Taiwan’s local political development has undergone significant transformations over the years, with women’s political participation becoming increasingly important. However, female village and neighborhood chiefs often face multiple challenges when entering the public sphere and engaging in local governance. These challenges stem from traditional social structures, gender role expectations, and unequal resource distribution.
In terms of women’s political representation, Taiwan has made notable progress at higher levels of government: women account for over 40 percent of legislators and more than 30 percent of city and county councilors. In contrast, women constitute only around 15 percent of village and neighborhood chiefs, revealing what has been described as an “inverted triangle” pattern in women’s political participation—the lower the level of governance, the fewer women are represented.
In response, the Graduate Institute of Public Affairs, National Taiwan University, together with the Taiwan Association for Local Governance Studies and the Chinese Association of Government and Public Affairs, is organizing this panel discussion. The event will focus on how grassroots female political leaders integrate local resources, address neighborhood issues, promote public policies and infrastructure projects, and advance more inclusive forms of community governance.
Through practical case studies, the discussion will explore how female village and neighborhood chiefs employ innovative thinking and leadership to overcome structural constraints such as unequal resource allocation, political power imbalances, and gender discrimination. Panelists will also share their successful experiences in community development, the promotion of gender equality policies, and the delivery of public services. It is hoped that this lecture and discussion will inspire more women to participate in grassroots politics and work together to create a more just, inclusive, and equitable society.
Event Information
Date & Time:
Saturday, November 1, 2025, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Venue:
Room 814, 8th Floor, College of Social Sciences
National Taiwan University
Moderator
Wan-Ying Yang
Professor, Department of Political Science, National Chengchi University
Opening Speaker
Yen-Wen Peng
Professor, Graduate Institute of Public Affairs Management
National Sun Yat-sen University
Panelists
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Li-Shan Lin
Professor, Department and Graduate Institute of Administrative Management
Central Police University
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Chia-Wei Liu
Professor, Department of Public Administration and Policy
National Taipei University
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Li-Ni Huang
Village Chief, Wanyou Village
Wenshan District, Taipei City
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Hsiu-Hao Wu
Village Chief, Wuquan Village
Xinyi District, Taipei City
Organizers
Graduate Institute of Public Affairs, National Taiwan University
Taiwan Association for Local Governance Studies
Chinese Association of Government and Public Affairs
Sponsor
Taiwan Foundation for Democracy
Registration Link
https://forms.gle/LBxvd1bC27pxm3MdA