N/A

Despite being in the 21st century, there is still gender inequality which means that in many parts of the world, women and men do not have the same rights and opportunities. In Taiwan, laws and regulations make sure that women are able to get the same access to healthcare, education, and is able to take part in politics, as well as work. However, when it comes to finding work, especially in industries that are male dominant such as the semiconductors industry, the road to gender equality is still long. In order to understand what the barriers are for women to get into the semiconductors industry and into the labor market in general, and more importantly to understand the challenges that women face when they are working in the semiconductor industry, an exploratory study using a qualitative method by conducting interviews with professionals primarily in the semiconductor industry with the rest from other industries is conducted to gain insight into the gender gap within the industry.
The results of the interviews indicates that women, specifically mothers, have difficulty with career advancement. Those in managerial positions said that in order for women to be able to get ahead in their field of expertise, support from family, flexible working conditions as well as mentorship in addition to organizational support need to be in place for the career development of women especially for women who work in the semiconductor industry.
The indications of the study include the need for firms to offer flexibility, mentoring programs, peer support groups as well as incorporating inclusiveness and diversity policies throughout the organizational culture and practices.

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