Women at Japan’s top university call out gender imbalance: ‘this has to end’

Just one in 10 researchers at the University of Tokyo are women, and one in five students

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People walk at the University of Tokyo. Japan ranks lowest in 2022 data from the OECD group of developed countries for the number of women students enrolled in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics bachelor’s programmes. Photo: AFP

Published: 5:15pm, 10 Oct 2024

Chika Ezure faced gender bias from her own family when deciding to do a master’s degree at Japan’s top-ranked university. After arriving on campus, she realised the resistance she faced as a woman was commonplace.

She was surrounded by men: just one in 10 researchers at the prestigious University of Tokyo are women, and one in five students.

The figures are stark but perhaps not surprising in a nation where women leaders are rare in business and politics – including just two out of 20 ministers in the new cabinet.

Japan’s new cabinet that only had two women, at the prime minister’s official residence in Tokyo. Photo: AFP

But faculty members who have had enough recently launched a poster campaign highlighting sexist remarks made to female scholars, calling out the university’s gender imbalance.

“I prefer cute, silly girls over smart ones” and “you’re a girl, so local college is good enough” were among the comments, described as “headwinds” by the campaigners.

Ezure, who is studying the use of technology in women’s healthcare, faced similar attitudes when applying for the course – even from her family.

“My parents said to me, ‘what’s the point of a girl going to graduate school?’” the 23-year-old told AFP, describing their reaction as “very disappointing”.