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Policy Response to Declining Birth Rate in Japan: Formation of a “Gender-Equal” Society

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Abstract

Japanese women have been assigned to the private role of caretaker, but the Japanese government has made prominent efforts in constructing a “gender-equal” society during the past decade. This policy development has come under the context of falling birth rate. The Basic Law for a Gender-Equal Society and the measures taken by the government so far still fall short from enforcing gender equality and do not affirm equality as a human right. Since the pursuit of gender equality is a means to boost the birth rate, when there is a contradiction between these two goals, the former will be conceded.

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Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank the University of Hong Kong for a Postgraduate Studentship which funded this research project, Prof. Nelson W. S. Chow for his guidance, and the anonymous reviewers for their advice in refining this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hongkong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong

    Yuki W. P. Huen

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  1. Yuki W. P. Huen
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Correspondence to Yuki W. P. Huen.

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Huen, Y.W.P. Policy Response to Declining Birth Rate in Japan: Formation of a “Gender-Equal” Society. East Asia 24, 365–379 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12140-007-9026-8

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