Identity, Power, and Resistance: Exploring the Portrayal of Tongqi in 21st Century Taiwanese Cinema

Abstract

This Major Research Paper (MRP) examines the representation of tongqi, heterosexual women married to gay men, in contemporary Taiwanese queer cinema, focusing on the films Dear Ex and Your Name Engraved Herein. The study addresses a critical gap in existing literature, which often centers queer male narratives while neglecting the complex gender dynamics and emotional labor embodied by tongqi characters. Using close textual analysis and visual critique, this study investigates how cinematic techniques and directorial choices shape the visibility, emotional framing, and ethical implications of tongqi characters within heteronormative family structures. The findings reveal that these characters are frequently tasked with absorbing emotional contradictions and maintaining social harmony, even as their own suffering is marginalized or instrumentalized. By foregrounding tongqi characters as culturally specific figures of gendered exclusion, this study contributes an intersectional perspective to Taiwan queer cinema and offers new insight into the visual politics of female silence and sacrifice.