Girl Power

At times in this country I feel like I’m living in the 80’s. While there is many a modern technology, revolutionary fashion, and forward-thinking individual, a lot of the ideas surrounding social roles can remind me of decades gone by. In particular, the role of the woman in society here is certainly reminiscent of an earlier era in the country I come from. It’s an exciting time though. During my time in and out of Japan over the last 14 years the change in the role women play in society has been a fascinating thing to observe. As a fellow female, I can’t help but applaud the changes that are occurring and look forward to what opportunities for the female in future Japanese society will arise.

As someone working in Japan, this change in the role of women is perhaps even more evident. Whilst my general career history in Japan consists of roles in foreign capitalized firms perhaps provides a bias, constantly dealing with more domestic companies throughout this experience has offered glimpses in to the more traditional of companies too. What I would consider to be termed as ‘progress’ is indeed relative, but the past couple of years in particular the trend of an increasingly powerful and individualistic woman in Japanese society has been escalating.

The truth is; they do have the power. With a desperately ageing population, Japan’s women indeed hold the key to the survival of their society, economy and culture… with their decision about marriage and children a key influencing factor in the equation. They are not only realizing their power to affect the population, they are realizing the opportunities that surround them. They don’t want to be their mothers – staying at home, responsible for cooking, cleaning and child rearing. They want it all - beauty, intelligence, independence and love. And they don’t want to have to sacrifice any of it.

Thus we are currently in an age where young women are embracing all the possibilities. A recent discussion with a group of Japanese girlfriends in their 20’s about the topic saw the word ‘independence’ come up time and again. They talk about it like it’s almost their most valued possession. Something they don’t want to have to give up. It’s almost like all of a sudden women have these new ideals as part of this decade of independence (20’s and beyond) where in earlier times they would be expected to already be wed and no doubt with child. Romance, independence (emotional, physical and financial), success, travel, indulgence are all important, and giving up any of it for the more traditional role of being a wife and mother is not seen as worth it. They simply want that in addition to all of their new found value and freedom.

What this is resulting in, is a society where women are increasingly valued and promoted in the workplace, where they are increasingly earning as much as men, whole industries set up to cater to the smart young working woman, and heroines on television that have saved the day with their ‘smarts’. As a women in Japanese society, albeit playing by different rules because I am foreign, it is truly refreshing. With so many encounters with smart young Japanese women, I can only imagine the possibilities the social changes will amount to.

Meanwhile, we hear of men increasingly interested in their appearance, interest in the arts and crafts, and an increasing interest in spending time with their children – it’s not as extreme as a role reversal, but there does seem to be a certain ‘softening’ of men. I always thought that Japan would be immune to the global ‘metrosexual’ trend – they already seemed naturally metrosexual to me, but indeed this trend has affected Japan in different ways.

It may still be a long way from equal opportunity but is an exciting movement to be part of. While women continue to come across many an obstacle in society, they are increasingly being respected for the strong and smart people that they are. I can’t help but feel that the huge gap in what women and men want in each other is only going to negatively affect the population growth, but this is Japan, and trends change as quickly as they come and who knows, perhaps the nouveau housewife, or house-husband era is just around the corner?!