Gender inequality in Japan: The status of women, and their promotion in the workplace

Abstract

The Constitution of Japan, enacted in 1947, states that gender equality and human rights must be maintained and guaranteed. The constitution was ratified prior to the publication of the UN Declaration on Human Rights of 1948. Nevertheless, Japanese society is presently faced with a high level of gender inequality. In the field of diplomacy, the proportion of Japanese female ambassadors is 3%; in the House of Representatives, the proportion of female politicians is 10.1%. These numbers suggest that women are presently being excluded from decision-making processes – meaning that women's opinions are not being reflected in society, potentially leading to serious violations of human rights. This paper attempts to analyse and verify the reasons for this high level of inequality in Japan, which can be assumed to be deeply rooted in social norms. Using official statistical data, as well as detailed information describing the situation society faces, I analyse the gap between government policy concerning the rights of women and social reality.