Work

A Cultural Perspective on Gender Inequity in STEM: The Japanese Context

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: To understand gender inequality in STEM, Miner et al. (2018) illustrate how an individual lens and a social-structural lens provide complementary perspectives. They indicate that gender inequality in STEM should not be simply understood from an individual lens concerning individual choices and responsibilities but also a social-structural lens concerning societal structures, processes, and meanings associated with gender. In this commentary, we would like to bring a cultural perspective to the consideration of the STEM field. Specifically, we focus on gender inequity in STEM in Japan and elaborate how Japanese culture, which emphasizes masculinity, collectivism, and a tight culture, imposes a stronger social-structural influence on gender inequality in STEM and at the same time strengthens the use of the individual lens to explain the phenomena, making the issue of gender inequality more prominent.

Source: Industrial and Organizational Psychology

DOI: 10.1017/iop.2018.19

Authors: Katsuhiko Yoshikawa, Akiko Kokubo, Chia-Huei Wu

Institutions: Shizuoka University, Hofstra University, University of Shizuoka, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, London School of Economics and Political Science

Language: English

Topic: Career Development and Diversity

Subfield: Safety Research

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Gender equality, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: bronze

OpenAlex ID: W2809082806