ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews major policy strategies and the changes in women's employment conditions during the past three decades. By highlighting the obstacles to the promotion of women to leadership positions and benchmarks of Japanese progress on gender equality against other developed economies, attention focuses on areas of productive policy changes for the future. The chapter describes that the index of gender disparities for economic participation and opportunities is measured by several key variables expressed as male-to-female ratios. In reviewing three decades of policies in Japan designed to promote gender equality, the chapter identifies some of the obstacles to meaningful progress. However, multiple indicators of gender equality presented in the chapter show the depth of institutional challenges. Given the seriousness of Japan's demographic challenges, and capitalizing on the lessons learned over the last three decades, the chapter offers hints for future policies that hopefully will address the gendered realties of the work-family balance issue in more meaningful ways.
