A new study published in Archives of Sexual Behaviour reveals that an overwhelming majority of Taiwanese respondents strongly oppose gender self-identification for transgender women.
Gender self-identification, particularly for transgender individuals, is a contentious issue in Taiwan, despite the progressive stance on LGBTQ rights in other areas. The Gender Recognition Act mandates proof of sex-reassignment surgery (SRS) for legal gender change on identification documents. This requirement has faced backlash, with debates intensifying after a 2021 court ruling allowed a transgender individual to change their gender on official documents without SRS, provided psychiatric evaluations were submitted.
Kuo-Yu Chao and colleagues recruited residents across Taiwan and its outlying islands, gathering responses between April 16 and 30, 2022. The survey included demographic questions and 14 statements related to transgender women and their rights (e.g., “Trans women can be housed in female jails”), with responses recorded on a binary agree-disagree scale. The survey was divided into three categories: women’s safety, women’s rights, and law and society. A total of 10,158 valid responses were analyzed.
The survey revealed overwhelming opposition to gender self-identification among the respondents. A surprising 91.6% of participants disagreed with all 14 survey statements, indicating strong resistance to the idea that transgender women should be granted rights and access typically afforded to cisgender women. For instance, only 6.1% agreed that transgender women should use women’s public toilets, and 4.2% supported their participation in women’s sporting events.
Female respondents, parents, and older individuals (≥ 36 years) showing stronger opposition compared to their counterparts. While respondents with a college degree and those without showed no significant differences in their levels of opposition, supporters of same-sex marriage and teaching gender identity had higher agreement scores but still exhibited low overall support. Open-ended feedback emphasized concerns about women’s safety, rights, and the impact on children, with only a minority supporting gender diversity and opposing rigid gender binaries. These findings suggest that any legislative changes in this area may encounter significant public resistance.
A limitation is the predominantly female sample which may not fully reflect the broader population’s view.
The study, “Gender Self-Identification: Opinions About Transgender Women from a National Online Survey in Taiwan”, was authored by Kuo-Yu Chao, Chih-Chiang Chou, Ching-I Chen, and Wei Cheng.