Breaking the waves? Current prospects for gender equality in the maritime industry: the example of Taiwan

Abstract

Taiwanese maritime academies began admitting female students to study navigation and marine engineering in 1993. However, women seafarers currently account for only 3.41% of Taiwan's active seafarers, and this proportion has been decreasing since 2021. Given that gender equality is a fundamental human right, and in response to the International Maritime Organization's 1988 call to promote women's participation in sea-going roles, this study aims to broaden the seafaring paths available to Taiwanese women. Notably, the authors primarily collected research data through the first-ever 2024 Women Seafarers Forum held in Taiwan. This was supplemented by in-depth interviews and focus groups with former and current women seafarers, as well as female navigation and marine engineering students and cadets. Additionally, the study utilized the Immersion-Crystallization method, an ideal analytical approach in qualitative research, for data analysis. The findings are presented thematically, following a chronological timeline: the emergence of gender equality awareness, token women seafarers on cargo ships, stormy seas on the route, and moving towards a diverse, equitable, and inclusive seafaring profession. Through the final discussion, the authors hope this study will help Taiwan's seafaring workplaces move closer to achieving genuine gender equality.