Barriers to Women's Political Participation in Japan Highlighted by Cabinet Office Survey

A recent survey conducted by the Cabinet Office sheds light on the numerous challenges preventing women from engaging in political life in Japan. Targeting individuals who decided against running for office, those who lost elections, and local assembly members, the survey highlighted issues such as health concerns, societal beliefs that politics is dominated by men, and experiences of harassment faced by female lawmakers.

According to the survey results, Japan's ratio of women in political positions is notably low, with only 19% of the National Diet and 17.4% of local legislators being women as of late 2023. Conducted last November and December, the survey gathered responses from over 6,000 individuals, including both men and women. A significant finding was that the primary reason these individuals chose not to run for office was financial; 61.6% of females and 67.2% of males cited a lack of funds to campaign effectively.

In terms of concerns affecting female candidates, respondents commonly pointed to the challenges of name recognition and expertise, both rated at 60.2%. Interestingly, a gender-specific barrier noted was the influence of health challenges related to gender, including menopause and pregnancy, which were reported more by women (43.2%) compared to men (28.2%).

Among those who had run but were unsuccessful, financial limitations were overwhelmingly acknowledged as a barrier, alongside difficulties in balancing work and campaign responsibilities and obtaining familial support. Notably, the belief that politics is primarily a man’s domain emerged as a significant challenge, cited more frequently by women. Furthermore, a troubling statistic from the survey indicated that 53.8% of female local politicians reported experiencing harassment, contrasting sharply with just 23.6% of male respondents.

Respondents across all demographics indicated struggles in managing political duties alongside household responsibilities, with women recognizing these challenges at a higher rate than men. The Cabinet Office's Gender Equality Bureau plans to address these revealed obstacles in collaboration with relevant agencies to enhance women's participation in politics.