-Japan's Most Precious Resource-

Article: Women hold key to fixing Japan's economy

Author: Sophia Yan  

Date of article: September 19, 2013: 10:39 pm

News Source: CNN Money

As a huge feminist in a male dominate world, this article sings an anthem for me and my generation. It argues the point that Japan is not using its most precious resource- its women. Traditionally, Japanese women leave the work force after having the first child and usually never come back, but by strategically placing these new moms into positions that are suitable for working moms, Japan’s economy would flourish. This would solve Japan’s deafening deflation issue which is mostly due to an increasing number of the population entering retirement age and a low birth rate.

            Now, it’s no secret that men dominate the work force, from the most developed economy to the least, men make the majority of the employment. In Japan, there are 20% more men working than women, which isn’t so bad compared to other countries but the fact that there are women in the country who completely drop out of the work force after the average age of 30, proving useless economically, is frightening. If this 60% women employment rose just by two or three percent, it would be beneficial to the Japanese economy.

            I questioned why the women of Japan would feel the urge to leave the work force so early and I found that the incentives are not as enticing as they could be. Japanese men get paid 28% more than women, comparing grimly to U.S.’s gender wage gap of 5%. Even for younger workers in Japan, the gender pay gap is 15%, and it increases to around 40% for those over 40. Also women pay a high price for motherhood, with steep childcare costs, availability or access to such facilities, and taxes deterring many from working more. With women having to choose between having a child and keeping their job, the birthrate suffers. Japan’s birthrate as of last year was 1.3 children per woman compared to the US’s 2.2. Also as a married Japanese woman, the work force looks doubtful. The economy does not allow women and mothers to work suitably, Instead of excluding women; Japan can use them to its advantage to grow it economy.       

Japanese workplaces should ensure that women have access to regular employment and career track systems in the same way that men do. Pay systems in Japan should have a greater role for performance-related pay, so that mothers are no longer punished for taking time-off from work. Regular employees should also have access to flexible working hours and part-time employment opportunities. Workplaces need to give mothers more opportunities to return to regular employment.