"Rational, Scientific, Pragmatic" Misogynists? The Cultural-Institutional Rise of Taiwanese Presidential Candidate Ko Wen-Je.


Yu-Hsuan Sun, University of Toronto

The study discusses the rise of presidential candidate Ko Wen-Je, who won 26.54% of the votes as a third party in a traditionally bipartisan Taiwan. Kos election strategy relies on the image of being a decorated yet prudent surgeon prior to his entry into politics, as evidenced by his campaign slogan: "Rational, Scientific, Pragmatic." However, Ko is often accused of misogyny by political opponents due to his controversial public remarks on women. How has Ko Wen-Je managed to attract a new body of predominantly young, college-educated male voters, and who did this demographic vote for before voting for him? In an attempt to answer such questions, I argue that Taiwans educational institutions and technology sectors are conducive to fostering certain political attitudes among men that fall in line with Ko’s perspectives on politics, society, and gender. Specifically, Taiwan’s pursuit of economic and technological modernization has led to its adoption of impactful educational policies that encourage engineering careers and the study of STEM while also encouraging the gender-typing of specific fields of study and occupational roles. Within this context, STEM and ostensibly more prestigious fields are masculinized, while art and social sciences are feminized. Such policies have created classroom and work environments in which women are the minority. These conditions result in a body of highly educated men who are steadfastly loyal to science and technology but have very little exposure to women and their experiences. Using linear and non-linear modelling methods, the research plans to conduct online surveys among Kos supporters, asking questions about the themes described above, most notably their ideas and beliefs and how these relate to their occupation and/or field of study. The questions are designed to test the hypothesis advanced by this paper: the male-dominant basis for Ko’s support is linked to their educational background and work environments. The study has broader implications for the cultural sources of political behaviour. In particular, the author contributes to the ongoing debate on whether gender and gender ideology play a significant role in voting behaviour. Recent findings report an increasing divide between men and women over political ideology. For example, the Financial Times reports that the intra-generational ideological gap between men and women among Gen-Zs is widening in countries across continents. These divides have resulted in gendered preferences for politicians. The recent election in Taiwan is part of the global phenomenon of certain candidates appealing to male voters in light of the widening ideological gap. Finally, this paper suggests that gender ideologies may have institutional roots. Ko’s support among college-educated men challenges the prevailing thesis that educational attainment leads to liberal gender beliefs. Tracing Taiwan’s gender ideologies to the unintended consequences of modernization, the study attempts to shed light on the role of gender, which is often ignored in modernization theory and the developmental state literature.

This paper will be presented at the following session: