Despite numerous attempts at addressing the gender issue, it still remains one of the most topical concerns on the contemporary agenda (Kauanui 282). Nevertheless, one must admit that significant progress has been observed over the past few decades on a global scale. Particularly, the recent Taiwan presidential election (“Taiwan Elects First Woman President” par. 2), which resulted in a victory of the female candidate, can be viewed as a primary example of decolonization and the promotion of gender equality in the political environment.
The changes, which the Taiwan presidential elections have brought to the cultural environment of the state, can be viewed as a challenge to the identity politics that has been a common practice on a global scale-up until recently. Although the innovations that the above event will trigger in the Taiwan culture are not going to be immediate, they will definitely launch the process of providing the indigenous women with the rights that they are entitled to as the members of the society.
In other words, the above news is bound to launch the process of change in the current gender order that is viewed as normalcy (Warner 11) in the Taiwan culture. Seeing that gender discrimination, sadly, is part and parcel of the Taiwanese culture, it can be assumed that the recent presidential elections will serve as the primary tool for altering the gender order norms, thus, enhancing equity in the local society. Naturally, the process of introducing the Taiwanese society to the concept of gender equality is not going to occur easily since the cultural norms will have to face challenges. Nevertheless, the first step made seems very substantial.
As a result, the Lesbian Continuum existing in the contemporary Taiwanese society can be extended from the social environment to the political one. Once more women are introduced into the target environment, the continuum can be extended so that women could experience the process of mutual communication beyond the environment that they are currently restricted to. Consequently, the mestiza consciousness promoting duality and serving as the survival strategy for women in the oppressive environment can be fostered so that women could gain voice all over the world (Shakespeare 160).
It could be argued that the change in the current status of women in the Taiwanese society could lead to the phenomenon of an outsider within for the female members that are very active in defending their social position. Once assuming the stance that will challenge the social norms, Tsai, the winner of the election campaign, may fail to receive the support of other women. The latter may be afraid of being ostracized by the conservative members of the community, including both males and females, therefore, becoming an outsider within.
The resulting intersectionality phenomenon will manifest itself in both socially active women and less enthusiastic ones being discriminated against, yet on different levels and to different degrees. Therefore, gender as a social practice can be altered so that women could gain the freedoms and rights that they are entitled to.
The fact that Tsai is the first female president of Taiwan may also cause certain changes in the gender performativity concept in the designated environment, as well as in Asian countries, in general. For instance, the very image of a female leader is going to change once a strong image of a female politician is incorporated into the framework of the Taiwanese society. Therefore, the prejudices that the current performativity principles are based on will be replaced with the information that is much closer to actual life. Thus, premises for women to be represented better in the Taiwanese society will be created.
One must admit, though, that the phenomenon of compulsory able-bodiedness is not as integral to the target culture as it is to the European and the American ones (Rich 641). Therefore, the introduction of a female member into the political environment of the state is unlikely to have any effect on the issue in question. The change, however, may affect the current objectification-related concerns in the European and American societies, setting an example of political correctness.
Similarly, given the progressive views of the Taiwanese people on sexuality, particularly, on the LGBT representatives and the rights of queer people, the introduction of a female member into the state office is unlikely to change the landscape immediately to an even more positive environment. Indeed, the phenomenon of compulsory heterosexuality is nearly alien to the Taiwanese culture (). In other words, benign sexual variation rates are very high in the target society. However, it could be assumed that the above change will contribute to addressing the needs of the LGBT people in a more careful manner.
Therefore, in the best-case scenario, the above event may start the process of eliminating the phenomenon of the spirit murder as any discrimination, in general, and gender profiling, in particular, in the modern society. Instead of focusing on the differences between genders, one may view the concept of interdependency as the primary tool for managing relationships between the representatives of different genders.
Thus, it will become a possibility to prove that the above alterations are not aimed at attacking normalcy but, instead, serve to promote diversity on a global level. Therefore, opportunities for people all over the world to identify their sexual citizenship explicitly will open.
Assuming that Tsai will immediately start promoting love-politics would be quite a stretch. It is more sensible to assume that the political and economic challenges, as well as more basic societal issues, will be the focus of her efforts in the nearest future. However, the very fact that a woman is currently taking the post shows that the world is ready for another gender agenda.
Works Cited
Kauanui, Khaulani. “Native Hawaiian Decolonization and the Politics of Gender.” American Quarterly 60.2 (2008): 281-287. Print.
Rich, Adrienne. “Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence.” Signs 5.4 (1980): 631-660. Print.
Shakespeare, Tom. “Disabled Sexuality: Toward Rights and Recognition.” Sexuality and Disability 18.3 (2000): 159-166. Print.
“Taiwan Elects First Woman President.” Feminist News. 2016: n. pag. Feminist Majority Foundation. Web.
Warner, Michael. The Trouble with Normal. Long Island: The Free Press, 1999. Print.