Source: Japan Times

Things are starting to look up with new Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda’s plans to increase career opportunities for women.

The government is pledging with the program to increase women’s social participation in areas where they have yet to play significant roles, including medical services, public services and science.

Gender equality minister Yoko Kamikawa plans to visit business group leaders and encourage the hiring of more women for managerial posts.

The program aims to raise the percentage of female employees in the central government ranked higher than section chief or equivalent to at least 5 percent by the end of fiscal 2010 from 1.7 percent in fiscal 2005.

I’ve mentioned before about the slow-but-noticeable increase in gender equality, but it’s still nowhere near ideal (or some semblence of.) It seems that the higher ups are starting to realize that without gender equality, a nation is only performing half as well as it could be–not to mention that Japan’s embarrassingly low gender equality statistics are constantly being thrown about.

I’m not sure if simple encouragement is enough, although this is a step in the right direction.  We need to see more examples of women leading successful lives in Japan to serve as role models for those following in their footsteps.  Although there is certainly nothing wrong with dreaming of becoming a housewife, it seems that so much talent and bright minds are going to waste because of ingrained societal expectations.  (Case in point: is there any reason why Empress Masako, a Harvard undergraduate and Oxford alum who is fluent in 3 languages, had give up everything in order to marry the Prince?)

Source: New program to boost women in workplace - Japan Times

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Foxes | asia, japan, life, social | Wednesday, April 9th, 2008 | Trackback