If we want to encourage more women into positions of power, we first have to make those positions worthwhile doing. Of course they’re worthwhile in terms of benefits, but if we think about the amount of work that goes into them, I’m talking 80-100 hour weeks and the like, only really dedicated people, generally men, do them.

I think this is a big part of the argument for more female participation in the Japanese workforce. Japan is known for its stoic and in my opinion outright stupid work culture. Japanese people dedicate themselves to companies who don’t really give them much in return, for their dedication, at least in general.

Japanese people used to be guaranteed lifetime employment, but these days that is practically non-existent, and yet people dedicate themselves to their companies literally like there is no tomorrow. It’s insane. Anyway, women know what it’s like, they can see the world for what it is, and who can blame them for not wanting to participate?

I’m not exactly sure what the answer is, because some of these jobs do indeed demand long hours. Perhaps a system of splitting the jobs up somehow amongst more people, or other measures designed to reduce the burden on one person, not just in terms of work, but in life in general, are in order.

Either way, I think we have to question why such tough work conditions are desirable in the first place.