性別 (seibetsu): gender

 

1. Today's Japanese words

**Gender identity:**

* 性別 (seibetsu): gender

* 男性 (dansei): male

* 女性 (josei): female

* 性同一性障害 (seidouitsuusei shōgai): gender identity disorder

**Gender pronouns:**

* 彼 (kare): he (masculine pronoun)

* 彼女 (kanojo): she (feminine pronoun)

* 彼ら (karera): they (masculine plural)

* 彼女たち (kanojotachi): they (feminine plural)

* あの人 (anohito): that person (gender-neutral)

**Other related words:**

* 男らしい (otokorashii): masculine

* 女らしい (onnaらしい): feminine

* 中性的な (chūseitekina): neutral, androgynous

* 同性愛者 (dōseiaisha): homosexual

* 異性愛者 (iseiaisha): heterosexual

2. Today's topic

Gender parity in Japan is a complex issue with significant gaps in various sectors. Despite ranking highly in education and health, Japan falls short in political representation and economic empowerment for women. Here's a brief overview:

* **Economic Participation:** Women hold only 11.4% of board seats and 9% of management positions, with a significant wage gap compared to men.

* **Political Representation:** Women make up only 10% of the Lower House and 8.3% of the Cabinet, ranking 138th globally in political empowerment.

* **Social Norms:** Traditional gender roles and expectations often limit women's career advancement and participation in public life.

* **Government Initiatives:** The government has implemented policies to promote gender equality, but progress remains slow.

Overall, Japan faces challenges in achieving gender parity, but there are ongoing efforts to address these issues and create a more equitable society.

Japan faces several challenges in achieving gender parity:

* **Entrenched gender norms:** Traditional expectations often confine women to domestic roles, limiting their career aspirations and participation in public life.

* **Unequal workplace opportunities:** Women are underrepresented in leadership positions and face barriers to career advancement, including a lack of mentorship and support systems.

* **Persistent wage gap:** Women in Japan earn significantly less than men, even with similar qualifications and experience.

* **Inadequate childcare options:** The limited availability and high cost of childcare make it difficult for many mothers to stay in the workforce.

* **Underrepresentation in politics:** Women hold few positions of power in government, hindering their ability to advocate for policies that promote gender equality.

Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach that tackles social norms, expands economic opportunities for women, and strengthens government policies that promote gender equality.

3- Today’s news

Uniqlo starts sales of charity T-shirts designed by refugees

https://www.asahi.com/sp/ajw/articles/15176493

Women take part in Japan’s 1,250-year-old ‘naked festival’ for first time

https://www.asahi.com/sp/ajw/articles/15176151

Japan's government last year said it would push to improve women's participation in society, after an annual report showed the country was struggling to narrow the gender gap. The World Economic Forum report measuring gender parity ranked Japan 125th out of 146 countries in 2023, down from 116th in 2022.