Committee for Promoting Equal Participation ofMen and Women in Science and Technology
1. What is the "Committee for Promoting theEqual Participation of Men and Women in Science and Technology"?
The dawn of the 'information-age' has underscored the need for utilizing
the diverse abilities of both men and women for the development of scienceand technology of the 21st century.
In July 2001, the "Committee for Promoting Equal Participation of Menand Women in Science and Technology" started as a branch committee of theJapan Society of Applied Physics (JSAP). The aim of the Committee was simply
to increase awareness for greater cross-gender cooperation to create a society
where both men and women can work as equals. The Committee was notinitiated as a forum for women to vent grievances against men. The JSAP is alarge and influential organization with members from industry, administration
and academia. The Committee has no doubts that the participation of theJSAP in this cause will facilitate a deeper understanding of the issues to promote the equal participation of men and women in society.

2. Background to the formation of the Committee
The falling birth rate and ageing society in Japan have resulted in greaterdemands on women to participate in a wider range of social activities. The
Basic Law for the Gender-Equal Society was enacted in June 1999 and in January 2001the Japanese government created "The Council for Gender Equality"
in the Cabinet Office.
However, statistics reported in the fiscal 2000 white paper on genderequality published in June 2001, showed that Japan was in 41st place among
70 nations on an international index of the participation of women in decisionmaking processes. This was even lower than the 38th position held in 1999.
These figures highlight the fact that Japan is far behind the international average with respect to such matters.
As a consequence of this state of affairs, a preparatory committee wasestablished to encourage the equal participation of both men and women inthe JSAP in February 2001. After holding the first meeting during the JSAP
Spring Meeting 2001, a "Committee for Promoting Equal Participation of Menand Women in Science and Technology" was inaugurated in July 2001. The
second meeting was held during the JSAP Autumn Meeting 2001, and a symposium is planned for the JSAP Spring Meeting 2002, as described on thefollowing page.

3. Aims and Plans

4. JSAP membership survey
The Committee members are aware of their limitations and reality of thedifficulties involved in changing the status quo of our society. The JSAP recently
carried out a survey of its members and preliminary analysis of the results shows:(i) no significant differences between men and women with respect to scholarship awards; (ii) a slightly larger percentage of male members were assigned toexecutive positions than female members; (iii) female members had a heavier
burden of housework. A full analysis of the survey results will be presented ata special symposium of the JSAP Spring Meeting in 2002, and also at the International Conference of IUPAP-WG "Women in Physics" in March 2002 in Parisas an activity report of the JSAP (see the next page).

5. The Committee members envisage the JSAPto have the following roles:
5-1. The JSAP can increase the public awareness of the issues
by(a) Organizing symposia related to such issues(b) Finding role models for achieving equal participation of men and womenin society, and introducing them to society(c) Proposing relevant positive action(d) Investigating and publicizing the situation of foreign countries(e) Encouraging interaction with other scientific and academic organizations
involved in similar activities(f) Endeavoring to improve understanding of science and technology amongst
the younger generation

5-2. Within the JSAP(a) Assignment of women to committee members, representatives, councilors, and directors (it may be necessary to determine the ratio of men andwomen in accordance with the ratio of the JSAP male/female members)(b) Setting up a day-care nursery during JSAP meetings(c) Take an active interest in and assist with resolving the problems of itsmembership. For example, issues related to childcare, maternity leave,
and use of maiden names.

6. Finally
It should be emphasized that this Committee is not involved in activities
for the benefit of only female members. The aim is to work for a society inwhich both men and women can work and realize their full potential on equalterms. In order for this goal to be achieved, our current objectives are to study
what we can do to improve the situation as members of JSAP.

3-1. Mental Restructuring
In the short term, there are considerable costs involved in arranging sufficient nurseries, reducing working hours, and giving both male and female employees parental leave. However, in the long term, one can envisage tremendous long-term benefits from the equal participation of men and women insociety. A 'mental restructuring' of both the male and female mindset is required in order to change the current male centered social structure in Japan.

3-2. Development of opportunities for women scientists andengineers
There are very few women in the field of science and technology in Japanand a concerted effort will be necessary to change these circumstances. In
particular there is a drastic need for a re-evaluation of the social attitude towards the education of women in science and engineering. Further, there arestill insufficient opportunities for women to achieve managerial positions inindustry compared with their male counterparts.

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Committee members
Kashiko KODATE (Chair, Japan Women’s University),
Yoshikazu TOYAMA (Vice-chair, Fujitsu),
Miyoshi AYAMA (Utsunoiya University),
Kay DOMEN (Fujitsu Quantum Devices Limited),
Akiko GOMYO (NEC Corporation),
Mutsuko HATANO (Hitachi, Ltd.),
Kazue ISHIKAWA (Sophia University),
Fusako IWASE (The Furukawa Electric CO., LTD.),
Naoko KASAI (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology),
Yukari MATSUO (RIKEN),
Toshio OGINO (NTT),
Yoshiko OHASHI (Keio University),
Yoshiko OKADA-SHUDO (The University of ElectroCommunications),

Tsugunori OKUMURA (Tokyo Metropolitan University),
Kunio TADA (Yokohama National University),
Madoka TAKAI (The University of Tokyo),
Emi TAMECHIKA (NTT),
Miyoko O. WATANABE (Toshiba Corporation),
Hidetoshi FUKUYAMA (Advisor, The University of Tokyo),Toshio GOTO (Advisor, Nagoya University),Kenji KAJIYAMA (Secretariat, The Japan Society ofApplied Physics),
Kayoko ITO (Secretariat, The Japan Society of AppliedPhysics),
Fumiko ITAMI (Secretariat, The Japan Society of Applied Physics)

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Symposium on Promoting
Equal Participation ofMen and Women inScience and Technology
What social challenges willscientists and engineers facein the new millennium ?
What do you think ?
Come along and voice your views.
13:00-17:00, March 28, 2002
Tokai University
Shonan Campus, Hiratsuka, Japan

International Conference of IUPAP-WG“ Women in Physics ”
March 7-9, 2002 Paris, France
http://www.jsap.or.jp/men-women
JSAP International No.5 (January 2002)

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