Female Workers in Japan: Opportunities & Challenges

This study is based on a survey of male and female workers in organizations in and around Nagoya, Japan. It provides insights into gender issues within Japanese business organizations. The study finds that the female managers in Japan assess the managerial skills of women more positively than do their male counterparts. Business organizations in Japan are male-dominated and little is done to help women fit into the business culture. This is especially true when one considers the number of females in management ranks. Female workers in Japanese businesses perceive that they make many positive contributions to the workplace, such as focusing on process rather than just results, paying attention to details, showing compassion and care in decision making, expressing willingness to “go an extra mile,” being sensitive to human relations, and offering a fresh perspective to business problems. It is not popular in Japan for females to use legal means against accepting a slower rate of advancement to cope with gender-bias