Monday, March 24, 2008

article on japan's equality of salaries.. (not)



just read this... still japan lacks behind in the world.. guess that is why we have to make guys treat us for dinners, etc.. (you can just make the excuse, "well, you do get paid 3 times as much as I should be getting..." hee hee...)

btw, i did do quite well for white day... quite a lot of chocolates and cookies.. remind me to give out more chocolates and things next year...! hee hee..

Japan Times 23rd March

Japan's salary gap


White Day was celebrated March 14, but along with giving cookies and chocolates, men might have done better to give women the one-third of their salaries they are missing. According to new data, Japanese women are paid 33 percent less than men. A recent report on average salary gaps from the International Trade Union Confederation revealed that gender differences in salary persist, with Japan's gap one of the largest.
The study showed that among world economies, Japan's male-female pay disparity edges out even Asian neighbors, South Korea and China, and is double the world average. Japan often compares itself to the West in many regards, but the average pay gap of 14 percent in Europe and 22 percent in the U.S. betters Japan's by double digits. The continued wage difference in Japan would buy a lot of Valentine's Day chocolate.
Economic inequality continues for many reasons. Educational levels have become higher for women, with 33 percent of women advancing to university. However, compared to 47 percent of men who go to college, higher education has not yet become an entirely equalizing proposition. Once working, seniority systems at most companies, especially large-scale ones, ensure that men are promoted more often and receive extra allowances for dependents and housing. These fringe benefits, including higher bonuses, are often significantly less for women. Even more importantly, women make up over two-thirds of all part-time workers, where benefits are minimal or simply nonexistent.

Japan's economy has gone through many changes over the last decade, but gender-equal pay scales is not yet one of them. Women resigning their jobs for reasons of marriage, childbirth or childcare is a worn-out excuse for what is clearly continued discrimination against women in the workplace.
In 2000, the Cabinet adopted the "Basic Plan for Gender Equality" while a bureaucratic restructuring established the Gender Equality Bureau within the Cabinet Office. However, eight years later, even with women making up 40 percent of all paid employees, genuine improvements are shamefully minimal. A gender-equal society should be a source of pride and self-respect for any nation, but in Japan, it remains a goal not yet accomplished.

Monday, March 17, 2008

and while i'm on a role..


thought i'd update you with another photo from my collection...
one of my favourite photos that i took in Izu. just got my nikon d40x and wanted to try the film speeds out... what do you think??...


these days....


Well, been a while since I last touched base here in this blog.. Facebook seems to take up a lot of time as well as daily life.... still studying naturopathy, which will still see another 2.5 years of that.... Yoga, sports club, skiing (well almost over in a couple of weeks....) and the usual bodrum of going back and forths to work. Life sure is keeping me busy though, and never really a spare moment to just sit back and watch the world pass by.. I guess I like being busy, learning new things as well as being active, and if I do have a spare moment to just lay back and contemplate on how life is, then I definitely try and do that too...


Now working in Shinagawa area, which is kind of interesting... or maybe not... Quite a historical place, surprisingly though, with it being so close to Tokyo Bay. One of the good things, is that my company is right next to a sports club, so usually try and duck in there for 20mins workout and then end it with a sauna and spa... Can't seem to get enough time at lunch though..


Off to a hot and cold stone facial tonight. Looking forward to that and relaxing :-) Definitely have to spoil myself a bit more.


Oh yes, will be back home again at the end of April. A catch up course to do as well as enjoying the Spring break. Will be good to see everyone again. Will be catching up with relatives that I haven't seen for about 3.5 years..!!


Drop me a line if you happen to be reading my blog. Would love to hear from you and if you do keep track of this site...:-))


Smile, smile, smile :-))