Taiwan Migrant Voices: Her Universe

The Migrant Voices online program on July 14, 2024, was organized by the TransAsia Sisters Association Taiwan (TASAT). Titled “Her Universe,” the program highlighted the caregiving issues faced by marriage migrants in Taiwan.

The program featured Lin,Yu-jie, a marriage migrant in Taiwan originally from Vietnam, and Professor Frank Wang, the head of the Social Work Department at National Chengchi University.

In her opening, Chen,Shiue-Hui, TASAT’s Secretary General, welcomed everyone to watch and listen to the episode and explained that women marriage migrants take on the responsibility of caring for family members at home. As they age, these women also need care, underscoring the importance of Taiwan's long-term care policy addressing the needs of marriage migrants.

Lin,Yu-jie shared her experience of taking care of her family for 30 years. She married a Taiwanese man, and not long after their marriage, her husband developed a heart condition caused by diabetes, which worsened over time. Lin was terrified because she had to care for her sick husband and work for an income while being new in Taiwan, unable to speak Mandarin, and not knowing where to seek help. She recalls times when she could only work half a day and then had to take care of her husband.

Professor Frank Wang noted that the need for family caregivers has always existed, but the question is who is responsible for it. Women usually become caregivers, often because their income is limited, and they must work in temporary jobs. Despite these challenges, they persist. He emphasized that the country has the responsibility to take care of all its citizens, including women.

The hosts concluded the program by thanking all the caregivers who have persevered and expressing hope that Taiwanese society will better shoulder the responsibility of care in the future. They envisioned a more humane and caregiver-friendly Taiwan.

Watch the online program here