Written by Ming-yeh T. Rawnsley. This article explores how the Taiwanese political drama Wave Makers helped catalyse Taiwan’s 2023 #MeToo movement by fostering empathy, challenging victim-blaming, and providing language for collective action. Drawing on XinLing Li’s recent book, it examines television’s capacity to shape public discourse while acknowledging its limitations in producing lasting social change.
Written by Yi-Ping Wu. The 2024 Taiwan Theatre Report analyses the trends in Taiwan’s theatre scene, highlighting the rising popularity of musicals and comedy while addressing the impact of the #MeToo movement. Finally, the government’s launch of the Taipei Theatre Awards signals institutional support, even as the industry faces challenges balancing commercial success with artistic and social responsibility.
Written by Yixin Xu. This article argues that the novel Fang Si-Chi’s First Love Paradise can be considered a significant contribution to the #MeToo movement and a literary counterpoint to Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita. It highlights the novel’s unique perspective by focusing on the victim’s experience of sexual abuse and the complexities of her emotional response. The author emphasises how the novel challenges the romanticized portrayal of the predator in Lolita and exposes the devastating reality of sexual violence.
Written by Hsiu-Yun Wang. This article reviews the six decades during which the terms used to describe “sexual harassment” have evolved, and victims’ experiences have shifted from suffering in silence and depending on their fathers for justice to being able to take action themselves. However, many fundamental challenges remain unchanged.
Written by Ting-Sian Liu. This article explores how gender-sensitive and inclusive environments emerged from the recent Bluebird action, challenging past cultures of misogyny and discrimination. It examines how the #MeToo movement has contributed to creating new spaces for collective healing that push social movements in Taiwan forward in thinking about the politics of difference.
Written by Sheng-Hui Tseng. The workplace of politics, permeated by a culture of silence and cover-up, creates a hostile work environment for women that hinders them from seeking help or speaking out against sexual harassment. Breaking this culture requires the collective efforts of politicians, political parties, and the public.
