New 'gender critical feminist' groups in Taiwan : the role of women among conservative movements

The Centre of Taiwan Studies is delighted to welcome Dr Juliette Duléry for a talk exploring the changing landscape of anti-gender activism in Taiwan, examining how conservative Christian movements and emerging gender-critical feminist groups have shaped debates around gender, sexuality, and national identity. 

Taiwan was the first Asian state to legalise same-sex marriage in May 2019. However, this process was characterised by struggles between LGBTQ activists andreligious anti-gender groups, especially in the 2010s. From the 2020s onwards, new ‘gender-critical feminist groups’ emerged in opposition to transgender rights. These groups are connected to the global Right and pro-Trump movements in the United States.

What role do women play within conservative movements? Conservative actors are often reduced to countermovements opposed to progressive groups, while the motivations developed by their activists remain understudied. Drawing on fieldwork conducted in 2019 and 2025 among various anti-gender organisations in Taipei, Duléry examines the role of women in conservative movements through an ethnographic approach (interviews, participant observation). She argues that these activists seek to transcend inequalities encountered in a patriarchal society, but through a conservative engagement. 

The label 'gender-critical feminism' is in fact oppressive, as it tackles oppression only with respect to the biological features of womanhood. Duléry will study various anti-gender groups within this network, notably former organisations led by Christian women, as well as new “gender critical feminist” movements. In this regard, she will underline the heterogeneity among conservative movements. She will then examine what motivates women to engage in conservative activism.

Image credit: Andrew Leu via Unsplash