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Closing Japan's gender gap could boost GDP 12.5%: report

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Japan could boost its GDP by 12.5% if it closes the gender gap and gets more women into the workforce, a new report says.

The finding, by Goldman Sachs, echoes calls by economists and Japan's prime minister for more opportunities for women, in a bid to lessen the impact of a shrinking and greying population.

"If Japan's female employment rate as of 2013 (62.5%) rose to that of males (80.6%), this would add 7.1 million employees to the workforce," Goldman Sachs Group said.

"We estimate the absolute level of Japan's GDP could be lifted by as much as 12.5%," the financial giant's Japanese arm said in its latest "Womenomics" report.

The potential increase is among the highest in the world, but lags Greece, at 18%, and Italy at 16%.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said he is determined to make better use of Japan's potential female workers as part of his strategy to revitalise the country's underperforming economy.

"Japan must become a place where women shine," has been a mantra in a number of speeches in which he has said he wants women to account for 30% of leading positions by 2020, the year Tokyo hosts the Summer Olympics.

Most commentators believe the target is highly ambitious -- the rate is currently around 11% in the private sector, and lower than that in the public sector.

Economists agree that Japan's well-educated women are a huge source of untapped potential, with many dropping out of the workforce when they have children and few returning to their careers.

Japan's birthrate is one of the world's lowest at around 1.4%. The nation's population is expected to shrink by nearly 40% by 2060 in the worst-case scenario.

"Since the three key determinants for economic growth are labor, capital and productivity, Japan's severe demographic headwinds mean that unless radical steps are taken quickly, the nation faces the risk not only of longer-term economic stagnation, but of economic contraction and lower standards of living as well," the report said.

The report, an update of one issued in 2010, which put the potential boon at 15 percent, called for a number of reforms.

Among suggestions were the deregulation of the daycare/nursing care sectors, amendments to tax and social security codes, and mandated gender-related corporate disclosures.

"Perhaps one of the greatest barriers to higher Japanese female employment is Japanese society itself," the report said.

In a 2012 Cabinet Office survey, 52% of the Japanese respondents stated that women should stay at home and men should work, up 10 percentage points from the previous survey in 2009.

"In order to help change the mindset, much work needs to be done to dispel myths and encourage greater gender equality at home," the report said.

© (c) 2014 AFP

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

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12.5% is not insignificant by any means! This should be taken seriously by the Government especially if they are serious about helping strengthen Japan's Economy.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

the nation faces the risk not only of longer-term economic stagnation, but of economic contraction and lower standards of living as well,” the report said.

what risks? risk factors mentioned are already prevailing in Japan...perhaps they mean "additional" risks (?)

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The facts are that an increase in GDP does not equate to a higher standard of living for the average person. More women, foreigners, elderly in the workplace means lower salaries because there is more demand for jobs.

The finding was made by Goldman Sachs. yes them. Anyone who trusts them needs serious help.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Kathy Matsui, the Japanese-American Goldman Sachs employee who is really the driving force behind the "Womenomics" reports put out by that company regarding Japan, is a smart woman. But some 50 years after the Japanese took a statistic invented by Western-based economists (then called GNP, now GDP) and practically adopted it as the national ideology (GNPism), is GDP growth still the be-all and end-all for the country?

Absolute GDP or even per capita GDP measured nominally in US dollars or according to PPP--these numbers have seen their day. The more holistic human development index (HDI), invented by economists from India and Pakistan, is viewed as providing a better measure of the quality of life in a country. In the 2013 report, Japan ranked #10 on the HDI index (0.912 out of 1.0), highest among non-Western nations and 3rd among countries with 50 million or more people. China's ranking? Number 101 (0.699) out of 187 nations, despite being home to the world's 2nd largest economy.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

More people in the workforce competing for a dwindling number of opportunities = lower salaries = deflation = recession

The current recent success in generating inflation (a gov't priority) is thanks to the tightness in the labor market, not the other way around!

Anyway, a healthy economy is one where both spouses don't have to work. Japan used to be like that not so long ago. What happened?

1 ( +5 / -4 )

More Japanese women getting into the workforce is already a reality. I saw JR trains conducted by women, bus drivers women, workers in construction jobs women and women taxi drivers.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

The only people who will benefit are business owners and stockholders from lowered wages. 50 years ago, a man working a middle class job earned enough income to support a small family. Nowadays, families struggle to earn enough even with both parents working. Reports like these also conveniently ignore the societal costs from a lack of parental involvement in a child's life, particularly when they're young. When I was very young, my father worked and my mother took care of my siblings and I. She taught me how to read. She spent hours working with me to correct my speech impediments. She made sure I didn't fall behind in school. Guess what? None of these things get counted as GDP. Yet a daycare center, where I wouldn't have received any of these things, does.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

“Japan must become a place where women shine,” has been a mantra in a number of speeches in which he has said he wants women to account for 30% of leading positions by 2020, the year Tokyo hosts the Summer Olympics.

Most commentators believe the target is highly ambitious—the rate is currently around 11% in the private sector, and lower than that in the public sector.

Two things bother me about these comments. First off, Abe should be getting behind this initiative because he truly believes in equality in the workforce and the benefits it can have for Japanese ecomony. Not because he wants Japan to look better for the Olympics. Second, the fact that the public sector rate for women in leading positions is LOWER than the private sector rate says this is all just nice talk. If this is a true priority for Abe and the country, then the public sector should be leading the charge, not being the anchor.

It doesn't matter if the improvement in GDP is 12.5% or just 2.5%, equality in opportunity should be a social value of Japan.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Why "force" people to work ? Men and women are free to work. Wife at home, what is the issue?

Issue is for politicians that see taxes revenues for them and their privileges, not for the general people's sake. What were you thinking ?

0 ( +6 / -6 )

Abe just wants to tax me more by taking away the spouse tax deduction. The government already took away the children tax deduction, which increased my taxes by over ¥200,000 per year. And, no, I don't make a huge salary. Very average, if not a little low for my age bracket.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

There have always been competitive females in Japan- teachers, doctors, lawyers, business people and so on, but the numbers were quite low. Japanese women have long been enveloped in the myth that their role in life is to be a good wife and mother. Today, however, full-time wives and mothers are in the minority. Job opportunities for women are expanding, however gradually- and grudgingly.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Anyway, a healthy economy is one where both spouses don't have to work. Japan used to be like that not so long ago. What happened?

There were days in the past that most of GDP was consumed by the people, and generally reinvested into positive growth. Those were the days when government consumed a far smaller part of GDP. Since about 1950, national government spending has increased steadily, and now the tax burden is about 30% of GDP. Government spending now accounts for well over 40% of GDP. In 1960 government spending was only 17.5% of GDP.

Most companies spend more in taxes than they do on payroll, and with less money for payroll, they either have to pay less, or hire less. And they have even less to spend on growth and expansions of their business.

The problem with increased government spending is that it generally creates neutral or negative returns, and so it actually hampers GDP growth. Private sector business usually sees a positive return, which is the reinvested to generate more returns, and this is generally the process which fuels GDP growth. Unless the politicians, bureaucrats, and their friends stop taking ever greater parts of the economic pie, there will be less and less left over for us.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Blah blah blah... Abe, put your money with your mouth is and start building much needed daycares, pay the staff well, demand companies follow mat and pat laws, put an end to unneeded overtime and start dealing with the sexual discrimination and haressement that women face here daily. Oh right, it's easier to say than do.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Many Japanese woman don't want to work especially after marriage, they feel it is their given right to not work.

Changing this mind set will not be easy.

8 ( +12 / -4 )

@tmarie

Please no! Western style feminsim is the last thing Japan needs. Lower wages, higher crime, higher debts etc as seen in the west.

@StormR You think that is a bad thing. The femiinists say the Japanese wom,en should be like them, what! In teh rat race, trying to act like men for crap pay, oh no thanks.

-3 ( +7 / -10 )

Never gonna happen. No point in talking about it.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Please no! Western style feminsim is the last thing Japan needs.

falseflagsteve -- LOL. How does giving women a chance to even attain 30% of the leading positions equate to "feminism"? God, are you that scared of having to actually compete for promotion rather than simply be given it because you are a man, and have paid your dues? The plain fact is, and my ten years of working in/with major companies in Japan, as well as running my own firm, proved to me that the "best and the brightest" there are EASILY the women. And that scares the heck out of the men there, especially the stuffed-shirt, lazy, ego-inflated, and over-paid bureaucrats.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

Most of the financial gains of getting women into to the workforce comes from the fact they do not get paid as much as men to do the same job. That has to increase company profits and boost the GDP, doesn't it?whats next Abe? Putting 12 year olds into factories?

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

The same thing was said more than 3 years ago by Ms. Matsui herself. What has changed since then? Japan old-timers know that it's all talk no action here. Unless there is some kind of catastrophe (bond crash, yen shooting up to 200) things will never change. Where's that 3rd arrow? No women, no foreigners, life time employment, welcome to the good old Japan.

http://www.goldmansachs.com/our-thinking/investing-in-women/bios-pdfs/womenomics3_the_time_is_now_pdf.pdf

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Most of the financial gains of getting women into to the workforce comes from the fact they do not get paid as much as men to do the same job.

This is a bold-faced lie. A complete myth. That statistic has been debunked over and over, yet feminists continue to use it. It's like comparing apples to oranges. It's nothing short of intellectual dishonesty.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Rather old news. Next best move would be making companies understand that merely sitting at your desk for ten hours a day (or until your boss leaves) is not the same thing as actually doing ten hours of work.

Japanese productivity in general is lower than that in the U.S. and most of the EU and probably 10% of the workforce is under employed.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Key word "if", in the opening semtence. We all know the "old boys club" will never let this happen. Never in a million years.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

In a 2012 Cabinet Office survey, 52% of the Japanese respondents stated that women should stay at home and men should work, up 10 percentage points from the previous survey in 2009.

That's a bit of a shocker.

There's some naysayers on JT I see, but I believe more women getting into the work force is undoubtedly a good thing.

From what I hear, there is a segment of your housewives with no independent income who feel that one of their responsibilities / roles is to be a yen-pincher, and help the household skimp on expenses as much as possible. Supermarkets that offer weekday specials have queues of housewives first thing in the morning, waiting to get into the store and snap up the first-come-first-served cheap deals on offer.

If these women were instead working full-time jobs, they would have more disposable income to spend, feel less pressure to pinch yen, and thus help Japan's efforts to boost consumption. This would all help boost tax revenues which the government desperately needs, as well as enable them to save more for their own retirements.

Abe himself seems to be on board with Matsui's mantra, apparently he's quoted her studies in speeches that he's given. Like the 3rd arrow however, I'd like to see more rapid ACTION from Abe, rather than just talk.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

“Japan must become a place where women shine,” has been a mantra in a number of speeches

Mothers don't shine? It's insulting of Abe to suggest so. But then he wouldn't know, since his own wife hasn't had the chance to shine either as a mother or as a businesswoman.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

Many Japanese woman don't want to work especially after marriage, they feel it is their given right to not work.

The opposite side of this of course is that many Western men think it's a woman's responsibility to work outside the house after marriage. Many women don't want to work after marriage because they want to focus on keeping a proper household, and raising children, without having to try to juggle this with another job outside the house.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Illyas - I'm afraid you have no idea what you are talking about. Most women's salaries are around 20-25% less than a man's for the same job. Plus, the women are expected to go to work early and clean the office and make the coffee for free. Do some research before calling anybody a liar cos you make yourself look foolish.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

I'm afraid you have no idea what you are talking about. Most women's salaries are around 20-25% less than a man's for the same job. Plus, the women are expected to go to work early and clean the office and make the coffee for free. Do some research before calling anybody a liar cos you make yourself look foolish.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christina-hoff-sommers/wage-gap_b_2073804.html

Read this article. Talking to someone who uses those manipulated statistics is like talking to a moon land conspiracy nut. But hey, feel free to tell me that the Huffington Post is a woman-hating bastion of patriarchy.

-3 ( +3 / -4 )

Ok illyas, let's bicker! Do you actually know any Japanese women that are working in Japan? I don't think you do. There is a huge wage gap and overall prejudice against women in the workplace in Japan, regardless of what the Huffinpuff Post says. I'm afraid it is you that is believing manipulated statistics cos the truth is far from what is stated in that tabloid.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

50 years and counting and the USA has yet to close the "gender gap"... now take a culture with ten times that history and try to push gender change.... necessity may speed the change... I'll agree to that... but the friction... like sandpaper and a sled.... will be its culture and language.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

No more bickering please.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

There is a huge wage gap and overall prejudice against women in the workplace in Japan, regardless of what the Huffinpuff Post says.

Excellent comment.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

At last I understand Abe's cunning plan!

By increasing taxes, prices go up. Wages stay the same, so people have a hard time making ends meet.

This will force women to go to work, close the "gender gap" and boost the economy.

I see!

There is method in his madness, after all.

Abenomics rules!

(Sarcasm)

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I confirm large salary gap exists (and shall continue). Japan is looking for perfection and peace, not fight between people on their own soil because full competition in the west where skilled young people are exploited and no politician makes a move against that.

Women are happy in Japan, men are not...

2 ( +3 / -1 )

12.5% sounds great. But since most of the old men who run the country would rather see them barefoot and pregnant, that change will be a long time coming. Japan is hidebound by it's older generation who run everything the old way in a world that has outpaced them, and by younger people who don't car enough to vote. sad to say it's only when the oldies die off that real change will come. Since Japan's got the longest living population, that will be a while yet.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

'when the oldies die off that real change will come.'

When the oldies die off, the offspring of those oldies will be in power with mindsets not too dissimilar. As you said, the younger generation can't be arsed to vote and so power will stay in a political class dominated by family connections, traditionalism and vested interests. Little will change.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

China's ranking? Number 101 (0.699) out of 187 nations, despite being home to the world's 2nd largest economy.

And? Who in their right mind would look to China as a model for anything, Masswipe? They're not on the table.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Japan must become a place where women shine,” has been a mantra in a number of speeches in which he has said he wants women to account for 30% of leading positions by 2020, the year Tokyo hosts the Summer Olympics.

And where is his leadership? How about an even number of women in his cabinet?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Sorry guys, but politispeak is just hot air. For some strange reason there are still those foolish enough to believe what politicians tell them. Worse yet, there are those who believe that the political class is somehow different from corporate executives and the so-called 1%, and that this political class acts for "the common good, and protects us from the greed of the evil corporations and other exploiters. What is not understood is that the political class is more greedy, less transparent, and does things "for the common good" only when they can do so while lining their own pockets in the process.

The gender gap in Japan is not the result of government or business policy, it is simply one of the weak points of Japanese culture. In Japan, culture always overrules paltry things like the rule of law. Age discrimination in Japan is illegal, but try to change jobs, or find a new job in Japan if you are over 40. Gender discrimination is illegal, yet women are paid only about 60% of what men get, and women make up only 9% of management positions. Practices like price-fixing are illegal, but price-fixing is normal practice in all trades and industries in Japan. There is no point in trying to change policies or enact new laws when they will simply be ignored.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

B.B.Q.DemonMay. 08, 2014 - 08:33AM JST

Abe just wants to tax me more by taking away the spouse tax deduction.

Exactly. This is part of the campaign by the government to eliminate the 380,000 yen spouse tax deduction.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

More people in the workforce competing for a dwindling number of opportunities = lower salaries = deflation = recession

This point of view, expressed in different forms by a number of posters is economic nonsense. It makes the assumption that there are a fixed number of jobs out there and a fixed amount of wealth around. This is quite untrue. New entrants to the job market actually create jobs - it is the strength of supply side economics. More women could start working with very few negative externalities and an overall boost to the economy.

The other view is the automatic confustion of "women" with "mothers", as though from the time they are 18 to the age of 60, all women have an infant on their shoulders. They do not. Perhaps a woman might want to take 10 or 15 years out of the labour market, but she can rejoin it and still enjoy the bulk of a career. At the moment she will be taken seriously in a professional capacity.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The report, “Womenomics 4.0: Time to Walk the Talk”....First thoughts, turn on the play station?, download the App?... Kathy Matsui, chief Japan strategist of 'Goldman Sachs' report reduces women's role in the workplace, culture and society to little more than a gender based resource management solution.

The reports pecommendations...

First, the Japanese government should fully deregulate both the daycare and the nursing care industries, dramatically reform immigration laws, make both the tax and social security regulations gender neutral, require corporate disclosures regarding gender, enhance pay for part-time work and increase female representation at all levels of government.

Second, the private sector should lobby the government regarding the importance of workplace diversity, encourage more flexible work environments, establish objective gender-neutral employee evaluation schemes, consider diversity targets and “engage male champions of diversity.”

Third, Japanese society at large also needs to be educated to dispel a number of myths about Womenomics and the female gender. Related to this, a long-term public relations and social media campaign to encourage greater gender equality at home will lay the groundwork for greater gender participation in the workforce in the future.

Not even the mere hint or suggestion of importance of Family life.

The call for deregulation of child and nursing care will have a negative effect on maintaining standard levels for a safe environment for protecting children. Legislating policies that are adverse to enhancing family home life will never close Japan's gender gap. The conclusions to this report, the 'jargon' reflects cynicism and ignorance, brings attention to the valve Goldman Sachs attaches to our daily family lives.

The 'echo' is 'The Great Goldman Sachs Fire Sale of 2008', squalid and on public records filed with the Securities and Exchange commission.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Please no! Western style feminsim is the last thing Japan needs. Lower wages, higher crime, higher debts etc as seen in the west.

Yes, equality is the last thing it needs...

Mothers don't shine? It's insulting of Abe to suggest so. But then he wouldn't know, since his own wife hasn't had the chance to shine either as a mother or as a businesswoman. Well they don't when they are the poor and live below poverty levels. Besides that, I read an article that suggested that 33% of single women live below poverty so it doesn't seem like all that any women are shining here, mothers or not. Getting married is pretty much the only way many women here can "assure" that they won't become one of the poverty stats.

And doesn't Mrs. Abe run an izakaya? She most certainly is shining and recently demonstrated that by attending a gay pride parade. She also speaks up about her concern for nuclear power and wanting her husband ot stop being an idiot with the restart talk. Suggesting she doesn't shine is rather an insult to her I think.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

"And? Who in their right mind would look to China as a model for anything, Masswipe? They're not on the table."

Nessie: Well obviously some people at the Goldman Sachs office in Roppongi Hills do. A major impetus for repeatedly emphasizing absolute GDP growth in these "Womenomics" reports put out by GS is, I have no doubt, the huge growth in China's GDP over the last couple of decades. I'm just pointing out that the HDI index shows that daily life in China remains of far lower quality overall than in any OECD country including Japan.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@tmarie

Women in Japan are equal under the law. What you and many women from the West want is an unfair advantage for certain women. Things like affirmative action work for middle and upper middle class people not for the average person. What i mean by feminism (in layman's terms) is where women feel they must be in paid employment or are useless. Thsi has been said many times by feminists on this site. It makes the family come second after profits for the corporations and higher GDP which benefits a small amount of the rich in the most part. The huge amount of extra people in the workforse makes salaries reduced and many jobs are made part time so the workers have less rights and no jib security (see USA and Europe).

So, this feminism is nothing to do with equality but merely how the 1% can get richer by making more consumers. Child is in oaid daycare, kindergarten, school, University, mortgage. It's all about creating lifelong debt something Goldman Sachs need to run their seedy business.

@Jerseyboy

No worries for me i am self emolyed and if i wasn't i woukdn't care about the sex or colour of fellow workers as i am not a bigot.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Let's face it. The Japanese will need to offer a lot more opportunities for females if they want to really improve their economy. It would not surprise me within the next 15 years we may even have a female Prime Minister in Japan, too. We already may have seen one potential candidate: Renhou Murata, a high-ranking member of the DPJ.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Well they don't (shine) when they are the poor and live below poverty levels. Besides that, I read an article that suggested that 33% of single women live below poverty so it doesn't seem like all that any women are shining here, mothers or not.

Well gosh, if you read an article that suggested it, it must be true. :-) I have to admit, I don't see many people living truly below the poverty line in Japan. Not being able to afford foreign holidays three times a year is not poverty.

And doesn't Mrs. Abe run an izakaya?

Not with her own fair hand. The MIL didn't approve and insisted that Akie not be active on the premises.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/kuchikomi/view/akie-abe-not-afraid-to-speak-her-mind

She most certainly is shining and recently demonstrated that by attending a gay pride parade.

People shine if they support gay pride? Hey, then we can all shine.

She also speaks up about her concern for nuclear power and wanting her husband ot stop being an idiot with the restart talk.

She married an idiot, and stays married to him. Not very shiny, that.

Suggesting she doesn't shine is rather an insult to her I think.

Suggesting any woman doesn't shine if she isn't on a board of directors or at least bringing home a pay check, is a definite insult to all women.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

No worries for me i am self emolyed and if i wasn't i woukdn't care about the sex or colour of fellow workers as i am not a bigot.

falseflagsteve -- you may not be a bigot, but you are certainly afraid of "feminism". Which, IMO, is just as bad, as you equate any mention of women receiving EQUAL treatment in the workplace, not preferential treatment, with radicalism.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Women in Japan are equal under the law.

Under the law yes but in reality, no. You'd have to be living in a cave if you think women are treated equally here. I have said nothing in terms of affirmative action and the like. I tend to think it makes it harder for women because men, probably men like yourself, would mutter about how a certain woman got her job or promotion just because she's female. Yes, heaven forbid women want to be paid when they work. It's great that your wife is married to someone like you who is more than happy to bring home the bacon but what about all those single, divorced and widowed women who need to earn a living wage but can't because of the sexism in the system here? Should they have to suffer in poverty because you think feminism (sorry, western styled feminism) is BS?

Cleo, so journals articles you haven't read just aren't good enough? Right, because your experience is much better and more the truth, right? Just because YOU don't see it doesn't mean it isn't out there. Honestly Cleo, I am shocked at your comments on this matter as you are usually very supportive of women and their rights.

MIL may have stepped in but she was running it before. And the issue is... MIL. A female causing issues and judging a a working woman. Imagine that.

Maybe she stays married to him because she's have to lilve below the poverty line because your average Japanese woman doesn't make a living wage?

And yes, she shines for standing up for gay rights. It's a hell of a lot more than what most people, men or women, do here in those regards. And no one has suggested a woman on a board of directors or making a wage doesn't shine. Once again you want to martyr SAHMs for the choices they made and are supported in making. A shame you can't see to do the same for working mothers.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

@jerseyboy

I have no fear of feminism, why should i? Please provide any evidence of any post i have ever made where i do not want equality for all?

Feminism has become a word, a tool if you like for agendas to be pushed. You are a bigot if you are not a feminist is the way it is which is bigotted in itself and daft. Feminism was a fight for equality, yes women in Japan atre equal under the law and you get feminists of the male and female variety wanting more women in high up jobs etc. Maybe they don't want them, maybe many women actually want to put families first which is natural especially with babies and young children. These feminists don't moan that there are not enough women builders, truck drivers, road cleaners etc. That is because they want equality in "good" well paid jobs. There are a lack of males working in the teaching profession in many countries yet you don't have campaigns for equality there or in the nursing prfofession for instance, because it does not fit the agenda.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

so journals articles you haven't read just aren't good enough?

Heck no, I read lots of articles both good and bad. Just saying', don't believe everything you read.

I am shocked at your comments on this matter as you are usually very supportive of women and their rights.

Usually? I'm always supportive of people - male, female and otherwise - and their legitimate rights. I just don't see that it's very supportive to look down on a person because they don't fit your own idea of what's right. Abe is insinuating that the only way a woman can shine is to have a paying job. That is an insult.

Maybe she stays married to him because she's have to lilve below the poverty line because your average Japanese woman doesn't make a living wage?

Akie Abe is the daughter of Akio Matsuzaki, former president of the Morinaga confectionery giant. She isn't your average Japanese woman, she isn't short of a bob or two and she wouldn't come in sight of the poverty line using a long-range telescope if she ever dumped Shinzo-kun.

no one has suggested a woman on a board of directors or making a wage doesn't shine

Then what's the meaning of “Japan must become a place where women shine,” has been a mantra in a number of speeches in which he has said he wants women to account for 30% of leading positions by 2020? Isn't he saying that women in Japan today don't shine? And that they will shine when they're in leading positions?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Cleo, perhaps you could get out of your bubble, head to a poor area in a large city and take a look around. Or, you could befriend a single mom, a divorced mom or a widowed mom and see for yourself. You're not appearing very supportive here - and you are certainly not supportive of women who decide to head back to work when they have small children.

No one here is looking down on SAHM here. Why you are insisting this is beyond me. Where is the comment that you find offensive? The shining comment is not directed at SAHM mothers at all so you are really reaching if that is what you have your knickers in a knot over. Japanese women who want to take a greater role and responsibilty are NOT shing in working environments. If anything, the SAHM crowds are the ones shining here and the working women are tarnished in the eyes on many. Hence the comment.

Akie's father's money is not hers just as my father's money is not mine. A huge assumptio on your part. Plenty of women here have gone from living very comfortably when married to dirt poor and struggling to make ends meet because of ending up without a husband for various reasons. Hence why so many women will suffer in crappy marriages put up with abuse and cheating husbands. Akie may not end up poor but there is no promise she'd get daddy's money either.

A FT working women here isn't your average women here either. What's your point?

And with this, I'm done. Too busy to continue the round about that will go from here.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Cleo,

I have to admit, I don't see many people living truly below the poverty line in Japan.

Perhaps you should have a look at Okinawa, then. I know a lot of people who are struggling to get by on very small salaries here.

The situation for women seems worse here than other places I have lived in Japan. There is just not a lot of choice. Younger women might get a job in a McDonalds or selling ice cream by the side of the road. For older women, if they are lucky, they might find a job at Kanehide, San-A or Union (supermarkets) at the minimum wage for Okinawa - 650 yen per hour.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Please no! Western style feminsim is the last thing Japan needs. Lower wages, higher crime, higher debts etc as seen in the west.

falseflagsteve -- that pretty much sounds like fear to me. You are equating feminism with lower wages, higher crime, higher debt, etc. It is either fear or ignorence.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

@Jerseboy

Fear!! Hahaha you really ae being a card and i think you are failing to grasp what i am talking about as many actually do. I am not talking about feminism in the way of equality in the work place and under the law that has been achieved in Japan and n the West anyway.

This feminism is not feminism as such but pro big business and the elite and to the detriment of society which leads to lower wages, higher crime, higher debts etc as i said earlier. This is because the cause has been hijacked by types like Goldman Sachs to push their own agenda of making more money. We are talking people who need more consumers, more in the workplace (lower wages, less job security, more part time workers). Lower wages and less job security leads to debt (whoopee to Goldman Sachs and their buddies). Both partners in many families have to work due to these working condition and have to pay childcare fees. All this to have the same standard or lower of living as was provided by one bread winner 30-40 years ago. This is not fearmongering it is fact. The foodbanks in the US and UK speak volumes about what this really is. Goldman Sachs care only about the biottom line which is finding ore ways to line their pockets and they don't care who gets hurt.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

This feminism is not feminism as such but pro big business and the elite and to the detriment of society which leads to lower wages, higher crime, higher debts etc as i said earlier.

falseflagsteve -- forgive me, but it is simply impossible to take someone's opinion who equates feminism with "pro big buisness" seriously. That is simply ludicrous. First off, you are insisting that increasing women's role in the Japanese business world is "feminism", which given the historical structure of Japanese society/culture, is simply foolish. Second, Japan has historically paid women at a much lower rate than men, so this whole rant about lower wages is a theory looking for a home. Finally, commenting on foodbanks in the U.S. and the U.K. in the same context of Goldman Sachs and equal opportunities for women in Japan is truly laughable. The term red herring defines your whole argument.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

@jerseyboy

Problem is you can't see it. This is not feminism and i shall prove that to you know. These poeple demanding and wanting more women in the workplace in Japan are not Japanese feminists demonstrating or starting a movement but Goldman Sachs and Abe who is part of the elite.

You honestly believe that more people in the workforce leads to better pay and conditions for any of them. Pray tell, where do these higfher salaries come from?

How about refutting my facts that big business is behind this (Goldman Sachs). I prefer to be neutral and look at the facts and that i when the truth can be found.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

You honestly believe that more people in the workforce leads to better pay and conditions for any of them. Pray tell, where do these higfher salaries come from?

The logical conclusion of your argument is that we need fewer people in the work place, because fewer people in in the workplace should lead to better pay and conditions (if we accept your argument that more people in the workplace leads to lower pay and condition). We would be just as well off with one person working and everybody else can live off their tax income.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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