Tradition vs. Gender Equality: Japan’s Ongoing Struggle

While Japan’s traditional festivals like the naked festival, or hadaka matsuri, continue to demonstrate the country’s respect for tradition and cultural heritage, gender inequality persists. Women are still excluded from participating in these events, despite efforts to address Japan’s declining population. In February, the country’s oldest hadaka matsuri allowed women to participate for the first time due to a shortage of male participants. However, women’s roles were limited, and they agreed to keep their clothing on. Scholars argue that Japan’s aging society provides an opportunity to promote gender equality, as it requires more active people in the workforce. However, women still face societal expectations, such as the requirement to be housewives, and many are burdened with more family duties than men. Businesses and the government have begun promoting gender equality in workplaces and encouraging fathers to take paternity leave, but women’s representation in politics and management remains low. Bias and stereotypes persist, with women typically confined to junior positions and caretaking jobs and being paid less than men. Some women in sumo wrestling, another male-dominated sport, face disapproval and discouragement. Japan’s progress on gender equality has been incremental and nuanced, but experts suggest a lack of innovative policies is holding the country back. Quota systems for women, adopted by some European countries, have not been implemented in Japan.