Gender Quotas and Upward Mobility in Elections in Taiwan

There are concerns that gender quotas may raise the numbers of women elected to office without a commensurate increase in power. This article shows that gender quotas have not had such an effect in Taiwan by examining upward mobility. Women elected to local councils with the aid of gender quotas have not been less successful at moving up to higher offices with no gender quotas. Critically, Taiwan's quota system forces all candidates, including women, to face intense electoral competition and build up power resources. In short, Taiwan's quota system in local council elections fills the pipeline with women capable of challenging for higher office. Quotas thus play a critical role in promoting sustainable female representation in Taiwan.