Japan, a country renowned for its rich culture, technological advancements, and stunning landscapes, offers many advantages for residents and visitors alike. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that like any society, Japan faces certain challenges when it comes to gender equality and the experiences of women. In this online roundtable, let's discuss some of the common issues faced by women living in Japan, such as:
1. Gender Inequality in the Workplace:
Japan has long struggled with gender disparity in the professional arena. Despite high levels of education among women, women often face challenges in career advancement, unequal pay, and limited opportunities for leadership positions. This gender gap poses a significant obstacle to achieving true gender equality.
2. Traditional Gender Roles:
Japanese society has traditionally upheld gender roles that place expectations on women to prioritize domestic responsibilities and caregiving, while men are often expected to excel in their careers. These expectations can create societal pressures and limit women's choices and opportunities, affecting their personal and professional lives.
3. Low Political Representation:
Japan has one of the lowest rates of female political representation among developed nations. Women's voices and perspectives are thus underrepresented in decision-making processes, hindering the progress of gender equality initiatives and policies.
4. Maternity and Childcare Support:
Balancing work and family life can be challenging for women in Japan. Limited access to affordable and high-quality childcare facilities, coupled with societal expectations of women as primary caregivers, can lead to career disruptions and difficulties in re-entering the workforce after having children.
5. High Rates of Gender-based Violence:
Like many countries, Japan faces challenges related to gender-based violence. Issues such as stalking, sexual harassment, and intimate partner violence persist, impacting the safety and well-being of women within society.
*It is important to note that these challenges do not define the entirety of women's experiences in Japan. Many women thrive personally and professionally, contributing to the nation's growth and development. However, acknowledging and addressing these issues is crucial for promoting a more equitable society for all.
Remember, this discussion is intended to foster understanding and promote positive change. Let's engage in respectful dialogue, share insights, and explore potential solutions to create a more inclusive and empowering environment for women in Japan.
Gender stereotype is still strong in Japan, with this 7Elevent ad recently stirring some heated debates:
As a mom of girls, I’m deeply bothered by the uniform rule in schools that forces female students to wear skirts
Something that really saddens me as a mother myself, is the workplace harassment and discrimination towards mothers. Of course not everywhere it’s like this, but it’s spread enough for it to have its own word - “matahara” (meaning, Maternity Harassment)
Frankly speaking, many women themselves support the "husband at work, woman at home" mentality. That's why it's still like this.
Speaking of traditional gender roles and inequality in the workplace, Nobuko Kobayashi wrote an interesting piece about how Japan's love towards "Kawaii" is actually hurting working women: https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Kawaii-culture-hurts-Japanese-women-in-business
Regarding the childcare support, Japanese daycare/kindergartens , called Hoikuen, only admit kids from families where both parents work. And it’s a point system so priority is given to parents who work longer hours and have more kids. And if one of the parents loses their job or is in between jobs then the child is kicked out.
Personally, in my nearly 6 years in Japan I have never experienced any of those points stated here.
Nevertheless, I've noticed a striking difference in how I, a female foreigner with a STEM degree, was perceived and therefore treated differently from my female Japanese colleagues. Therefore I hope that the problems listed will be resolved with greater representation of Japanese females in leadership and general education regarding biases.
All points are very important. But let's also mention the very good things for women in Japan. So many convenient services and some policies are very good too. Also, in Japan often the woman is in charge of all the family money 😆
Have you read about the Tanshin Funin practice in Japan? It’s when employees live apart from their families due to work assignments.
Happy News: Japan climbed up in the global gender gap index from number 125 (in 2023) to 118 in 2024. That's out of 146 countries.
It can be a discussion in its own, but did you know that women in Japan must ask their husbands permission to get sterilized?