The SOAS Centre of Taiwan Studies (CTS) is thrilled to announce the successful conclusion of two major events: the 17th SOAS Taiwan Studies Summer School and the Workshop on “The Paradox of Gender Equality: Power, Politics, and the #MeToo Moment in Taiwan.” These events, held from June 24th to 28th, showcased SOAS Centre of Taiwan Studies’ commitment to providing world-class academic excellence and fostering a deeper understanding of Taiwan’s unique social, political, and cultural landscape.
This year’s Summer School, themed around “Gender Politics,” was an exceptional academic feast, offering three-and-a-half days of engaging lectures, captivating film screenings, insightful directors’ Q&As, and thought-provoking roundtables.
The wide range of pertinent topics include:
- Gender quotas in Taiwan’s elections
- The plight of single women in Taiwanese society
- Digital sexual violence
- Investigative reports on sexual violence survivors
- Workplace sexual harassment
- Changing sexual morality in Taiwan
- Two roundtable discussions on “Doing gender research in Taiwan” and “The emerging Blue Bird Movement”
These sessions provided comprehensive overviews of gender politics in Taiwan, offering students invaluable insights and fostering vibrant academic discussions.
The enthusiasm was palpable, with 239 students participating, hailing not only from the UK but also from France, Austria, Poland, Slovenia, the US, Israel, and Taiwan. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. One student, reflecting on her experience at the Summer School, shared on Facebook: “One of the best things I encountered in London was SOAS’s Taiwan Studies!” She praised the dedication of the teaching staff and the supporting team, highlighting the amazing lectures and spectacular events. Her glowing recommendation for others to study at SOAS speaks volumes about the impact of international Taiwan studies.
As one of the long-term legacies of the SOAS Taiwan Studies Summer School programme, on 28th June we held a student-focused Taiwan studies research seminar open to all current undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral students. This seminar has not only become a premier platform for PhD and Master’s students from around the world to present their ongoing research on Taiwan studies, but it also stands as a testament to SOAS’s long-standing commitment to supporting early-career and aspiring Taiwan studies scholars, and to fostering the development of Taiwan studies in higher education.
This year, we received nearly 30 high-quality research abstracts from the United Kingdom, the United States, Taiwan, Israel, and continental Europe. These submissions covered a wide range of disciplines, including literature, anthropology, history, international relations, political science, and media studies. After a rigorous selection process, the research was divided into two parallel panels: Humanities and Cultural Studies, and Politics and International Studies.
The quality of the student presentations during the seminar was exceptionally high. Furthermore, we were delighted to observe that the diverse life experiences and academic backgrounds of the audience contributed to extremely fruitful and supportive discussions both during and after the seminar. Such vibrant academic discourse greatly assisted and encouraged the ongoing research efforts of these young Taiwan studies scholars from around the world.
We would like to extend our gratitude to all the academics and general audience members who showed equal enthusiasm for the student presentations and provided valuable feedback and questions. We also want to especially thank Dr Ming-Yeh Rawnsley and Dr Bo-Jiun Jing for their willingness to selflessly dedicate their expertise as academic advisers to both panels. Their guidance was instrumental in the success of the seminar.
Preceding the Summer School, a closed-door workshop titled “The Paradox of Gender Equality: Power, Politics, and the #MeToo Moment in Taiwan” was held. This workshop delved into Taiwan’s #MeToo Movement, exploring its impact on party politics, legal frameworks, gender equality education, media representation of the #MeToo Movement, and online activism. The speakers, renowned academics in Taiwan’s gender studies, brought their extensive knowledge and unique perspectives to the discussion.
The workshop not only facilitated rich discussions but also aimed to contribute to the academic community through the publication of an edited book on the subject. This initiative underscores CTS’s dedication to advancing scholarly work on Taiwan’s societal issues.
Reflecting on CTS’s longstanding commitment to Taiwan studies, we continue to lead with over two decades of organising enriching events. With an average of 60 events per year, CTS is probably the most active Taiwan studies programmes in the world. These events create an unrivalled study environment, enriching the academic experiences of students, both within SOAS and beyond. Moreover, the enthusiasm and vigorous research activities have created a vibrant Taiwan studies community that binds people together.
As we look ahead, we extend our heartfelt thanks to all participants, speakers, and staff whose dedication and passion made this year’s Summer School and Workshop an unparalleled success. These events not only highlighted critical issues in gender politics and the #MeToo movement in Taiwan but also reinforced CTS’s role as a leading hub for Taiwan studies in Europe. We look forward to continuing our tradition of excellence and innovation in the coming years. Thank you to all the students, speakers, and staff who made these events possible. Their dedication and enthusiasm are the driving forces behind our continued success.
Contributor Bio
Chengyu Yang is the Project Officer at the Centre of Taiwan Studies at SOAS, University of London, and a PhD student in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Bristol.. Born and raised in the People’s Republic of China, Chengyu possesses an interdisciplinary background in Anthropology, International Relations, and Political Studies. He earned his BA (First Class Honours) in International Studies from the University of Nottingham, Ningbo, China (UNNC) and his MA in Taiwan Studies from SOAS, University of London.
Chengyu’s current research explores maritime infrastructures, commodities, and human mobility in Kinmen during the post-military-civil administration period. His broader research interests lie at the intersection of border and bordering practices, material culture & infrastructure, human and non-human interactions, and citizenship in Taiwan and its offshore islands.