Gender inequality in the workplace in Japan

                Gender Inequality in the work place in Japan 

<Research>

In Japan, women are suffering from a gender inequality in the workplace. This has been a serious social issue in Japan for a long time and has been a big challenge for a lot of Japanese women. According to the government data, 65.4 percent of Japanese women from 15 to 64 years old are employed while it is 82.3 percent for men. Furthermore, the data shows that the average wage of these full time female workers is only 75 percent of the men’s average wage. The old Japanese tradition is one of the reasons why we have this issue too. Somehow, we still have a custom for women to stay at home for housework and taking care of children. Unlike the past, less people believe in this, but there are some people who still consider women as just housewives. In fact, a lot of women choose to be a housewife.

However, the real issue in the workplace in Japan is that men and women do not have the same accesses of roles and opportunities in the society. According to the NLI Research Institute in Tokyo, comparing to men, more women are likely to have jobs in healthcare and welfare, such as nursing homes, where incomes are really low. In addition, about 68 percent of women are working for part time and temporary jobs. For women, they need to work much harder than male to get be at a higher position or get a promotion. 

To prevent this, Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe is trying to make a difference by showing the idea of “WOMENOMICS.” The goal is to put more women in the higher positions in the various fields of works. Womenomics also supports those mothers, who gave a birth to their first child, to return to work. Despite a bigger number of women working, the gender inequality towards women do not seem like disappearing.   

<Personal>

As I grew up in Japan, I did not see big differences between men and women in general. I think in some way, I was trapped in the Japanese society and did not realize what was happening. However, as I got older, I realized that my guy friends started to see me as a bossy and frankly girl, because I am more independent than other Japanese girls around me and I did not hesitate to share my thoughts. That was a first time I felt like I was treated differently just because I am a woman. And now I am older and 22 years old and studying in the United States. I see many differences between America and Japan that it is obvious that Japan is behind in gender equality in the workplace from the United States. My roommate had a skyoe interview for an summer internship in Japan and one of the questions she was asked by a male interviewer was, “You are a woman. Why do you need to work?” When she told me that story, I was shocked. Women should have equal opportunities and access.  Eventually, I am going to have to leave the United States and need to find a job in Japan. But, I am also scared to go back, because if I am unlucky, I might need to face gender discrimination as well. Then, I realized that knowing and learning this issue is also important to me as a grown-up Japanese woman and I am sharing this so more people are aware of what is happening on the other side of the world. 


<Supporters>

Reika Kijima
"The companies have a formal system that supports women. But it is not necessary forcible."







Momo Yasunaga
"After all, men are still in better position in society and it is harder for women to be successful. They say women can take a maternity leave you know. But in the end, those who took a maternity leave are not in good situation to come back to work. I feel like that is the reality."




<Sources>

http://www.businessinsider.com/japanese-women-entering-workforce-2016-4 

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-19/pay-gap-persists-as-even-more-japanese-women-join-the-workforce

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-34455391