ABSTRACT
Having looked at various theories explaining sexual inequality and discrimination in employment, the focus now turns on the situation in Japan. The present chapter examines how the special features of the Japanese employment system are sustained by company practices which operate to exclude the majority of women from having equal opportunities with men. The chapter first presents some empirical evidence showing the nature and extent of sexual inequality in the Japanese labour market. It then examines the main characteristic features of the Japanese employment system, the role of women workers and the discriminatory employment practices. Finally, the chapter discusses the role of culture and ideology in sustaining the structure of sexual inequality in the Japanese employment system.
