Six Gendering policy analysis? The problems and pitfalls of participatory ‘gender impact assessment’
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Yen-Wen Peng
Abstract
Gender mainstreaming has become a popular innovation to promote gender equality among cross-national governments. It creates initiatives and tools for feminists and women’s movement activists to participate and collaborate with governmental bureaucrats in the policy making processes. Since 2008, all legislation and mid- or long-term policies and programs in Taiwan are required to conduct Gender Impact Assessment (GIA) at the planning stage, to assess their different implications for women and men. This initiative is seen by some feminists as a direct channel to engage and influence the bureaucrats as well as the policies. Yet there is worry about feminists being co-opted by the neoliberal technocratic state. This chapter reviews the experiences of implementing GIA in Taiwan and addresses the above-mentioned concerns. The author summarizes five problems found in the current practice of GIA, and further reflects the pitfalls of this novel participatory approach to launch governmental reforms given the managerialist framework. The paper concludes by emphasizing the crucial role of oppositional women’s movements.
Abstract
Gender mainstreaming has become a popular innovation to promote gender equality among cross-national governments. It creates initiatives and tools for feminists and women’s movement activists to participate and collaborate with governmental bureaucrats in the policy making processes. Since 2008, all legislation and mid- or long-term policies and programs in Taiwan are required to conduct Gender Impact Assessment (GIA) at the planning stage, to assess their different implications for women and men. This initiative is seen by some feminists as a direct channel to engage and influence the bureaucrats as well as the policies. Yet there is worry about feminists being co-opted by the neoliberal technocratic state. This chapter reviews the experiences of implementing GIA in Taiwan and addresses the above-mentioned concerns. The author summarizes five problems found in the current practice of GIA, and further reflects the pitfalls of this novel participatory approach to launch governmental reforms given the managerialist framework. The paper concludes by emphasizing the crucial role of oppositional women’s movements.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter i
- Contents v
- List of tables and figures vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- Notes on contributors x
- Policy analysis in a time of turbulence 1
- Exploring policy advisory committees in the central government 23
- Analysis of innovative local government policies in Taiwan 39
- Policy analysis in the legislative body: the legislative process of the Soil and Groundwater Pollution Remediation Act in Taiwan 53
- Policy analysis in the local councils 67
- Gendering policy analysis? The problems and pitfalls of participatory ‘gender impact assessment’ 81
- The power of influencing policies, or getting their share and more: interest groups in Taiwan 95
- Think tanks in Taiwan 111
- The development of public engagement in Taiwan 123
- Social media and policy evolution in Taiwan 137
- Policy analysis by non-governmental organisations in Taiwan 151
- Policy network of universal healthcare reform in Taiwan 171
- Public policy and administration research 187
- Too critical to ignore? A tri-dimensional relationship examination of policy analysis internship in Taiwan 207
- Policy analysis in Taiwan from an international perspective 219
- Policy analysis education in Taiwan: a comparative perspective 231
- Index 247
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter i
- Contents v
- List of tables and figures vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- Notes on contributors x
- Policy analysis in a time of turbulence 1
- Exploring policy advisory committees in the central government 23
- Analysis of innovative local government policies in Taiwan 39
- Policy analysis in the legislative body: the legislative process of the Soil and Groundwater Pollution Remediation Act in Taiwan 53
- Policy analysis in the local councils 67
- Gendering policy analysis? The problems and pitfalls of participatory ‘gender impact assessment’ 81
- The power of influencing policies, or getting their share and more: interest groups in Taiwan 95
- Think tanks in Taiwan 111
- The development of public engagement in Taiwan 123
- Social media and policy evolution in Taiwan 137
- Policy analysis by non-governmental organisations in Taiwan 151
- Policy network of universal healthcare reform in Taiwan 171
- Public policy and administration research 187
- Too critical to ignore? A tri-dimensional relationship examination of policy analysis internship in Taiwan 207
- Policy analysis in Taiwan from an international perspective 219
- Policy analysis education in Taiwan: a comparative perspective 231
- Index 247
