本文主要在檢討西方女性主義理論中的性別角色、家務責任及父權等三個概念解釋台灣婦女參與社區的適用性，並探討台灣的婦 女如何透過社區參與以跳脱傳統女性角色的束縛，並藉以重新界定婦女在家庭或社區内的性別角色分工，乃至挑戰父權社會結構。西 方婦女與台灣婦女在社區參與的經驗上雖有其共通性但亦存在許多的歧異，因此在探討婦女社區參與的特質時必須考量不同社會之政治結構、文化傳統及社會關係等脈絡。研究中發現性別角色、家務責任及父權等三個概念作爲理解台灣婦女積極參與社區事務有其侷 限性。許多台灣婦女希望提供給她們的小孩及家人一個更好的生活 空間與環境而參與社區工作，婦女對家庭的投入及對其家人的關心使得她們走出家庭，在社區内組成各式的團體而活躍於公領域中。固然多數受訪的婦女團體其參與社區事務的初衷並非爲了挑戰女性 的傳統性別角色，但經由社區參與使她們無形中挑戰了婦女在家庭 與社區内的傳統性別角色分工，而成功地同時橫跨私領域及公領域。

In this paper, three feminist concepts, sex roles, patriarchy and family obligations, are drawn upon to provide a body of knowledge to account for women' s community work in Taiwan. I also try to explore how women in Taiwan through community work to: (a) transcend sex role constraints and create new roles; (b) redefine the sexual division of labour either in the family or in the community; and (c) undermine patriarchal social relations. Although there are immensely valuable elements to cross cultural research, Western feminist thought cannot simply be applied uncritically outside its own social context. Therefore, I identify the major gaps in these three Western feminist concepts when applied to women in Taiwan. These gaps occur primarily in terms of the importance of the family and domestic responsibilities, which mobilize women in Taiwan to participate in the community work arena. The public spaces which are available for women in Taiwan to engage in non-traditional activities are carved out of actions undertaken in relation to their traditional roles. Women in Taiwan are able to use the interface of the public and private spheres to create spaces in which they can set the agenda for themselves.