The Barriers to Gender Equality in Japan: From a Historical Perspective
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Keywords:
Education, Gender Bias, Japan, InequalityAbstract
Although gender is a well-known concept, its introduction in Japanese educational research began only in the mid-1980s. What is the background? Is this change happening only in Japan or globally? This study examines these issues from a historical perspective, centered on Japan. When comparing international gender gaps, the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Index stands out in four subsectors- business, education, health and politics. Ranking extremely low on the index, Japan has been notorious in recent years for gender disparities across fields. Japan ranks 120th in 2021 out of 156 countries on the list. In stark contrast to the four subsections, Japan ranks highly in health. However, the most interesting subsector is the education index, as Japan pays little attention to its 92nd position. Japan ranks higher in education than economics and politics, but still below the global average. Japan leads the world in achieving gender equality in literacy and primary school enrollment. For example, its 92nd position in education can be attributed to its secondary and tertiary enrollment rates – 129th and 110th respectively (World Economic Forum, 2021). By looking at statistical data – mainly from government publications on education after the Second World War – Japan’s situation is analyzed from a gender perspective.
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