This chapter considers Japan’s contemporary gender inequality by tracing the progress and stagnation of women’s political and economic status since 1945, the year that women were able to cast their votes and run for office in the first democratically held elections. Women’s social, economic and political roles have of course improved since 1945 but according to many international indices, Japan has a very poor record on gender equality, and it is in these two important domains—economic empowerme…
Read moreThis chapter considers Japan’s contemporary gender inequality by tracing the progress and stagnation of women’s political and economic status since 1945, the year that women were able to cast their votes and run for office in the first democratically held elections. Women’s social, economic and political roles have of course improved since 1945 but according to many international indices, Japan has a very poor record on gender equality, and it is in these two important domains—economic empowerment and political representation—where it is most striking.
