ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the work situation of women in Japan, examining its links with the past and suggesting possible directions for the future. It presents a historical overview of women's role in the economy and the social, cultural, and legal contexts of women's work. The chapter examines the contemporary work situation of women, the work status of women in relation to men, and the barriers to women's advancement. The 1947 constitution mandated complete legal equality for women, and the 1947 Labor Standards Law stated that women would be paid equal wages for equal work. Postwar changes in family structure also have influenced women's lives and work. Women are severely underrepresented in the professions, except for nursing, social work, and teaching. The most common occupations of women employees in Japan are clerical work and skilled and production-process work. Cultural and structural factors interweave to form a barrier to women's advancement at work.
