まず隗より始めよ (女性の社会参画について）
女性の社会参画と少子化対策が議論されている。女性の社会参画については、企業規模毎に女性の管理職の比率の下限を定めて、企業に努力させようという腹積もりらしい。
ニュージーランドのアーダーン前首相が、国連の会合で自身の乳飲み子を抱いて出席しているのを見て、私は驚いたが、彼我の差に愕然としたことを覚えている。
一方、日本の政界ではどうか？女性の議員や閣僚は、少しずつ増えてはいるがまだ充分とは言えない。イギリスのサッチャー元首相や、ドイツのメルケル元首相のような有能な女性政治家が出てはいない。
育児・介護休業法によって、女性の育児負担を軽減し、少子化に歯止めをかけ、女性の社会進出をも狙おうという狙いは悪くはないが、少し思慮が欠けているように思える。
そもそも、日本において有能であれば女性であっても公平に評価し登用するという企業風土や組織風土が出来ているかどうかが最大の問題であって、制度が不備だから女性の登用が遅れているというのは問題の主客転倒であろう。
森本首相が発言した女性蔑視と思われる発想が、政界の中に多いのなら、正に、諺の通り「まず隗より始めよ」ではないか。
日本は民主主義国家ではあるが、基本的には上位下達の国である。上層部の発想や作法が下に伝わるのが速いのは、小泉元首相の際のクールビズの成功で証明されていると考えるのだが如何だろうか？
when embarking on a great project, start with immediate steps
Women's participation in society and countermeasures against the declining birthrate are being discussed. Regarding women's social participation, it seems that they are planning to set a lower limit for the ratio of women in managerial positions for each company size and encourage companies to make efforts.
I was surprised to see former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at a UN meeting with her baby in her arms, but I remember being appalled by the difference.
On the other hand, what about Japanese political world? The number of female parliamentarians and ministers is increasing little by little, but it is still not enough. There are no talented female politicians like former British Chancellor Margaret Thatcher or German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The aim of the Child Care and Family Care Leave Act to reduce the burden of childcare on women, put the brakes on the declining birthrate, and aim for women's participation in society is not bad, but it seems a little lacking in consideration.
In the first place, the biggest problem in Japan is whether or not there is a corporate or organizational culture in which competent women are evaluated fairly and promoted. The fact that the appointment of women is delayed because the system is inadequate would be a problem of turning the subject over.
If there are many ideas in the political world that seem to be contempt for women, as Prime Minister Morimoto has said, then, as the saying goes, `when embarking on a great project, start with immediate steps'' Isn't it?
Although Japan is a democratic country, it is basically a country of top to down. I think that Cool Biz during the time of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi proves that the ideas and manners of the upper management are quickly transmitted to the lower ranks.
