Gender roles threaten Japanese women with poverty

Japanese women face many professional and personal challenges. Traditional gender roles and other societal factors play a large part in holding them back in both areas of their lives. Such factors have real consequences for the quality of women’s lives, leading them to lower wages and even poverty. This can mean a lifetime of financial hardship for Japanese women, depending on their circumstances.

Professional opportunities for women in Japan lag behind other countries. While this is slowly changing, Japanese gender norms dictate that women stay at home and raise children instead of working. This has a massive impact on their salaries and professional opportunities available to them.

Japan’s gender wage gap is one of the highest among developed nations. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development states that Japanese women only make 73% as much as men. Job opportunities and conditions for women are also generally not as good as those for men. Women have far higher rates of irregular and part-time employment.

Traditional gender roles put women at risk of poverty

A 2019 report by Japan’s Gender Equality Bureau shows the percentage of irregular employment by gender. Women had a rate of around 40 to 65% depending on the age group, whereas men had 8 to 45%.

This indicates that women are often dependent on their husbands for a decent standard of living. If women are engaged in full-time employment, they often quit these jobs after marriage to focus on their home and children. They may work a part-time job that allows them time and flexibility.

The problem is that if they divorce their husbands, it can be difficult for them to find stable full-time employment again. Discriminatory attitudes towards single mothers do not help matters. This means that Japanese single mothers are often stuck supporting themselves and their children in the same part-time or unstable jobs.

As Japanese women age, the financial strains of childcare, as well as age-related illnesses and taking care of other family members, can take their toll regardless of their marital status. However, such challenges are more difficult to overcome for single mothers.

Besides gender-related discrimination, Japan’s aging population and pension issues are further blows to women’s quality of life. Retired couples who live longer than average may need $185,000 in retirement savings to make up for their public pensions being insufficient. An earlier report by the same Bureau also showed the overall poverty rate for women over 80 to be 27.1%, compared to only 16.6% for men.

Systematic reform and attitude shift long overdue

There have been some positive developments for Japanese women’s employment situation. The overall employment rate for women has risen and is now at 71%. More companies have also been giving women the chance to work flexible hours after maternity leave. However, it is still not nearly enough, as many of these job opportunities are the usual part-time and irregular jobs. Women still face glass ceilings even as they are offered more flexibility.

The quality of employment and opportunities available for women matter more than sheer numbers or minor concessions. The problem is multi-faceted, with Japan’s pension system and the overall state of the economy being contributing factors.

However, the core issue is outdated gender norms that prevent women from living up to their full professional potential. Our jobs have such an enormous impact on our quality of life that it is little wonder why this is a poverty risk for Japanese women. Society misses out on their contributions, and individual women could lose the opportunity to live comfortable and fulfilling lives. True reform in cultural attitudes is needed to allow Japanese women to survive, and ultimately thrive, at any age.