PART 1 PROSPECTS OF A GENDER-EQUAL SOCIETY

In order to fully implement measures for creating a gender-equal society in the 21st century, we must first establish the ideals of a gender-equal society and hammer out the objectives clearly. It is necessary to forecast the changes which might occur in Japan's socioeconomic environment so as to take concrete steps on the basis of these ideals and objectives.

  1. The Basic Idea of the Gender-Equal Society
    • (1) What is the "Gender-Equal Society"?
    • A "gender-equal society" is a society in which both men and women shall be given equal opportunities to participate voluntarily in activities at all levels as equal partners and shall be able to enjoy political, economic, social and cultural benefits as well as to take responsibilities equally.
    • This Report aims to achieve a society where men and women can jointly participate in activities according to their individual characteristics, without being restricted by "gender", a social and cultural constraint.
    • (2) Ideals and Aims of the Gender-Equal Society
    • The concept of human rights is a universal value shared by the human race, and is the basic idea behind the gender-equal society. All measures must serve to achieve fairness by respecting the human rights of men and women equally in all aspects, and enable each individual to lead his/her life as comfortable as possible. To do this in all countries, the important precondition is world peace.
      In Japan, gender equality is enshrined in the Constitution and is provided for by various laws and regulations. Nonetheless, it has not yet planted its roots in Japan, nor has it brought about equality in reality. We will hereby present the following five objectives, considering the solution of problems concerning women (which is vital for achieving a gender-equal society) and also issues relating to men, the other side of the same coin.
      a. The establishment of human rights
      A gender-equal society is a graceful society that respects the individual, and is based on the idea of establishing human rights. Without the establishment of human rights, it would be impossible to create a society where women are free from discrimination and violence, where women can have independence in any field of society, and where women can be proud of themselves and are respected as individual beings.
      b. The maturation of democracy by participating in the policy decision-making process
      The fundamental principle of democracy is that members of society equally participate in the policy decision-making process and enjoy the benefits equally therefrom. Equal participation of men and women in the policy decision-making process would accurately reflect the social structure and contribute to the creation of a well-balanced society by enhancing the maturation of democracy.
      c. Greater and deeper awareness of gender-sensitive perspective
      When constructing and operating social systems, it is always necessary to analyze how they would affect men and women in practice. Without the existence of social systems and frameworks expressly stipulating against sexual discrimination, the mere existence of written provisions for equality between men and women would be insufficient for achieving that in practice. We must endeavor to achieve equality in reality by raising people's awareness and their sensitivity to the issue.
      d. The creation of new values
      The significance of women's participation in social activities is not merely limited to the utilization of women's labor. Various individuals shall take part in all sorts of social activities, in order to create new values that would guide us to an affluent 21st century. This would enable us to find new ways of solving problems currently at a deadlock according to the existing logic, men to choose various ways of living, and both men and women to enjoy higher standards of living.
      e. Contribution to the global community
      Although political, economic, social and cultural conditions vary among different countries, problems concerning women are common in many aspects. It is a matter of course for countries to tackle problems together so as to achieve UN's goals of "equality, development and peace" set out in 1975, the International Women's Year. We must recognize that without improving the status of women, little could be achieved in the effort to solve problems at a global scale, such as those concerning poverty, population and environment, and that the improvement of women's status itself depends on the solution of global issues. Japan must actively contribute to the global community by making constructive and sincere efforts in solving problems from which women suffer.
  2. The Gender-Equal Society and Socioeconomic Environment
    • There are increasing calls for gender equality in every corner of society from the standpoint of establishing human rights. Top priority should be given to realize it, regardless of the socioeconomic conditions. It is fair to say that gender equality has made steady progress in response to such calls, in line with the change of times.
      Nonetheless, the impact of further gender-equality on socioeconomic trends should not be underestimated as we approach the 21st century, the era during which constraints on the environment and resources are evidently likely to become tighter. Moreover, we should focus on the fact that socioeconomic ideals and changes presume the materialization of a gender-equal society. The achievement of a gender-equal society could either be relatively easy or extremely difficult, depending on various socioeconomic factors. Therefore, it is essential to implement measures for realizing a gender-equal society, in consideration of the current socioeconomic climate, socioeconomic trends, and relevant policies in general.
      Toward the 21st century, principal changes that are likely to take place in Japan include: the falling birth rate and the aging population; the maturation and internationalization of economic activities; and the rapid informatization of businesses and national life. These changes would make it absolutely necessary for men and women to participate equally on all fronts of society, and would accelerate the development of a gender-equal society to a significant degree, in line with the transformation of family structures and local communities.
      To this date, however, it cannot be said that women's human rights have been fully guaranteed, even though the law provides for them in most aspects. Worse, socioeconomic changes might even further undermine the guarantee of women's human rights, and inflict a loss on the national economy, not merely at the individual level.
      We should be able to shift to a gender-equal society smoothly by minimizing these negative impacts to the lowest degree possible on one hand, and by maximizing the positive effects on the other. To this end, various measures and policy instruments would not only be beneficial to men, but would also be absolutely vital for the construction of a welfare society which we should strive for in the coming years.
    • (1) The Falling Birth Rate and the Aging Population
      In Japan, the number of people of working age (between 15 and 64 years) started declining in 1995, and the impact of the falling birth rate on the labor market is real today. To what extent will the working population decrease as a result? It is no exaggeration to say that this depends on the future trends in the female employment rate, at least in the short run. But we could stop the number of individuals of working age from decreasing by reinforcing public support for men and women to reconcile work and family life, getting the birth rate back to its original level.
      A higher ratio of elderly persons (65 years old and over) to the total population resulting from the falling birth rate and the aging of society would further prevent workers' disposable (net) income from rising, as it imposes a heavier tax and social-insurance burden on the people. It could even become a major cause of sluggish economic growth in the long run, if the rise in female employment rate is insufficient and if the labor supply decreases to a significant degree. We could say that to remove obstacles for women wishing to work, so as to enable them to reconcile work and family life, is a guarantee of women's rights, and is an important precondition for the smooth maneuvering of society and the economy as well as for the maintenance of living standards for the entire population.
      In these circumstances, some people argue that the existing social system still reflects traditional stereotyped concepts of women's roles, such as those which consider the wife as the husband's dependent. There are concerns that the shortage of labor supply could become acute if such a system continues to exist. Should the growing number of people requiring care -especially elderly persons at the age of 75 years old and over be dealt with by women on a family basis, as they have been in the past, women would have extreme difficulties in getting a job. In turn, this would further hinder economic growth, and impose a heavier burden on workers, particularly men, diminishing Japan's economic spirit.
      On the other hand, such a shortage of labor supply would be advantageous to workers, especially female workers. Businesses would run into management difficulties if they fail to utilize the vocational ability of women who have long been regarded by firms as "supplementary labor", in response to the increasing ratio of women continuing on to universities, smaller disparities between men and women in fields of specialization, greater efforts made by women to develop their own vocational abilities, and other recent trends.
      The long-run slow-down of economic growth and the higher average age of employees which accompany the aging population would also promote the review of intracorporate wage schedules based on seniority (age and years of service), which has already started to take place. Together with the labor shortage, this would encourage intercompany transfers and reduce the difference between male- and female-employee turnover rates in certain companies. It would benefit employees wishing to enter and leave the labor market several times throughout their lives if there were more mid-career employment opportunities especially at large companies, as this would help reduce various differentials. Measures to promote gender-equality in the workplace are expected to enhance the tendency to utilize women's vocational abilities, diminish the existing disparities, and help boost the female employment rate.
      Needless to say, for such a "liquidation of labor"* to contribute to the creation of a gender-equal society, it is necessary to improve conditions in the labor market, that is, to ensure a minimum set of working conditions to support the livelihood of workers, and at the same time, establish clear and fair rules in society with respect to a wide range of workers.
    • Note* :
      The term "liquidation of labor " in this Report refers to the reconsideration of intracorporate wage schedules which heavily rely on the seniority rule and the more frequent movement of workers between companies.
    • (2) The Maturation and Internationalization of Domestic Economic Activities
      Japan's per-capita GNP is one of the highest among developed countries, and her affluent domestic market is the target of developing countries catching up at a rapid pace. In these circumstances, the persistence of regulations merely to protect declining, incompetitive industries in the domestic market would prevent the development of new industries. Furthermore, there are risks involved in protecting such declining industries in that even growing industries which would have remained in Japan without such protectionist policies might start shifting their operations overseas ("hollowing out"), as the public burden becomes heavier with the aging of society.
      Nevertheless, it is expected that industrial restructuring would take place smoothly, provided that deregulation is carried forth and that the liquidation of labor proceeds with the development of social safety-nets. It is highly likely that "international specialization" would undergo smooth progress, as the industrial structure transformed into a high-value-added type and as firms that were unproductive in international terms downsized or shifted overseas. This would give new business opportunities to small and medium enterprises and greater employment opportunities to people, especially for special and technical occupations. In addition, both men and women would be able to finish their careers as satisfied workers if improvements were made in the environment to foster industries providing high-quality nursing services for people in need of care, for which the demand will increase in the long run along with the aging of society. At the same time, it would increase employment opportunities in special fields where appropriate qualifications are necessary. Such changes in the industrial structure are expected to bring about greater and solid employment opportunities especially for women. However, it is necessary to be aware that women might be severely affected by industrial restructuring as the labor market becomes temporarily unstable.
    • (3) Advanced Informatization
      The rapid progress of informatization at the workplace and home would simplify info-communication access procedures and enable real-time information sharing, though there are concerns that it might expand the "information gap" among individuals and companies, widening income differentials as a result.
      In line with the informatization process, the growth of information-related businesses would bring about more numerous and favorable employment opportunities for individuals regardless of age, academic career, and gender. Moreover, the growing use of information equipment and communication networks would increase technical jobs and enhance the diversification of employment/working conditions, including telework which relieves people from commuting by allowing them to work at home or satellite offices with the use of info-communications. These trends would be favorable to women if proper skill-development programs are implemented to keep pace with them.
      The greater use of information equipment would also make traditional work experience in companies become obsolete much quicker and make younger men and women stand at an advantage over middle/advanced-aged men, helping reduce the income gap between generations, with the effects of the aging population mentioned before. Considering that the income gap between men and women is expanding at the moment, especially among middle-aged and older persons, a weaker seniority-oriented wage system coupled with equal participation in the workplace by men and women would help reduce the difference in the average wages between men and women.
    • (4) Changes in the Family Make-up
      Socioeconomic changes that are likely to take place in the future include changes in the family make-up, represented by the reduction of family size and the growth of one-person households especially among the elderly. Along with the liquidation of labor, greater equality between men and women in terms of employment opportunities and wages at the workplace would play a part in raising not only the ratio of dual-income households* but also the economic status of women in the family. However, if greater gender-equality is not achieved in the family and if sufficient public support is not provided, despite the increasing number of working women, the fear is that women's burden might become heavier, diminishing child-rearing and child-care abilities in the family and fueling frustration against inequality as a result.
      If men play a greater role in the family, including child care and family care(of senior citizens, etc), and if institutions improve child and family care services to meet the wider range of needs so that the foundations are formed for men and women to reconcile work and child/family care, it would make family life more satisfying and help deal with the falling birth rate and the aging population. If women become more financially independent and working hours become shorter on the basis of gender equality, we can hope for multiplier effects too, which encourage men and women to have an equal share in the housework -including child and family care. This would strengthen family relationships (parent-child, husband-wife), as greater significance would be attached to emotional rather than financial factors.
      The liquidation of labor and the diversification of family types is connected to the changes in values which place more serious consideration on the quality of individual lives and they can be seen as important factors which work together to bring about even more social and economic change.
    • Note*:
      In this Report, "double-income households" refer to those wherein the husband and wife earn their respective incomes independently, unlike those who run a family business together, thus with their income coming from the same source.
    • (5) Changes in the Local Community
      The liquidation of labor would induce individuals to shift their foundations of life from work to the family and the local community and establish a balance between them. If weekly working hours become shorter and workers start utilizing paid holidays more systematically, men and women would have more time for private activities, and would not have to spend most of their time working, which has been the case for the majority of workers. This should also make things easier for individuals to participate in the local community on a voluntary basis, regardless of age and gender.
      Ever since the end of World War II, most activities within the local community have been carried out and developed by NGOs, both large and small, consisting of non-working, energetic women. Such activities by NGOs are expected to play a significant part in bringing about social changes in the future, but there are concerns that as the number of working women increases, the daytime population in residential areas might drop -in other words, the "hollowing out" of the community. Nonetheless, it is hoped that the increase in the number of working women rich in work and social experience will stimulate local activities, encourage women to take part in decision-making processes in the local community, and help diminish the inequality between men and women's respective roles. They are likely to vitalize NGOs, make them more influential, and reinstate individuals' expertise in society through civic activities, in line with the growing enthusiasm for life-long education.
      In this manner, long-run socioeconomic changes would serve to increase the need for not only women but also for men to achieve a gender-equal society. The falling birth rate and the aging population would leave little room for Japan but to start maneuvering the economy and society with fewer people of working age, by utilizing the ability of women, like that in Scandinavian countries. As developing countries are catching up rapidly, it would be difficult to maintain the employment rate and standard of living at existing levels in Japan without the growth of new industries and businesses, the area where women are to play an important part. To materialize gender equality in the workplace, it is indispensable for informatization to progress further, especially with regard to jobs where age and gender are not concerns. In short, socioeconomic changes in the future are likely to increase the costs of maintaining traditional employment norms and social systems, diminishing the power of businesses and industries failing to adapt to the gender-equal society.
      Changes in the socioeconomic environment would also effect the private sphere: families would realize the rationale in the husband and wife equally sharing the responsibilities of work, housework and child-care if they find that they cannot hope for a substantial raise in income as before and that it would be difficult to depend on the husband's income only. Such a change would make it evident that married couples running their own business are business partners with each other.
      If work begins to give less satisfaction to individuals, local communities which assume the equal participation of individuals would become increasingly important not only for women but also for men, and as a result, enhance the stability of people's lives to a considerable degree.
      If traditional concepts of work, family and the community are left as they are, despite the socioeconomic changes taking place, things will get worse than they currently are and might even lead to massive social costs. But by implementing the following sound measures to deal with such socioeconomic changes, we could accelerate the transition to a gender-equal society.