Statistics paint picture of gender inequality in Japan

Japan is generally thought of as a country with a conservative culture and traditional gender role expectations. Men are still generally expected to be breadwinners working long hours and women are expected to stay at home and raise children.

There has been some progress made in terms of gender equality, and it is a complex issue with many aspects. However, what do data and statistics say about the status of women in Japanese society?

Fact 1: Japan ranks 121st on Gender Equality Index

Japan ranks very low on the World Economic Forum’s Gender Equality Index. It ranked 121st out of 153 countries. In some respects, it does not compare favorably to other advanced nations, including nearby Asian nations such as South Korea.

The Index rates several aspects of a country’s gender equality, and the picture is not completely grim for Japan. It ranks first in literacy rate, for example. However, most noticeable are low rankings in categories such as labor force participation and the rate of women in political and leadership positions.

Fact 2: Japan lacks female leadership

The lack of female leadership is especially clear in politics. Only 9.9% of lawmakers in the Japanese House of Representatives are women, which put Japan in 165th in the IPU’s Women in Parliament ranking in 2020. The private sector is even less encouraging. The Gender Equality Index states that 5.3% of board members of listed companies are women.

Work and political statistics are just one part of the issue. However, they are important for understanding the overall picture as these numbers do not just happen for no reason. Male dominance in top work and political positions reflects and reinforces traditional gender roles. It leads to inadequate opportunities for women and a culture that disparages them and fails to understand the difficulties they face.

Fact 3: Giving birth continues to limit employment opportunities

A culture of male dominance also means that women may be pressured into certain expectations solely because of their gender. One example is the number of women who quit their jobs after giving birth. The National Institute of Population and Social Security Research has studied the number of women unemployed after childbirth over the years. While the numbers for both employed and unemployed have changed over the years, the average over a few decades was 46.9% unemployed after giving birth. Certainly, every individual’s situation is different, and there are women who do prefer to focus on raising children instead of working.

Fact 4: Unfair working conditions for women persist

These numbers reflect the strong pressure placed on women to quit their jobs after having children. Related to this is the fact that women have high rates of both part-time work and unpaid work such as housework. A whopping 36.7 % of the part-time labor force in Japan is made up of women, compared to 11.5 % for men. Women also do five times more unpaid work.

Fact 5: Japan pursues 30% female executives goal

There are efforts to improve opportunities for women. In 2020, the Japan Business Federation set a goal of having 30% female executives by 2030. The organization, also called Keidanren, has acknowledged the need for more female workers considering Japan’s male-to-female ratio. The Japanese government also sets regular objectives with its Basic Plans for Gender Equality. However, it has fallen short of its most recent goals with its fourth Basic Plan. Despite this and the overall expectation for women to quit their jobs after childbirth, there have been increases in women working after having children, according to their data.

Understanding gender inequality in Japan also requires knowing and tackling the root causes, including cultural attitudes, and understanding women’s viewpoints and experiences. The statistics reflect some unfortunate realities regarding opportunities for women in work, leadership and political positions. When women lack these opportunities, they also have fewer chances to truly make their voices heard and determine their individual circumstances.