The role of higher education in strengthening women’s participation in the workforce: The lived experiences of females in Japan

Abstract

ABSTRACTA staggeringly low ranking (114 out of 144) on the 2017 Global Gender Gap economic participation and opportunity scale compels Japanese higher education leaders to enact effective policies and practices that support women’s professional trajectories. The current study examined the lived experiences of 16 women in Japanese higher education who hoped to enter Japan’s economic sector upon graduation. Employing a feminist case study methodology, an analysis of in-depth interviews revealed the following themes: (1) in college and career planning, women redefined themselves in ways that ran counter to traditional expectations; (2) female role models demystified work-life balance and imparted strategies for a gendered workforce; and (3) despite prior leadership experiences, institutional barriers and low leadership efficacy prevented women from serving as leaders in higher education. The study includes recommendations for Japan’s postsecondary system, limitations to qualitative research methods, and posits that Japan can significantly strengthen its economy by developing the leadership efficacy of women in higher education. As a global community, we cannot expect women to leap confidently into leadership roles in the public and private sector without providing effective leadership development in higher education.