Women’s Status in Japan

 

  1. Education

In 1947, education was made co-ed, while women were also allowed to attend university.  During the 1960s and 1970s, more wealth existed, and as a result, more women could attend higher education, which meant that about equal numbers of men and women were in higher education.  But for women, most of their numbers were in the two-year level (i.e., junior colleges).  Moreover, most women had majors in the liberal arts while men dominated the job-oriented majors (i.e., economics, law, engineering).  Additionally, women had a difficult time getting jobs after graduation, and most were expected to quit their jobs after marriage, so still some differences existed.

·             Main points: Improved participation in higher education; still some differences of major

 

  1. Work Place

A pattern seems to exist.  By their 20s, 70% of women have jobs.  By their early 30s, women quit to have and take care of children.  After this is taken care of, in their 40s, women’s participation in the work force increases.  This differs from other developed countries (i.e., U.S., U.K.).  So the question is why do women quit during this time?  For one, strict morals on gender as mother is seen as the best caretaker for children and two, day care is limited.  Additionally, even when women come back to work, due to a strict seniority system, it is very difficult to get their old position back.

 

Women’s numbers at the executive level is low as well.  Only 10% are managers whereas in the U.S., 46% are managers.  Once a woman enters the executive level, discrimination is low, but entering it is difficult.  Indeed, most of the women who work at the executive level work for Japanese foreign companies (i.e., I.B.M.-Japan).

 

Also, a strong backlash exists against women in the workforce as many see this as destroying the traditions and morals of society.

 

On average, women make 66% of what men make.

·             Main points: M-shaped labor participation rate, under represented for executive level

 

  1. Home and Family

Japan is experience a very low birth rate due in part too many women postponing marriage.  At home, women are given the major responsibility for raising children while the husbands’ dedication is to the company.  As a result, mother-child relations are very close, but due to conflicts over these issues, divorces are on the rise in Japan (1/3 of all marriages end in divorce; men do not have to pay alimony or child support, laws do not enforce this).  Younger men, however, seem to be more accepting of some of these changes.

 

Less than 5% of all children are adopted while abortion is both legal and morally acceptable.  Recently, contraception has become more accepted.

 

On average, 3000 calls of violence/rape are made a month, but only 100 call for protection.  Most women don’t open up on this issue, as it is seen to be shameful (i.e., bad wife, stupid wife) to do so.

·             Main points: Bias for gender role (two burdens for working wife), postpone the marriage, more divorces

 

  1. Politics and Community

Women’s suffrage took place for the first time after WWII in 1946, but women have remained underrepresented from then until today (average 10% representation in government).  Part of this may be due to the fact that women’s voting participation is low.

·             Main points: Increasing but still underrepresented

 

  1. Legislation and Machinery

Many laws have been created to ensure gender equality in Japan:

-              Constitution: In 1992 it declared equality for all under the law.

-              Basic Law for Education: Law against discrimination in education.

-              Labor Standard Law: Law against discrimination provides protection for women in labor (i.e., no 3rd shifts, equal pay for some jobs – although women have difficulty getting the same job).

-              Basic Law for Gender Equal Society: Passed in 1992.

-              Equal Employment Opportunity Law: Passed in 1985.

-              Child Care and Nursing Leave Law: Passed in 1992, it gives one year leave to care for child or three months to take care of aged parents

-              Prevent Domestic Violence Law: Passed in 2001

In short, laws exist, but women are underrepresented.  In contrast, in the U.S., few of these laws exist, but half of all managers are women while their numbers in higher education are bigger as well, so the question exists: are Japan’s laws simply there to look good but not actually do anything?  Moreover, it the U.S., it is much easier to sue for rights, while in Japan the courts are not supportive of these issues. 

 

Perhaps the bottom line of all of these points is that it is difficult for women to escape the Confucian ideal that a woman’s first duty/job is to the family, and both men and women seem to support this ideal.

 

 

Lecture given by:

Mariko Bando

Director, Research Institute for Gender Equality

October, 2004