| Summary: | ABSTRACT
Japan is often judged as a unique country which on one part has managed to implement the democratization, especially under the occupation of the USA after World War 11, and on the other part still maintains Eastern values such as the family spirits. As an impact of policies that would equalize de jure both genders during the USA occupation, political participation of the Japanese women has increased gradually.
This thesis aims at finding out how the Japanese women have struggled for equality with men, how far the Japanese women have reached their political participation, what factors have blocked and motivated it, and their connecion with sociopolitical status of the Japanese women. The research was conducted by studying literature.
The result of the research can be explained as follows. The Japanese society views that the ideal women are the good wives who are simultaneously wise mothers. This view is reflected in the government's policies, for instance the policy on welfare which apparently has multiplied the number of housewives during the era of economical growth in Japan. It is also clearly seen in the political life in Japan, such as in the electoral system as well as political parties' culture related to the general elections, which are exclusive toward the women. These factors block the escalation of political participation of the Japanese women. In the meantime, the factor which motivates the Japanese women's political participation is the development of political situation and issues, which make the Japanese housewives attracted. In addition to that, the increased economic potentials of the Japanese women as the result of the stable economic growth in the country has also motivated the political participation of the Japanese women.
Key words: Japanese women - political participation
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