Japanese Women and Political Institutions: Why are Women Politically Underrepresented?

Abstract

ForewordIt is common belief that democratic political systems are gender neutral. Yet data show that women continue to hold far fewer elected positions than do men. It is thus imperative that we re-examine not only the assumption that political systems are gender neutral, but also the electoral systems themselves. When we identify how the current electoral and political party systems support or sustain these low rates of female office holders we may begin to understand the hurdles that women face in entering politics.