THE SKY’S THE LIMIT
Japan’s gender inequality puts it to shame in world rankings

By TOMOKO OTAKE
Staff writer
(http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20080224×1.html)
When it comes to gender equality, Japan has no shortage of distressing figures.

The statistics that are most often used to illustrate the nation’s dismal status in this respect are the United Nations Development Program’s Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM), which gauges equality by tracking women’s participation in politics and business.

In 2007, Japan’s GEM was ranked 54th out of 93 countries, compared with Australia’s 8th ranking, Germany’s 9th, Canada’s 10th, Britain’s 14th and the United States’ 15th. Among Asian peers, Japan’s rank was significantly lower than Singapore’s (16th), while China and South Korea both trailed Japan at 57th and 64th, respectively.

Women in power are particularly few and far between, with only 9.4 percent of parliamentary seats here being occupied by women, which puts the nation in the disgraceful position of being ranked 131st out of 189 countries surveyed.

Things are not any rosier in the private sector, where, as of 2006, women made up only 10.8 percent of all subsection chiefs (kakari-cho), 5.8 percent of section chiefs (kacho) and a mere 3.7 percent of department heads (bucho). And as for female researchers, Japan’s 96,000 represent only 11 percent of the total.

Life is even harder regarding careers in science or technology. A 2007 study by the Japan Association of National Universities found that only 2.5 percent of professorial posts in science departments across national universities were occupied by women — with a mere 1.8 percent in agricultural departments and just 1.1 percent in engineering departments.

Girls are turned off early. A 2005 report on education by the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) said that, among 100,000 young employees, the number of male university graduates in Japan with science degrees was 1,656, above the OECD average of 1,398, but the corresponding number for women stood at a paltry 372 — less than half of the OECD average of 858. The report noted that many women lose interest in mathematics by age 15.

It’s always amusing when someone who has never experienced something tries to tell those who do experience it how they ought to react to it. Ben, you’re like a white man telling an African American what it’s like to grow up in the southern United States, although considering your track record, you likely think that’s fine and dandy too.

Darn, my foot’s itchy. If only Ben were here to tell me if it’s an itch worth scratching.

I always try to give the benefit of the doubt to people, especially those who are giving interviews in a language that is not their own and who most likely do not give many interviews.

Erin, how do you think it might feel to have your thoughts called “patronizing” in such a situation?

I think that maybe you could have left a more constructive comment. One statement in one article makes you feel sad for all women in Japan?

(By the way, what is your culture? We need to classify you properly! Data indicates that most of our readers are United Statesean, by the way.)

I’d like to again thank Lisa, Yuka, Miyuki and Katzu for taking the time to contribute to AshtangaNews!