feminism in the japanese office
オフィスにおけるフェミニズム
ハイ、ゼアー。
Konnichiwa!
まずは、この動画を観て！（日本語だけなの、ごめんなさい）
Before reading, please watch this YouTube video first (unfortunately, it's only in Japanese).
Facebookやインスタグラムの広告で、すでにみたことあった人もいる？これはヘアケアブランドで知られるLuxが行っている「True Numbers」というキャンペーンで紹介されているムービー。日本の男女格差についての動画なんだけど、みんなはこれをみてどう感じた？女性の社会進出が進んでいないってことについて「数字」に焦点を当てて作られていて、そのメッセージを受け取って、この問題について考えた人もいるかな。でも実はこの動画、批判的な意見がすごく多くて私は気になってたの。
You may have already seen the ads on Instagram or Facebook in Japan, but for those of you who may not be aware, there's an advertisement called "True Numbers" going around by the haircare brand Lux. They released this video as part of the campaign.
They had a little exhibition in Tokyo about "True Numbers" with Japanese female artists. In the video, they show the various numbers of the gender gap in Japan and shared what people think of from looking at those numbers. I thought this video made many people think about our gender gap. However, there were so many critical comments on the ads. I've been wondering why this is the case. What do you think of the gender gap in Japan? What about in your country? Do you know about "The Global Gender Gap Report"?
The Global Gender Gap Report 2016 shows Japan is ranked 111/144
In 2017, Japan is ranked 114/144
このキャンペーンのインスタグラムの投稿へのコメントはほとんどが批判意見だったんだけど（残念ながら全部削除されちゃってもう見れない）、多くの人が「男女格差があるのは当然」っていう意見なの。例えば、日本の上場企業における女性役員は全体の3.4％で、これでいいの？ってキャンペーンでは疑問をなげかけていたんだけど、批判派は「女性は結婚、出産で退社する人が多いから、全体的に数が少ないのは当然」って考えなわけ。
They post similar videos and photos on their Instagram and most of the comments were very critical (sadly it's all removed), and many of the comments said "it's obvious to have gender gap." For example, 3.4% are female employees in a public-listed company in Japan. The campaign was asking us whether we "are okay with this?" Many of those who were opposed to this campaign said, "women get married, get pregnant and resign from their jobs, so it's obvious that female employees are of less value than men."
私は今、ふっつーーーーの会社員をしているんだけど、私の会社は4割くらいが女性社員で、女性の管理職の人もいるんだ。でもやっぱり役員になる人は勤続年が長い人なんだよね。そうすると、結婚、出産で辞めたり、休職する確率が女性の方が多いから、結果として女性役員の方が男性に比べて少ない。
I'm a really normal office worker, and 40% of the employees are female where I work. Some of them are even managers, but obviously those who became managers are the ones who worked longer than the other men. Many women get married, maternity leave, or quit so that's why females are less in our office.
仕事を辞めていく女性の中には「子供と一緒に過ごす時間がたくさんほしい」とか「家のことをしっかりやりたい」って自ら望んで辞めていく人だっているんだよね。批判派の人もこのことを挙げている人が多くて、男女平等ってただ会社での女性の地位を確保することだけじゃないって指摘する意見が多かったの。確かに、専業主婦になりたい！っていう友達も実際にいるよね。あなたがそう考えている一人かもしれない。じゃあ本当に注目しなきゃいけない「数字」って、その中にどれだけ「仕方なく出世を諦めた」人がいるかなんじゃないかなって思ったの。
There are many women who says this as they quit their job, "I want to spend more time with my children," or "I have to do home chores." They quit because they wanted to. So, the opposition of the campaign says the same thing and "gender equality is just gaining rights for women." Obviously, many of my girl friends say "I want to be a housewife" and maybe you're thinking the same. I think we should see the numbers of people who HAD TO quit their job.
家族もほしいし、キャリアも諦めたくない、って女性だけじゃなくて、今は男性でも悩みの1つなんじゃないかな。仕事をしながら、子供を育てるってすごく周りの助けが必要なことだって、大人になってからよくわかったの。家族で協力し合わなくちゃいけないし、そう考えると今や女性だけに課せられた問題ではない気がする。となると、本当は仕事を続けたいけど、パートナーか自分かが、仕事を辞めたり減らさなくちゃっていう状況になるカップルが多いのが今の日本社会。色々な働き方があるから一概には言えないけど、こうやって悩むのがいまの大多数だと思う。そうした時に、自分では望んでいないのに、「家に入った」女性はどれくらいいるんだろう。
I think wanting to have a family and not giving up their career are the same for men too. As I grew up, I started understanding more that it's not easy to work and raise kids at the same time without help from others. Families have to support each other and it's not a job for only woman. That's not their only responsibility. In Japan, there are many couples who want to continue their jobs but the person or their partner has to quit their job to offer support at home. Of course, there are so many ways of working so I really can't say this for all jobs and career paths, but this is one of the biggest concerns when you decide to get married with someone when you have a career of your own. I wonder how many women had to give up their job and had to become a housewife?
honeyhandsの読者のみんなは学生が多くて、結婚や子供を持ったりはしている人はいるのかな？もし将来、パートナーを持って一緒に家族を築きたいって思ったとき、この問題にぶつかることがあると思うんだ。自分にとってベストな選択をするにはどうしたらいいんだろう？もちろん一番はパートナーとよく話すことじゃないかな。あなたがどうしたいかよく理解してくれて、お互いの意見を尊重し合える相手だといいよね。例えば、旦那さんを持ったとして、自分は働きたいから、主夫になってもらったりもできる。まだまだ日本で主夫って浸透してないから抵抗がある男性は多いと思うけど。男性のほうが家にいるなんて多くの人が「恥ずかしい」って思ったりするんじゃないかな？
I feel like most honeyhands readers are students and maybe some of you guys are married and have a child. If you have a partner who wants to build a family together in the future, you will face this issue. And how do you decide the best choice for yourself and your partner? Of course, the way about this is talking to each other. Obviously, most of you hope your partner will understand you and respect each others' opinions. For example, you have a husband and you want to work so he can be a househusband. But "househusband" has not become quite as popular yet in Japan. Maybe some people would still think that it's embarrassing to have a househusband.
そんなとき周りを気にせず、自分たちにとって、いいと思えることを選択できれるようになるにはどうしたらいいのかな？働きたい人が働き続けられて、休みたい人が休めればいいのに。すごくシンプルなことだけどどうして実現しないのかな。もしかしたら結婚や出産したあとも働き続けるための福祉が十分じゃないかもしれない。あるいは、女の人は家にいるべきっていう思いから、家族のサポートが不十分じゃないと感じる人もいるかもしれない。みんなは、どうしたら働きたい人が働き続けられて、休みたい人が休める社会が実現すると思う？
I really hope society changes and we don't have to care about others and respect yourself and your partner's opinion. How can we make it possible? People who want to continue working should be working and people who want to take a break should take a break. It's very simple, but there's a gender norm we've built up. We're living in a society where people still think women should be at home so many women may tend to feel unsupported. How can we change this society to where both women and men can pick what we want without judgement? How can Japan be better?
Photo by Pang
Illustrations by Lola Rose
English Translated by Hikari
English Edited by Lisa