Shyueying Chiang

4.11 An Inquiry into the Career Barriers of Taiwanese Female Artists (Paper)

Shyueying Chiang – National Taiwan Normal University, Department of Fine Arts, Taipei City, Taiwan

Abstract:

In the art world, female artists remain a minority, with male artists predominantly shaping art history. This trend persists today in Taiwan, where the number of male artists continues to exceed that of females, despite a higher number of talented female students in high schools and Fine Arts departments at universities.

This study focuses on ten female artists who have pursued their careers for more than 20 years, examining the career barriers they have faced. A qualitative approach using in-depth interviews was employed as the research method, and thematic analysis was conducted to analyse the data.

The results identified three main career barriers: stereotypes surrounding female artists, familial and marital factors, and the need for sustained personal effort in advanced art education and artistic creation. Female artists must demonstrate determination and flexibility when confronting these obstacles to secure their place in the art world.