Taiwan’s working women lean in, and lean on each other
The #MeToo campaign may not have affected Taiwan like many other parts of the world, but Jane Lu and Estelle Chiu found another way to support women.
«When I was a little, an elderly relative asked what I would be when I grew up. When I said I wanted to be a doctor, she responded that I did not have to work so hard. I could just marry a doctor,» Jane Lu (27) says.
Lu did not become a doctor, but instead took a bachelor's degree in finance at Taiwan's National University. Throughout her studies, she was assured she had the all same opportunities as men, and she could be whatever she wanted.
However, this was not the reality she met when she finished her studies and started working.
It seems to me that even young men think that [derogatory] behavior is okay. I thought they would be more open-minded.
Estelle Chiu
«Nobody knows how to handle sexual harassment»
«Even though the #MeToo campaign has not gotten much attention in Taiwanese media, it does not mean that sexual harassment is not present,» says Estelle Chiu (26), a former classmate of Jane’s, currently working in a bank in Taipei.
She went on to explain that although there is a system within the workplace to protect women from harassment, it does not work. «No one knows how to handle the cases being reported,» clarified Chiu, who has personally experienced derogatory behaviour within the workplace.
Chiu recounted that during a company party, the new employees were supposed to hold a performance on stage. The male colleagues decided all the women should perform a «sexy dance.» The women obviously refused but Estelle was surprised by her male colleagues’ behavior. «It seems to me that even young men think that such behaviour is okay. I thought they would be more open-minded,» she remarked.
American-inspired
Lu decided to establish a national network where women can support, motivate and help each other in the workplace.
The women's network is called «Lean In», and is a self-help group based on American CEO Sheryl Sandberg's concept of strengthening working women. The goal is to motivate women to «lean in,» speak up in meetings and dare to take risks.
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The network does this by establishing small groups, where like-minded women can address challenges related to career or family life in confidence.
«The Lean In Network in Taiwan started off as small, independent groups. So, a friend and I got in touch with all their group leaders and invited them to a joint meeting. We came to an agreement to unite the groups into one large, shared network,» explained Lu.
In addition to the group meetings, Lu and four friends also arrange open events. Here, guests are invited to come and talk about a range of topics, from wage negotiations to how one can find the right significant other.
Many women are told that they are not good enough or that they make too many mistakes. In the end, they forget the passion that got them the job market to begin with.
Jane Lu
Gender equality in Taiwan
According to the Directorate-General for Budget, Accounting and Statistics, Taiwan is ranked 38th in the world when it comes to gender equality. Women are represented in politics and have equal access to health services. But even though there are more women working than ever before, only about 51 percent of Taiwanese women are employed.
Lu believes instilled traditional gender roles create expectations that women should be at home. Men are encouraged from childhood to excel at work whereas women are not. «Instead, many women are told that they are not good enough or that they make too many mistakes. In the end, they forget the passion that got them the job market to begin with,» she explained.
The support and motivation that men have always received is exactly what she wishes to offer women through Lean In. And by supporting working women, she hopes to improve gender equality on the island.
«When I was a student, I thought that creating something to shape a society sounded very ambitious. But now, I’ve realized that the smallest things I do have the ability to influence the future,» she said.
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Slow development
In addition to Lean In, Chiu is working to establish a women's network in the bank where she works. To begin with, she says, female colleagues should strive to get acquainted with each other and share the experiences and challenges they face.
«But in the future, I want to collaborate with Lean In and the UN's ‘He for She’ campaign to make the network even bigger,» explained Chiu. She believes Taiwan will become more equal in future, but thinks the development is moving forward rather slowly:
«The problem with the women's struggle is that most people believe we already have achieved equality. That's why they do not see the value in fighting for it.»
This article is a part of a project in collaboration with Framtida.no, supported by Fritt Ord.
