In 1985, Japan passed there first equal opportunity law in the work force. As many of the women thought, it would open up doors for them to have a career in the work force but suddenly seen no difference. It was common to see women in the factory, driving taxis, and construction sites, but not that of authority which where reserved to the gray-suited salary men.
As one female worker decided to have a child, she was looked over for promotions and finally pushed to a clerical job which she then quit. These changes occurred because she had to pick up her daughter from childcare at 6:30. Japanese work customs make it impossible for a woman to have both a career and a family. Many of the jobs require for them to work long hours until 10 or 11 o clock at night. With prejudice in the work place, many women are choosing to be single and not to have any children.
One particular situation of women having authority is of 36 year old Takako Ariishi. She was the only child of the president of Daiya Seiki, a small manufacturer owned by her family that supplies gauges to Nissan. She was her fathers disappointment so he cut her hair like a boy’s and forbade her to play with dolls. When she had her first son 10 years ago, he fired her from the company and anointed the infant grandson as his successor. Which later he died and she took over the company. Ariishi is the only women out of 160 men that supplies to Nissan. “I still have to prove all the time that a woman can be president,” says Ms. Ariishi, a trained engineer who wears a blue unisex factory worker’s uniform in her office”.
With the fertility rate going down, now women’s rights advocates are starting to argue that Japan must make more such efforts — not just for the corporate good, but for survival.
They point to studies showing that nations with greater workplace participation, like the United States, actually have higher fertility rates. “Birthrates here are declining because of a lack of equality for women,” said Ms. Inoguchi, the former minister. “The population shortage is forcing a change in attitudes.”
In closing, this article brings awareness to how important males in certain countries. If these individuals thought about reproduction, then they know the shortage of males will continue to grow. These women will soon be in charge because of the lack of reproduction and the rules due to labor dealing with having a family.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/06/world/asia/06equal.html?scp=4&sq=gender+issues&st=nyt
2 comments:
It is everywhere, women in the United States are looked over because employers do not want to give marternity leave or have to deal with a woman's mother roles.
It is sad that in Japan, it is such an extreme. I also think, it is just their way of society. Which does not make it right, I just do not think change will come soon.
I agree with the previous comment that women are always being overlooked by males in the work place. Woman in the US still earn less then men in the same position.
I know a Japanese women who had a great job in Japan, but she worked very long hours that made imposable for her to have a family.
I believe that women should be able to be both a mother and have a career and get support for the work place with equal wages and job opportunity.
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