Women in Japan Today 2004

News From the Headquarters for the Promotion of Gender Equality

Panel on Future of a Gender-equal Society

The Gender Equality Bureau, Cabinet Office, conducted an international comparative survey on gender equality in order to identify Japan's gender-equality-related problems by observing the awareness/conditions of gender equality in other nations and comparing Japan with them. This survey covers Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, the United States, Sweden, Germany, and the United Kingdom. It also incorporates comparison with the 1982 survey data and analyzes recent 20-year trends in Japan and the surveyed nations.

According to the survey results, all the surveyed nations see a lower percentage in respondents who agree with the concept, "A husband should work outside, while a wife should be a full-time homemaker," compared with 20 years ago. While this percentage has dropped by half in Japan for these 20 years, Japan still has the second highest percentage (36.8%) after the Philippines (44.8%). This high percentage represents a major gap with other surveyed nations. The Western nations see relatively lower percentages in this field. So does South Korea have a low percentage (13.2%).

The survey has also revealed that household responsibilities disproportionately fall on "wives and female partners' in Japan and South Korea. On the other hand, all family members including the husband and children tend to share household responsibilities in the other nations. In Japan, neither husbands nor children willingly help with housekeeping chores.

Comparison with the 1982 survey results (women only)
Overall View of Women's Challenges

Panel on Future of a Gender-equal Society

Aiming at gaining public understanding on gender equality, the Cabinet Office established the "Panel on Future of a Gender-equal Society" under the Chief Cabinet Secretary in July 2003. The panel examines current/future problems and forecasts a possible gender-equal society in the future up to the year 2020 while paying attention to interrelationships among employment, men and women's participation in policy decision-making processes, and other related areas.

White Paper on Gender Equality 2003

The Government submitted the White Paper on Gender Equality 2003 (comprising the FY2002 Annual Report on the State of Formation of a Gender-equal Society and Policies to be Implemented in FY2003 to Promote the Formation of a Gender-equal Society) to the Diet on June 13, 2003, and made it public.

The White Paper on Gender Equality, which is submitted by the Government to the Diet each year in compliance with Article 12 of the Basic Law for a Gender-equal Society, is authored by the Cabinet Office and related ministries and agencies, and compiled by the Cabinet Office.

The FY2002 Annual Report on the State of Formation of a Gender-equal Society comprises two sections, which are Section 1: The State of Formation of a Gender-equal Society, and Section 2: Policies Implemented in FY2002 to Promote the Formation of a Gender-equal Society. Policies to be Implemented in FY2003 to Promote the Formation of a Gender-equal Society mainly summarizes policies related to the promotion of gender equality provided for in the budget for FY2003.

Publicity and Enlightenment Activities

1. Gender Equality Week
"Gender Equality Week" has been implemented since FY 2001 to deepen citizens' understanding of the goals and principles of the Basic Law for a Gender-equal Society, and facilitate the implementation of various measures toward realization of a gender-equal society. Selection of the one-week period June 23-29 was based on the date of promulgation and enforcement of this law, and a variety of events are held in cooperation with local public bodies, women's organizations and other related organizations.

Events implemented by the Cabinet Office

  • National Conference on the Realization of a Gender-equal Society
  • Award Ceremony for Chief Cabinet Secretary Commendations for Persons offering Distinguished Service in the Realization of a Gender-equal Society
  • Solicitation of slogans, and creation and distribution of posters for Gender Equality Week
  • Advocacy through government publicity
2. Promotion of Publicity and Enlightenment Activities Using a Wide Variety of Media

(1) Publication of PR brochures

"News from the Headquarters for the Promotion of Gender Equality" is published bimonthly to make the state of activities undertaken by the Headquarters for the Promotion of Gender Equality, local public bodies, women's organizations, and so forth, widely known.

Publication of a general magazine on gender equality, "Equal Participation 21," was launched in July 2002.

(2) Establishment of Internet Websites

Websites for the Gender Equality Bureau and the Council for Gender Equality have been established to facilitate national and international dissemination of information on measures related to gender equality and relevant data in Japanese and English.

Moreover, the latest information on gender equality is disseminated every other Friday in the form of an e-mail newsletter.

Website of the Gender Equality Bureau, the Cabinet Office (English): http://www.gender.go.jp/english_contents/

3. Handbook on Public Publicity with a Gender-equal Perspective

In order to instill in society a varied image of women and men that does not cling to fixed ideas of gender-based roles, it is necessary to consider that expressions appearing in publications and publicity formulated by the State's administrative organizations are appropriate in terms of gender-equal perspectives. In recognition of this, the "Handbook on Public Publicity with a Gender-equal Perspective" was formulated in FY 2002.

Annual Campaigns to Promote Understanding of Gender Equality in 2003

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This table shows day, weeks and months specially designated by the Government of Japan to give a central focus to campaign designated to improve the status of women, promote equality and redress traditional gender-role concepts. National conference, symposia and other activities to promote understanding of Gender Equality are organized over these periods.