Women in Japanese politics: Why so few after so very long?
Source: Japan Times
To mark International Women’s Day on March 8, there will be worldwide marches, parades, protests and public awareness activities on the contributions of women and the barriers and discrimination they still face.
One issue of focus is the state of women in politics and government at the national and local levels. That includes Japan, where recent official efforts to boost the number of female politicians has run up against long-entrenched attitudes and practices that make that task particularly difficult.
When were women in Japan first allowed to vote in national elections?
Women were first given the right to vote in the Lower House election on April 10, 1946, under the U.S.-led Occupation, which was the first general election after the end of World War II. Some 13.8 million women cast ballots and 39 women were elected for the first time to the 464 member chamber — 8.4 percent of the total at a time when Japan’s Diet was still officially debating a new Constitution.
A new Constitution went into effect later, with the new female Diet members joining in formally giving women the right to vote.
Click here to read the full article published by Japan Times on 6 March 2020.
To mark International Women’s Day on March 8, there will be worldwide marches, parades, protests and public awareness activities on the contributions of women and the barriers and discrimination they still face.
One issue of focus is the state of women in politics and government at the national and local levels. That includes Japan, where recent official efforts to boost the number of female politicians has run up against long-entrenched attitudes and practices that make that task particularly difficult.
When were women in Japan first allowed to vote in national elections?
Women were first given the right to vote in the Lower House election on April 10, 1946, under the U.S.-led Occupation, which was the first general election after the end of World War II. Some 13.8 million women cast ballots and 39 women were elected for the first time to the 464 member chamber — 8.4 percent of the total at a time when Japan’s Diet was still officially debating a new Constitution.
A new Constitution went into effect later, with the new female Diet members joining in formally giving women the right to vote.
Click here to read the full article published by Japan Times on 6 March 2020.