More than 50% feel that women's views are not reflected in policy
More than 50% feel that women's views are not reflected in national or local policy. Still, more people feel that women's views are not reflected at the national level. (Figure 5)

Figure 5: Degree to which women's views and opinions are reflected in national and local government policy

Source:

Compiled from Public Opinion Survey on Gender Equality (1997), Prime Minister's Office

Expectations for greater participation in government assemblies
When asked in which areas women's social participation needs to be advanced, the highest percentage of responses indicated prefectural and municipal assemblies, followed by the Diet, specialized occupations such as lawyers and doctors, and then prefectural and municipal offices and halls. (Figure 6)

Figure 6: In which areas should women's social participation be advanced?

*1 Company management, officers in labor unions and agricultural cooperatives.
*2 Students in university departments with few women, such as science and engineering.

Source:

Public Opinion Survey on Gender Equal Society (1995), Prime Minister's Office

One out of every two persons perceives structures and operations designed in favor of men as an impediment
In terms of reasons why women have not become more involved in policy and decision-making processes, more than half of respondents - both women and men - pointed to structures and operations designed in favor of men, making this the most popular response. Consciousness of stereotyped gender roles and gender discrimination in the home, workplace and community received the next largest response. (Figure 7)

Figure 7: Reasons why women have not become more involved in policy planning processes (multiple response)

Source:

Compiled from Public Opinion Survey on Gender Equal Society (1997), Prime Minister's Office

Difficult to balance other activities with household responsibilities
When women of local government assemblies, women in management positions in local government, and leaders of women's groups were asked whether they experienced any personal difficulties in regard to their activities in these capacities, 38.0% said they experienced no particular difficulties. On the other hand, 20.7% said they had heavy housework and child-rearing burdens, and 17.5% noted that they were responsible for caring for elderly parents. A significant 20% of respondents therefore pointed to the difficulty of balancing their activities with household responsibilities. (Figure 8)

Figure 8: Impediments to women's participation (multiple response)

Notes:

"Assembly members" refers to women members of the Tokyo Metropolitan or Municipal Assemblies, while "local government managerial posts" refers to women in managerial positions in the Tokyo Metropolitan or Municipal Government Offices and "organization officers" to women leaders or officers of national women's organizations.

Source:

Compiled from Women's Political and Social Participation (March 1994), Tokyo Women's Foundation

Expectations regarding the introduction of positive action
Positive action entails progressive measures taken with the aim of actual equalization of opportunities by providing groups (women and ethnic minorities) currently disadvantaged by past social and structural discrimination with, for example, special opportunities within a certain range. When survey targets were asked how they felt about the introduction of positive action, more than half of both male and female respondents said that they approved. (Figure 9)

Figure 9: Positive action

Notes:

Because the figures produced (%) were rounded up or down slightly, breakdown totals do not add up to 100% in some instances.

Source:

Compiled from Public Opinion Survey on Gender Equal Society (1995), Prime Minister's Office