Equality under attack in Japan
by Jess McCabe // 3 May 2005, 10:48
Women's E-News reports that Japan is set to pass a constitutional amendment that will emphasise family values and undermine strides towards gender equality in government and business.
The story is a bit light on the details of the amendment, but quotes Hisako Motoyama, who is campaigning to stop it going ahead, as saying:
"The government is borrowing family values--which attack women--from the U.S. It's the same thing, but the only difference is that we don't use religious language, we use nationalistic language.
"This is an attack on women's constitutional rights. They want to change the fundamental principles of the constitution..
"There is a backlash against feminism, and the ruling party is campaigning against gender and sex education. They are saying feminism is breaking down our social foundation. They are against gender equality."
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