성평등의 헌법적 기원: 대만의 제헌헌법과 여성정치대표성

How do constitutions work to realize gender equality? Are gender equality provisions in constitutions merely symbolic or do they have practical effects? In constitutional democracies, constitutions play a key role as guiding principles for modern politics, but the role of constitutions in the realization of gender equality has been very rarely studied. This paper aims to examine the relationship between constitutions and gender equality from a macro and historical perspective through the case of Taiwan. Taiwan’s institutions, which have embraced diversity since the early days of the republic, have developed within a framework of harmony that emphasizes the adequate representation of minorities, and the principle of “equal representation” embodied in the Taiwan Constitution has played a crucial role in the realization of women’s political representation and, by extension, their right to sexual self-determination. To support this claim, this paper provides a historical analysis of Taiwan’s founding constitution and analyzes how it has influenced subsequent governments to implement gender equality practices in various political institutions. By linking the historical context of constitutional democracy with gender-equitable outcomes, this study reaffirms the importance of democratic principles in realizing gender equality.