I just read this interesting article on The Economist on working women in Japan. In general, Japanese woman want to work. However, forces such as workplace harassment, lack of nurseries, caring for the elderly, not enough help from husbands in house work, and ostracization for taking paternity leave, cause women pursue part-time work and casual work. Women, therefore, have worse job prospects and worse pay. Women in Japan earn earn 74 cents on the dollar to the man (in the US women earn 81 cents on the dollar to the male). Women, as a result, rarely reach senior positions in the workforce.
In summary, the problem is that Japanese women are entering the labor force, but are not progressing through organizational ranks. Such a phenomenon is similar in America. How do we rectify this problem?
Below is the link to the article, if you are interested:
https://www.economist.com/news/asia/21731423-higher-proportion-are-employed-america-japanese-women-are-working-more-few-are
Hi Zubin,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing! I find stories and statistics about this truly international epidemic of gender inequality in the workforce not only devastating but also difficult to consider how change will happen. It seems we, in the US, are almost at a standstill in increasing equality where women can choose to work if they would like, and shrinking the gender pay gap. Making the final steps towards completely equal pay and equal employment levels despite the opprotunity present is the hardest part. I see this issue in this article on Japan, as well. There is a lack of progression after initial reform. I return to my comment in class about other women pulling each other up in terms of organization movement and even demanding better pay. I think at this point it is up to generations helping the next and outside of major reform or law changes.
Best,
Caroline