Gender Inequality in Japan

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Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Title: Why Does Japan Make It So Hard for Working Women to Succeed?
Introduction
The term “gender equality” can be defined as the state of equal ease of access to
resources as well as opportunities irrespective of gender. The resources include economic
participation as well as decision making, the state of valuing various kinds of behaviors and
aspirations. The concept of gender equality includes both men as well as women are free to
develop their personal abilities and posses the right to make choice ignoring the limitation
established by stereotypes, rigid gender role as well as prejudices. However, in several developed
as well as developing country, gender equality is yet to be reached. One of the major examples of
1st world countries where gender inequality still exist is Japan. In spite of being a high income
society, Japan poses high level of gender inequality. The chief reason behind gender inequality
and welfare is the persistence of gender norms. Gender inequality demonstrates different aspects
of social life from the family to political depiction in the nation. The gender inequality is most
prominent in the Japanese workforce (Shirahase, 2014). This evil factor is imposing negative
impact on the further prosperity of the country. In the following paragraphs, analysis of the issue
of Gender inequality in Japan will be conducted. Along with this, relevant solution to the issue
will also be discussed in this report.
Analysis of the issue
The selected case has pointed out how sexual discrimination takes place at a recognized
government medical university in Japan. Investigator have found that the management of the
Tokyo Medical University intentionally and systematically altered the scores of the internal
exams in order to limit the number of female students as well as to award the less qualified male

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applicants. This fraud as been taking place in the mentioned institution since decades and the
rationale that has been stated is that female professionals are prone to leave job after childbirth
which impact negative impact on the Company. The institution had initially denied the fraud.
However, finally the truth came to light after major investigations took place.
Impact of Japanese society on Gender inequality in workplace
It spite of being one of the world’s most affluent, advanced and democratic countries,
Japan has still remained stubbornly regressive. Even in this era of modernization, Japanese
women are kept away from business and politics by the society. Even at workplace major
discrimination takes place on the basis of the gender. According to researchers, the operation
against women in Japanese workplace has its root in the social structure of the nation. The family
values of the nation have been designed by the typical female as caregiver and male as earner
division of labor (Chiavacci & Hommerich, 2016). Till the mid 1970’s Japanese women were not
allowed to step out of the house. Even in this era of modernization, in cases where both the
parents are working, Japanese females are expected to perform household chores after returning
from work while it is justified for males to spend time in recreation like watching television or
performing sports activities. According to Okoshi et al. (2014), the term “relation less society”
struck popularly within Japan. Large Japanese organizations are found to be exploiting the
conservative family values of the nation. Men are supposed to invest a major portion of the day
for work and as a result possess very less amount of time for the family (Hiyoshi et al., 2014).
The corporate work regulations in Japan also support this and as a result of that gap between men
and the household are increasing. In order to take care of the household activities, women are
compelled to stay home and take care of the family.