The Challenges of Gender Pay Gap inJapan and Remedies for Improvement :OBN as Japanese Cultural Stereotypes and acomparison with Spain
Hina Yokomori BACKGROUND:
Social advancement of women, but...there’s still huge gender
pay gap SUBJECT:
Correction of gender pay gap in Japan PURPOSE:
To clarify the challenges faced in Japan and propose themethod to overcome current situation
 METHOD
Comparing wage and employment systems, and genderstereotypes between Japan and Spain

【History】
・Gender –Specific curriculum
・”Good Wife, Wise Mother” education

History andCurrent
Situation(JAPAN )【Current Situation】
・Gender Gap Index: 0.647
・21.3% pay gap b/w men and women【Factors】①Job position②Length of service③Low percentage of women in management position

History andCurrent
Situation(SPAIN)【History】
・Women’s rights oppression
・ Gender –Specific curriculum・ ”Good Wife, Wise Mother” education【Current Situation】
・Gender Gap Index: 0.791
・8.1% pay gap b/w men and women【Factors】①Fields of work for women②Job position③Education④Contract System【Issues】①Vagueness②Lack of concreteness

Wage andemploymentlows(JAPAN)③Lack of proposed alternatives

For example...
”Individual differences in wages based on an
individual worker's job, efficiency, skill, age,length of service, etc. do not constitutediscriminatory treatment.” (Labor Standards Act)
What’s the difference b/w gender differences

and individual differences?
Who/How to judge “efficiency”?

【Features】①Specificity②Affirmative action

Wage andemploymentlows(SPAIN)③Positive attitude toward legal reform
For example...

“What should be included in the Equality Plan:
contractual selection process, classification,education and training, promotion, working
conditions, compensation, prevention of sexual
harassment, etc.” (Practical Gender Equality Law)
Consistency of plans
Bigger influence on society

Features of political system in Spain◆ EU member county→Radical and effective approach◆ Pedro Sánchez cabinet: “Feminist cabinet”→ demand that listed companies with more than 250 employees assign
women to at least 40% of management roles Old Boys Network:

GenderStereotypes(JAPAN)

Strong connection among men due to their uniqueculture and customs【Impacts】

 Gender roles Male parental leave Women’s promotion

Factors influences on gender pay gap
The root cause of gender pay gap = OBN

 1985 to 2018:
Significant improvement of gender roles and jobstereotypes【Factors】

GenderStereotypes(SPAIN) The democratic constitution (1978)→Ensure the equal treatment of men and women Spanish economic and social development Practical Gender Equality Law (2017)→Ensure equal treatment for men and women in both theworkplace and daily life

Enforcement of laws
→ Women’s social advancement→ Improvement of stereotypes

The path to addressing the gender pay gap in Japan◆ Enhancing specificity in legal content→Reduce misinterpretation, Plans with specificity and effectiveness◆ Promoting cooperation in family life

→Reducing burden, Breaking down stereotypes◆ Increasing policy revisions→Comprehensive law

The lack of public understanding and limited accessibility of women’s voice→ Improve Japanese education and Increase the number of congresswomenThank you!