Comparing the U.S.’ and Taiwan’s #MeToo Movements

In 2006, Tarana Burke founded the #MeToo movement as a simple collection of resources and support for survivors of sexual abuse and harassment. It wasn’t until late 2017, however, that the hashtag #MeToo went viral after actress Alyssa Milano encouraged people to share their stories of sexual harassment and abuse, and millions of social media users shared their stories or reached out to empathize with survivors.

The global movement soon spread to other nations, though to some faster than others. East Asian nations have been slow to join or grow the movement for a number of reasons. For example, a paper titled “Why #MeToo Failed in Japan” explains how the media and complex ethnic relations led to the movement failing to fully take off in Japan. A Nikkei Asia article states that the “South Korean government’s campaign to crack down on sexual harassment in the #MeToo era has sparked a backlash among young men aggrieved by what they see as ‘reverse discrimination’” and in China, activists often “found their online posts censored and faced pressure from authorities when trying to hold protests.”

Six years after the initial viral success in the U.S., however, one East Asian nation is beginning to see a revival in its #MeToo movement. Taiwan recently saw a wave of support for the movement following the release of a particularly influential Netflix show, Wave Makers. The show portrays the campaign efforts of the “Justice Party,” an analogy to the real-life Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), of which Taiwan’s current and first female president, Tsai Ing-wen, is a member.

Taiwanese shows and movies often avoid being blatantly political, yet Wave Makers explores multiple sensitive topics, such as sexual harassment characterized by abuse of power, the right to free and fair elections, and capital punishment. Given that it also offers some viewer-friendly soap opera-esque drama, it comes as no surprise that Wave Makers has, well, made waves; since August 2023, more than 150 Taiwanese people have shared their allegations against eminent politicians, celebrities, pro-democracy activists, and other famous figures who sexually assaulted them. Most of the accusers are women, though a few have been men. These accusations, which have often been in the form of viral social media posts, are especially prevalent within the DPP; more than 10 DPP higher-ups have been involved in scandals since the movement started.

Instead of ignoring these accusations, the DPP has been very open to taking accountability. President Tsai has issued multiple apologies and plans to commence a reform plan to better women’s rights on the island. On a broader scale, Taiwan recently amended three laws regarding workplace, school, and other sexual harassment cases. Among other new initiatives, the amended laws explicitly outlaw sexual/romantic relationships between minors and teachers. They also increase the maximum fine an employer may be charged with if they fail to report sexual harassment claims.

But what else could Taiwan do to further expand its #MeToo movement and bring about permanent change?

Looking at the U.S., where the movement first started, the path to progress is clear. #MeToo has influenced how some states, like New York and California, handle sexual harassment cases regarding independent contractors, domestic workers, and others who, prior to the expansion of various laws, got little legal protection or acknowledgment. In 2019, Congress worked to protect its own congressional employees, ultimately removing a compulsory three-month waiting period for employees reporting offenses. The federal BE HEARD Act, which was reintroduced to Congress in 2021, would prohibit some forms of nondisclosure agreements from stopping sexual abuse survivors from speaking out, like in the Harvey Weinstein case. Following the cases of Dr. Larry Nassar and other colleagues who sexually abused young athletes at Michigan State University, the university produced a $500 million settlement fund that compensated some survivors (which other schools have also done). Lastly, the #MeToo organization has established and launched certain programs like the Survivor Healing Series and Survivor Leadership Training to better support individuals working toward overcoming their trauma.

While the U.S. still has improvements to make in terms of women’s rights and the treatment of sexual abuse survivors, these actions indicate a larger acceptance and respect for these issues. As Taiwan’s #MeToo movement slowly sweeps over the nation and begins to make changes, Taiwan’s grassroots organizations, companies, legislators, and citizens should look at how the #MeToo movement has progressed elsewhere. There are many ways to explore, acknowledge, and learn from what survivors have gone through, and because the “recent spate of sexual harassment cases generated a lot of expectation from the [Taiwanese] public that the president will improve related regulations,” as an acting Taiwanese #MeToo spokesperson recently stated, there is no reason for Taiwan’s government not to take further action.

For the sake of the many sexual harassment survivors who have had the courage to speak up, for those who are still afraid to share their stories, and for those in the future who may suffer from sexual harassment, it would be in the Taiwanese people’s best interests for their government to learn from other #MeToo movements and continue embracing the importance of these issues.