOE) Department of Student Affairs and Special Education, acknowledged the issues and noted that a similar internal survey by the ministry had revealed the lack of stable staffing in some schools. Wu stated that the MOE has urged universities to prioritize full-time personnel allocation, even though such staffing falls under university autonomy.

Regarding gender-friendly dormitories, Wu explained that they are not explicitly mandated under current building regulations. The MOE is now promoting such dormitories through policy guidance and resource support to help universities accelerate their progress toward gender equity.