Workplace discrimination
Workplace discrimination is any kind of discrimination, treating people differently due to their gender, race, age etc., which happens in the workplace. It can also include things which do not necessarily happen at work but are related to employment. For example, refusing to hire someone based on gender or race, or sexual harassment which occurs between employees outside of the office are also forms of workplace discrimination.
Japanese law says it is illegal to discriminate based on the following criteria:
Nationality
Religious or political beliefs
Social status (including race)
Gender
Age
Child care
Disability
Union membership
Full or part-time employment
Discrimination can include different pay for the same work, preferential hiring or promotion. Although all of these forms of discrimination are illegal, it is often very difficult to know if a company is breaking the law or not.
Gender pay gap
Although most countries make equal pay for equal work a legal requirement, in every country around the world, women earn less money than men. How is this possible if it is breaking the law? Just because there is a gender pay gap, this does not necessarily mean any laws are being broken. The gender pay gap describes the average money that men and women earn in their lives. If a woman stops working to have children, or chooses a lower-paying job or part-time work, this will increase the gender pay gap. The gender pay gap is a very contentious issue. Some people argue that such factors mean there is no real gender pay gap, but this is a fairly extreme view. Others may argue that the existence of a wage gap shows we still live in a male dominated society. Like most things which cause such arguments the truth is complicated. Women working fewer hours in their lives does account for some of the wage gap, but not all of it. Women choosing jobs which pay less is also a factor, but this raises the question, should people be paid less for these jobs?
Hiring practices
It is also illegal in most countries to discriminate when hiring new employees. However, how can the government be sure if this is happening? If a company chooses to hire a man over a woman, how is it possible to prove that the man was not just better in the interview? Another issue here is that much discrimination happens unconsciously. The people who are discriminating do not realise they are discriminating! One study in the US found that a resume with a name that sounded white was more likely to be chosen than a resume with a name that sounded black. However, this does not mean that the companies were consciously choosing white people over black people. It is possible that they made this decision unconsciously. Some studies have shown that interviewers unconsciously make a decision in the first 30 seconds of an interview, and then reinterpret what interviewees say to fit their decision.
The "glass ceiling"
The "glass ceiling" is a phrase to describe the fact that women find it harder than men to get promoted at work. Like the gender pay gap the glass ceiling can be a controversial issue, with some arguing it doesn't exist, because some women do become company presidents and political leaders. However, many more men than women reach these top jobs. For this reason it has been suggested that a labyrinth or maze is a better metaphor. Even though it is possible for women to reach the top, it is harder than for men.
Harassment
Harassment is also a type of discrimination. The most commonly known form of harassment is sexual harassment, which can include unwanted advances, physical contact or language. Other kinds of harassment which are common in Japan are power harassment, a manager bullying their staff, and more recently maternity harassment, towards pregnant women and recent mothers. Like other forms of discrimination it can be difficult to define when behaviour becomes harassment. Behaviour that some people find upsetting may be considered a joke by others.
Lesson 5 articles
Article 5a - The dubious cost of sexual assault in Japan
Article 5b - #MeToo movement confuses media in JapanJournalist in alleged rape case calls for change in Criminal Law
Article 5c - #MeToo, say victims of sexual harassment in Japan
Article 5d - Violence against women
Article 5e - '#MeToo' campaign spreads in Japan, but some sexual violence victims face backlash
Article 5f - Saying #MeToo in Japan
Workplace discrimination is any kind of discrimination, treating people differently due to their gender, race, age etc., which happens in the workplace. It can also include things which do not necessarily happen at work but are related to employment. For example, refusing to hire someone based on gender or race, or sexual harassment which occurs between employees outside of the office are also forms of workplace discrimination.
Japanese law says it is illegal to discriminate based on the following criteria:
Nationality
Religious or political beliefs
Social status (including race)
Gender
Age
Child care
Disability
Union membership
Full or part-time employment
Discrimination can include different pay for the same work, preferential hiring or promotion. Although all of these forms of discrimination are illegal, it is often very difficult to know if a company is breaking the law or not.
Gender pay gap
Although most countries make equal pay for equal work a legal requirement, in every country around the world, women earn less money than men. How is this possible if it is breaking the law? Just because there is a gender pay gap, this does not necessarily mean any laws are being broken. The gender pay gap describes the average money that men and women earn in their lives. If a woman stops working to have children, or chooses a lower-paying job or part-time work, this will increase the gender pay gap. The gender pay gap is a very contentious issue. Some people argue that such factors mean there is no real gender pay gap, but this is a fairly extreme view. Others may argue that the existence of a wage gap shows we still live in a male dominated society. Like most things which cause such arguments the truth is complicated. Women working fewer hours in their lives does account for some of the wage gap, but not all of it. Women choosing jobs which pay less is also a factor, but this raises the question, should people be paid less for these jobs?
Hiring practices
It is also illegal in most countries to discriminate when hiring new employees. However, how can the government be sure if this is happening? If a company chooses to hire a man over a woman, how is it possible to prove that the man was not just better in the interview? Another issue here is that much discrimination happens unconsciously. The people who are discriminating do not realise they are discriminating! One study in the US found that a resume with a name that sounded white was more likely to be chosen than a resume with a name that sounded black. However, this does not mean that the companies were consciously choosing white people over black people. It is possible that they made this decision unconsciously. Some studies have shown that interviewers unconsciously make a decision in the first 30 seconds of an interview, and then reinterpret what interviewees say to fit their decision.
The "glass ceiling"
The "glass ceiling" is a phrase to describe the fact that women find it harder than men to get promoted at work. Like the gender pay gap the glass ceiling can be a controversial issue, with some arguing it doesn't exist, because some women do become company presidents and political leaders. However, many more men than women reach these top jobs. For this reason it has been suggested that a labyrinth or maze is a better metaphor. Even though it is possible for women to reach the top, it is harder than for men.
Harassment
Harassment is also a type of discrimination. The most commonly known form of harassment is sexual harassment, which can include unwanted advances, physical contact or language. Other kinds of harassment which are common in Japan are power harassment, a manager bullying their staff, and more recently maternity harassment, towards pregnant women and recent mothers. Like other forms of discrimination it can be difficult to define when behaviour becomes harassment. Behaviour that some people find upsetting may be considered a joke by others.
Lesson 5 articles
Article 5a - The dubious cost of sexual assault in Japan
Article 5b - #MeToo movement confuses media in JapanJournalist in alleged rape case calls for change in Criminal Law
Article 5c - #MeToo, say victims of sexual harassment in Japan
Article 5d - Violence against women
Article 5e - '#MeToo' campaign spreads in Japan, but some sexual violence victims face backlash
Article 5f - Saying #MeToo in Japan
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