Taipei Promotes Gender Equality in Funeral Ceremonies
Monday, 2026/05/04137 words2 minutes167 reads
The Taipei City government is working to make funerals more gender-equal. In February, they published guidelines for funeral businesses and families. These guidelines aim to change traditional funeral practices.
Traditionally, Taiwanese funerals gave men the main ceremonial roles. Women handled caregiving and logistics. LGBTQ+ individuals and their partners were often excluded from participating or expressing their grief.
The new guidelines encourage breaking down gender role constraints. They state that every family member, partner, and caregiver should participate equally, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. For example, granddaughters should be allowed to lead funeral processions, not just grandsons.
However, the funeral industry has responded cautiously. Only about 10 to 15 of Taipei's 300 funeral businesses have requested the guidelines. Industry leaders say change takes time, as businesses follow market demand and need resources to learn new practices.
