Women Still Low on Japan's Corporate Ladder

[Hammer]

Companies in Asia's leading economies have "strikingly" few women in senior jobs, missing out on a vital pool of talent that can fuel the region's growth, with Japan ranking second from the bottom, consultancy McKinsey & Co. said Sunday.

Japan's female bosses near last in Asia

[GomiGirl]

I went to an event where this woman, Kathy Matsui spoke.
http://www.goldmansachs.com/our-thinkin ... asset.html

Pretty compelling arguments but I think falling on deaf ears of the old men in power.

Click through the link above for the video and the PDF. Really interesting stuff.

Womenomics - The Time is Now

VIEW VIDEO: A country can unleash its true economic growth potential by increasing the employment of women, says Kathy Matsui, our chief Japan equity strategist and co-head of Asia Investment Research.

[Hammer]

There are quite a few options still open for boosting the economy, but I doubt the old boys are interested, especially if they involve foreigners or women.

Shove head firmly up arse and hope for the best.

[GomiGirl]

It is not just all the fault of the old men in power though. Lots of the pressure to stay at home is from society.

Schools put lots of pressure on working mothers and lay the guilt on them that they are not doing the best for their kids by working. Or put things like PTA meetings at times that are not convenient for working Mums. Plus there is a bunch of pressure from families and friends.

Also, lots of jobs are not very child friendly.. for Mums (or Dads).

These cultural aspects are very slow to change but it needs to be acceptance of the benefits from the old dudes in power to trickle down as well.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

You're right, Hammer...unfortunately.
Japan's ensconced itself in this cozy little bubble funded by decades of postwar goodwill. By the time the Day of Reckoning arrives, the main beneficiaries will be long gone, or have had enough years to build up a wonderful nest egg that it won't matter anyway.
Plenty of chances for women and foreigners after that, though!

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

It is not just all the fault of the old men in power though. Lots of the pressure to stay at home is from society.

Schools put lots of pressure on working mothers and lay the guilt on them that they are not doing the best for their kids by working. Or put things like PTA meetings at times that are not convenient for working Mums. Plus there is a bunch of pressure from families and friends.

Also, lots of jobs are not very child friendly.. for Mums (or Dads).

These cultural aspects are very slow to change but it needs to be acceptance of the benefits from the old dudes in power to trickle down as well.

Agree to all the above.
Women here are smart, too...there's a significant swathe of the female population perfectly content to simply get their pay, put in minimum hours, not work overtime (or at least the stupid hours whoreporate Japan demands people stay in the orifice) and not shoulder unpaid/underpaid whoreporate responsibility.
If Japanese women are angry about not having workplace equality, they also have to bear a large portion of the blame.

[GomiGirl]

Women here are smart, too...there's a significant swathe of the female population perfectly content to simply get their pay, put in minimum hours, not work overtime (or at least the stupid hours whoreporate Japan demands people stay in the orifice) and not shoulder unpaid/underpaid whoreporate responsibility.
If Japanese women are angry about not having workplace equality, they also have to bear a large portion of the blame.

Totally in agreement with you there. Why take all the shit of unpaid overtime and stress of responsibility when there is nothing for them anyway - very little chances for meaningful promotions based on talent. It isn't a glass ceiling but a concrete one so where is the incentive?

So really is a chicken and egg situation that won't change quickly or easily.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Totally in agreement with you there. Why take all the shit of unpaid overtime and stress of responsibility when there is nothing for them anyway - very little chances for meaningful promotions based on talent. It isn't a glass ceiling but a concrete one so where is the incentive?

So really is a chicken and egg situation that won't change quickly or easily.

It's really sad. There's so much top grade talent just going to waste.
The saddest thing is you're right again...fixing this aint gonna be either quick or easy.

[Hugh Jørgen]

It is not just all the fault of the old men in power though. Lots of the pressure to stay at home is from society.

Schools put lots of pressure on working mothers and lay the guilt on them that they are not doing the best for their kids by working. Or put things like PTA meetings at times that are not convenient for working Mums. Plus there is a bunch of pressure from families and friends.

Also, lots of jobs are not very child friendly.. for Mums (or Dads).

These cultural aspects are very slow to change but it needs to be acceptance of the benefits from the old dudes in power to trickle down as well.

The great majority of PTA fuku-kaicho and kaicho are men.