Former department of health minister Yaung Chih-liang (楊志良) yesterday refused to apologize for his comments from the day before, in which he said a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate was “useless” because she cannot bear any children at nearly 50 years old.
The comment came during a Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) rally on Thursday, which Yaung attended to stump for KMT legislative candidate Chang Szu-kang (張斯綱).
Chang is running against DPP Legislator Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) to represent Taipei’s Beitou (北投) and Shilin (士林) districts.
Photo courtesy of Rosalia Wu’s office
Yaung said the DPP government was the cause of Taiwan’s low birthrate, then targeted Wu by saying: “She is useless now, at nearly 50 [years old], she cannot bear any children. She will have no kids and no grandchildren.”
He then turned to ask KMT City Councilor Hsu Chiao-hsin (徐巧芯) sitting nearby if she has any children, and after she said “no,” he told Hsu not to give a speech, but to “go home to make love [with her husband].”
Although Chang has since posted an apology saying he does not agree with the comment, Yaung during an interview yesterday refused to apologize.
“I was just stating facts,” he said. “I respect Wu’s decision to remain single... Each woman has the genes to become a mother. My remarks hurt Wu’s feeling, but why is she being so fragile?”
Wu said that Yaung is well-known for making slanderous remarks.
“He is a repeat misogynistic offender who hates women. Taiwan has made progress in gender equity, but the KMT is still full of old-guard conservatives and male chauvinists,” she said.
“Elections are for people to choose the best and most capable candidates. They should not be based on the perceived use of a woman’s uterus,” she added.
Wu also accused Chang of planning the incident as a smear tactic, saying that the candidate invited Yaung, knowing he would make personal attacks.
“It is not just about prejudice against women, but shows that negative campaigning is still useful in attracting public attention,” Wu said.
Separately, DPP Gender Equality Department head Lee Yen-jong (李晏榕) in a press release said that women “are not breeding machines.”
“Women need support from the government, society and their families to rear children. Politicians must not verbally harass and denigrate women, and must not use childbearing to impede women from participating in politics and public affairs,” Lee said.
The party also asked KMT candidates to oppose the views of their fellow members and speak out against the view that a woman’s proper place is in the home, Lee said.
Separately, DPP Legislator Lin Ching-yi (林靜儀), an obstetrician by profession, said that Yaung’s remark represents the “mainstream view” within the KMT.
“Yaung is known for making misogynistic remarks, but he still plays an important role in KMT campaigning and is a key member of the KMT’s think tank. It indicates that the KMT does not care about gender equity issues,” DPP Legislator Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) said.
Additional reporting by Kan Meng-lin
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