Raising Consciousness of Gender Roles Through Cross-Cultural Analysis

Abstract

Japan is in the midst of a major sociocultural shift in gender roles and, as a result, many women are choosing less traditional paths for their lives (Lachkar, 2014). However, traditional views of women's roles are slow to change (Yamamoto & Ran, 2014). Although more and more Japanese women are attending college to achieve their professional goals, many still express ambivalence about balancing career and marriage in their own lives (Anzai & Paik, 2012), and only a small percentage enter leadership positions due to a number of sociocultural and professional barriers (World Economic Forum, 2014). Providing opportunities for women to engage in cultural self-examination and to share personal experiences and perceptions of gender role expectations can lead to consciousness-raising and provide an avenue for creating change at the individual (and social) level (Kawano, 2011; Sowards & Renegar, 2009). I created a course using consciousness-raising strategies to help (a) increase Japanese women's awareness of the social construction of gender roles, (b) apply feminist theories and research to their own lives, and (c) provide strategies for developing skills to increase their confidence in their potential as leaders. The 1999 Basic Law for a Gender Equal Society called for equal opportunities for Japanese women and men, the prohibition of gender-based discrimination, and policy changes that would promote these goals (Usui, Rose, & Kageyama, 2003; Yamamoto & Ran, 2014). This was partly in response to the changing economy in Japan of that time. Since then, Japanese culture has become more supportive of women in the workforce. Following the global financial crisis of 2008-2009, it became even more necessary for women to continue to work after marriage to supplement their husband's income (Yamamoto & Ran, 2014). Japanese women are now more likely to prioritize career interests and financial independence above both traditional gender expectations and marriage (Anzai & Paik, 2012). However, women are still underrepresented in many professions and leadership roles (Yamamoto & Ran, 2014). The World Economic Forum (2014) describes several barriers to women's workplace parity in Japan,

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Research on the Effects of Media on Womens Entrepreneurship

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