politics

Women's rights seen taking a backseat under Japan's new gov't

32 Comments
By Beh Lih Yi

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32 Comments
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Big surprise

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Funny thing is the back seat passenger is the one in control? I always smile when I see old couples walk the wife a discrete distance behind the husband, it might be some sort of, I don't know what, but she is in control. He thinks he is the man, that's what's funny.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

These things just can't be legislated. Attitudes and perceptions must change. Can only be done with education. It needs to start in school, from when students are very young.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

Japan's global ranking on gender parity has fallen to 121st out of 153 countries in a World Economic Forum report for 2020 

To put how bad that is in perspective, the United Arab Emirates is ranked 120th. This is a quote from Human Rights Watch's most recent report on gender equality in that country:

For a woman to marry, her male guardian must conclude her marriage contract; men have the right to unilaterally divorce their wives, whereas a woman must apply for a court order to obtain a divorce; a woman can lose her right to maintenance if, for example, she refuses to have sexual relations with her husband without a lawful excuse; and women are required to “obey” their husbands. A woman may be considered disobedient, with few exceptions, if she decides to work without her husband’s consent.

UAE law permits domestic violence. Article 53 of the penal code allows the imposition of “chastisement by a husband to his wife and the chastisement of minor children” so long as the assault does not exceed the limits of Islamic law. Marital rape is not a crime.

This country now actually ranks AHEAD of Japan in gender equality!

13 ( +16 / -3 )

I'd call it a joke, but it's not funny, Women - a full half of the population, whose government treats them like an aside. Paid less, fewer rights, held back in education and employment for decades, and whose physical and psychological security is steamrollered over.

11 ( +14 / -3 )

Massive changes and a new outlook under Suga sama...NOT.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

raineyday you are sunshine

I just don't get why an asset is so waisted

1 ( +3 / -2 )

No wonder my daughter is eager to leave once she graduates from university.

9 ( +12 / -3 )

Not the most apt comparison... a lot of couples I know don't sit together when driving (ie. one driving, one in passenger seat), most often with the woman in the back telling the husband where to go.

In any case, this is not news. Did they think Suga was going to change Japan's proud tradition of ranking dead last in the G20 and near last in 150 countries ranked?

1 ( +8 / -7 )

Ha Suga doesn't even live at home, maybe those 100 sit ups, thrashing about the living space really upset his wife. Who's the boss?

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

If women will take a backseat under Suga, what was it considered under Abe with that one year exception?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Women's rights seen taking a backseat under Japan's new gov't

So, nothing has really changed in the last 120 years when they started to allow women to go to school.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

smithinjapan,

I remember once, UK, Mother would drive from the backseat.......faster, slower, wrong gear. every perceived flaw was unwanted/unneeded and increased the risk of an accident, until Father put a stop, keys in pocket exited the vehicle and walked home.

There needs to be competition, a clear level paying field, irrespective of gender, or all the other woke stuff.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

My daughter is currently at Waseda after coming back from UCLA.......there is not a chance in hell she will stay over here once she graduates.

That jp in jp.com doesn't stand for Japan it stands for Jurassic Park......since this really is a land of dinosaurs.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

Japan's global ranking on gender parity has fallen to 121st out of 153 countries in a World Economic Forum report for 2020 - the largest gap among advanced countries and down from 101st when Abe took office for a rare second term in 2012.

There's Abe's legacy for you right there. Note that Japan scores actually scores quite well for health and education of women, but the score is dragged right down due to women's position in the workplace and politics.

I reckon if they enforced labour laws about overtime and national holidays, and scrapped spousal dependency, which effectively makes many married women who earn over 1.5 million yen at least 300,000 yen a year worse off, women's position in workplace would start to change immediately. Japan is a great country to be a housewife but not a working woman. For politics, the key would be for women to vote as a bloc for other women, something which doesn't happen now.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Would be really difficult to change the system since even we who openly criticize it are hopelessly chained to it and don't fight it.

How will the system change when the promising women leave in the first place?

Who will fight for and initiate the change?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Women have better opportunities abroad when it comes to merit, promotions, possibly quality of life than to stay here. Proof: Our daughter studied in both Japan and gained masters and PHD in US. Now has lucrative career and recently promoted. Her colleagues have not faired so well and stagnant. What a shame.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

I was told the following saying by a Japanese friend some 30 years ago

"ONNA WA SANPO SAGATTE ARUKE"

1 ( +1 / -0 )

No wonder my daughter is eager to leave once she graduates from university.

Yup, that’s why my daughter won’t go to HS in Japan, Nope and No way! It’s sad though, it’s 2020 and these old guys need to really update themselves, it’s not the 1960’s anymore. If the Emperor’s daughter is passed up in the line of succession to her much younger cousin then what chance does the average woman have in Japan to make it successfully? A few yes, but overall, sadly most will not.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Considering there wasn't much "rights" for women to begin with under the previous administration, not that big of a deal.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

What can I say ???.except Japan is back in times.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Does it matter when you try to promote women and then they quit. Apparently not.

Does it matter Abe tried to hire more Women and then later both quit the Job? Apparently not.

Have you asked yourself that maybe women are not rushing for job position in the government? Is that a possibility? Apparently not.

Your fantasy and constant fetish to have more women at any cost, even if their not qualified, even if they don't want the job, even if they quit a few months later shows how truly ignorant you are on this subject.

Does it matter women who have been in power in other countries, have made the exact mistakes just like men have?

Does it matter S. Korea had a woman PM who quit because of corruption, lies, mishandling her job? Apparently not.

I Support More Women In The Government, If They Are Qualified For The Job!

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

ReasonandWisdomNipponToday  09:23 pm JST

Does it matter when you try to promote women and then they quit. Apparently not.

Does it matter Abe tried to hire more Women and then later both quit the Job? Apparently not.

Plenty of the men that Abe appointed to his Cabinet had to quit as well, due to his habit of valuing loyalty to him and his Nippon Kaigi ideology over competence and integrity.

Have you asked yourself that maybe women are not rushing for job position in the government? Is that a possibility? Apparently not.

Have you asked yourself why only 7.8% of LDP lawmakers overall are female?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Why are the woman taking the back seat?

Because they are scared of the carnage in the front seat maybe, Koike is hardly a shining star to hold up .

If woman want to take a more prominent role then they should step forward, same in every situation, this trophy based on participation rubbish, is that rubbish. Reach out and take what you think you deserve nothing in this world is served to you on a silver platter, unless of coarse you dont deserve it like those royals.

If you think its yours then go after it and go take it.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Does it matter when you try to promote women and then they quit. Apparently not. 

Does it matter Abe tried to hire more Women and then later both quit the Job? Apparently not. 

Have you asked yourself that maybe women are not rushing for job position in the government? Is that a possibility? Apparently not. 

Your fantasy and constant fetish to have more women at any cost, even if their not qualified, even if they don't want the job, even if they quit a few months later shows how truly ignorant you are on this subject. 

Does it matter women who have been in power in other countries, have made the exact mistakes just like men have?

Does it matter S. Korea had a woman PM who quit because of corruption, lies, mishandling her job? Apparently not. 

ever considered that they aren’t made to feel welcome?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Abe has never wanted to improve women's position in the society and especially in companies, it was just a huge lie in order to get argument through pressure for foreign countries. As Suga still live in middle age, he will definitely not do anything neither....

Even a new disease contaminating only men would not be enough to change mind of those old politicians and very slightly of society.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

It’s regrettable.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The position that the two women in Suga cabinet where given just a title, one head of the Olympic committee as if she is a host. That is the mind set

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Japanese women can definitely do more than Japanese men can do, and live longer too.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I agree women have a tough time if they want to do things like men do in Japan, but I have a question.

Do men in Japan have it good..... I DONT think they do, for the vast majority it totally sucks, very few enjoy what they do, they just robotically do it! So I genuinely ask, is anyone surprised women as a percentage is low, women here can clearly SEE that being a salaryman is a AWFUL EXISTENCE!!! So hardly surprising not many women want to jump on the crazy train!!

From Kohakuebisu:

I reckon if they enforced labour laws about overtime and national holidays, and scrapped spousal dependency, which effectively makes many married women who earn over 1.5 million yen at least 300,000 yen a year worse off, women's position in workplace would start to change immediately. Japan is a great country to be a housewife but not a working woman. For politics, the key would be for women to vote as a bloc for other women, something which doesn't happen now.

Yeah if labour laws were enforced if people could actually TAKE HOLIDAYS, etc etc then work\life balance might be better, right now it is AWFUL for all ESPECIALLY MEN!! Again it SUCKS to be a salaryman....if the world ranked mens well being I predict Japan would be way way down the ranks like it is for gender parity.....

Folks the bottom line is for many life in Japan is VERY LOW quality PERIOD, male or female, but at least women if they are housewives its not bad at all for most, for men it sucks for pretty much all men.

So ladies I would advise you should be CAREFUL what you wish for you just might GET IT & then you can be as miserable as the majority of men are here in Japan!

IF Japan could ever make any REAL progress on work\life balance then there is a chance for BOTH men & women to have better, more fulfilling lives.

Women just getting the chance to be salarymen ........news for you it WONT make you happy, just sayin!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

If I could create a policy, I would immediately end spousal dependency and spend the same money on increasing child benefit. Spousal dependency is only helps spouses (wives) of seishain who do not work (strictly speaking, spouses who do not earn very much). Some of these spouses get the benefit for decades despite raising zero children. Child benefit goes to everyone with children, single parents, non seishain families, women who earn more than the spousal dependency limit, etc. etc.

I also think spousal dependency is an obstacle to gay marriage. Equality means gay couples would have to qualify for it also. Ending it would also improve the marriage prospects of non-seishain men, but like gays, I doubt the government actually cares about them.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

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