Opinion | Could patriarchal Japan take a leaf from Singapore’s gender equality review?

Adherence to gender norms within the Japanese workplace has resulted in low levels of Japanese women in key decision-making positions

In Singapore, officials have gathered ideas and feedback from women’s groups, experts and other parties to inform policy. This approach would work for Japan, too

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Peoplein the Tenjin business and commercial area in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan. Photo: Kyodo

Published: 8:00am, 22 Aug 2023

Japan’s economy is under pressure from rising energy prices, defence costs and the impact of the pandemic. Plummeting birth rates and an ageing population further threaten the sustainability of its labour market. A 2023 study by independent think tank the Recruit Works Institute points to a labour supply shortage of 3.41 million people by 2030, and over 11 million by 2040.

Gender inequality is another significant pressure point. Research shows that a gender-inclusive society and workforce leads to innovation and economic growth. However, Japan has one of the lowest levels of gender equality among G7 countries. It has slipped to its lowest ranking yet in the World Economic Health Forum’s latest Global Gender Report, particularly in terms of women in leadership positions.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida recently declared that Japan needs to urgently raise its birth rate. He also vowed to increase the percentage of women executives in Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed companies, from 11.4 per cent to 30 per cent or more, by 2030. A policy draft released in June indicates that this will be achieved through leadership quotas legally imposed on listed companies.

Japan has tried this countless times, however, and largely failed. As my research shows, this is because gender norms are deeply embedded in Japanese society.

A woman in the Ginza district of Tokyo. Gendered norms have resulted in a significant double burden on Japanese women. Photo: AFP

Socialisation of gender norms

Gender norms in Japanese society are tightly connected to patriarchal hierarchies that have evolved historically from the influence of Confucianism. The role of a man is linked to being the breadwinner and head of the family. Women, by contrast, are seen as wives and caregivers, ultimately subservient to the head of the family.