We don’t need to think about gender roles anymore – The importance of a genderless work style that goes beyond masculinity and femininity InsightsEssays: Civil Society in JapanVoices from JNPOCOther Topics

Posted on July 28, 2021

We don’t need to think about gender roles anymore – The importance of a genderless work style that goes beyond masculinity and femininity

At the end of 2020 there was a petition drive to change the name of a Japanese major convenience store, FamilyMart’s own brand for pre-cooked meals known as “Mom’s Cafeteria,” because of unconscious bias. I am one of those who signed the petition.

The issue was raised by a female high school student who participated in the Girl Scouts of Japan. She raised an alarm about gender consciousness in Japan as a whole, saying, “It’s not just the mother who cooks meals.“ In some households, fathers prepare meals and couples share household chores. The brand name Mom’s Cafeteria is not only prejudiced against women, but also against men who participate in the household.

Japan is a country where there is a strong fixation on gender roles, where men work and women do housework. This also has an impact on the Japanese work environment. I myself have seen and experienced cases where it is difficult for men to take childcare leave, and where married women are not promoted to management positions because of the priority they place on family.

The current situation in Japan is that men are discouraged from taking childcare leave and women are discouraged from advancing their careers because of these gender stereotypes.

However, I believe that if we eliminate gender stereotypes, most things can be done by anyone regardless of gender. If we can get rid of gender stereotypes and create a genderless work style that transcends masculinity and femininity, Japan will become a society where everyone can live more comfortably.

In response to this situation, Natsuko Hagiwara, a professor at Rikkyo University Graduate School, has been involved in the development of women-friendly cities and the Fifth Basic Plan for Gender Equality. We interviewed Prof. Hagiwara regarding various issues caused by the perception of gender roles in Japan, and the importance of genderless work styles.

Japan is full of gender inequality where gender differences remain in the division of roles

Hagiwara introduced a survey result conducted by the National Women’s Education Center.
She noted, “I was shocked to see the results of the survey. When asked ‘Why do you think there are so few female principals in schools?’ one first grader answered, ‘Because men are superior.’”

Hagiwara said that she was at a loss for words when she realized that several children, including those in the lower grades, had been led to believe that their roles differed based on their biological sex, not on their individual abilities. There is still so much gender inequality in Japan that gender socialization sets in and unconscious gender bias fully takes root as early as elementary school. Hagiwara emphasized the importance of gender education for all generations, saying, “The gender consciousness of teachers, parents, and other adults around us is reflected in our children.”

According to the 2020 edition of the White Paper on Gender Equality, while the ratio of men and women participating in household chores is 1:1 when they are unmarried, the ratio increases to about 2.5 times for women after marriage. Men are also told that “men should work instead of going home,” or “it is good for the children if women are left to do the housework and childcare,” and there are many cases where companies restrict their participation in the home. These are also factors that contribute to “solo parenting.” In this way, when parents create a family environment where men work and women do housework, children unconsciously develop a sense of gender role division.

It is obvious that there is a gender gap in the work environment as well. The Equal Employment Opportunity Law, enacted in 1985, has given Japanese women equal opportunities to enter the workforce. However, the percentage of Japanese women in full-time employment is still less than 50% (as of 2019), and the wage gap between men and women is still very large, with the rise of “part-time employment” targeting women who cannot work full eight-hour days. In addition, the percentage of women in managerial positions is less than 10% due to so-called “Mommy Track” which makes it difficult for working women who are married or have given birth to receive promotions and raises.

In 2020, the economic impact of the COVID-19 highlighted the problems that employment status and low incomes cause for young women and single mothers in Japan. The number of female suicides in November 2020 increased by more than 40% over the same month in 2019.

Hagiwara said, “By reforming the structure to allow both men and women to take maternity and childcare leave, it will be easier to close the wage gap between men and women, as well as the gap in promotions and salary increases. In addition, it is important for men and women to be aware of and take responsibility for housework and childcare, rather than just helping out. Above all, it is essential to educate men from an early age to encourage their active participation in housework.

Will this trigger a change in gender role consciousness? Men’s participation at home

A genderless work style will enhance all peoples’ lives.