Miyagi Prefecture came in 27th

- What is the effect of the image of "Men role in Kyusyu" or "House wives take the initiative in Northern Kanto area?" -

[Summary] 

 A research group led by Professor Hiroshi Yoshida at Graduate School of Economics and Management, Tohoku University and Global COE Program, “Gender Equality and Multicultural Conviviality in the Age of Globalization” has released Gender Equality Index rankings among 47 prefectures in Japan. The result shows that indexes are high in Chubu, Kansai and Chugoku-Shikoku districts, and those in Kyusyu, Tohoku and Hokkaido districts are low. Indexes in Kyusyu district except Kumamoto prefecture whose governor is female are low, which supports the Japanese phrase of “Kyusyu Danji” (the image of "Men role in Kyusyu"). On the other hand, indexes are not necessarily high in Northern Kanto area where wives tend to take the initiative in the family. Miyagi Prefecture ranks the 27th among 47 prefectures.

　The research results have been presented at GCO Sakura Seminar on Kawauchi Campus, Tohoku University on April 10, 2010.

[Details]

 In this study, we collect data from each prefecture on child-raising, women’s education, population by sex, women’s participation in work, women’s salaries and women’s participation in politics. The scores are calculated by an estimation method used in the gender equality indexes released by Statistics Norway where gender equality has been promoted. The rankings of prefectures are made by the above scores. Tottori Prefecture came in the first, Nagano, Kyoto, Okayama and Kagawa follow in the second place. Tokyo and Okinawa rank the sixth. The result shows that indexes are high in Chubu, Kansai and Chugoku-Shikoku districts, and those in Kyusyu, Tohoku and Hokkaido districts are low.

　Japan’s gender equality index has been released as a country’s index for international comparison. The newly released indexes of each prefecture can be dependable statistics from the perspective of policy and belief that there should not be regional gaps. The index helps to show the regional progress of gender equality and prefectures that need to improve.

More Information (Japanese)

[Contact]

Professor, Hiroshi Yoshida

Graduate School of Economics and Management, Tohoku University

E-mail: hyoshida*econ.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

TEL: +81-22-795-6292

Tohoku University Global COE Program

TEL: +81-22-795-3740, 3163

http://www.law.tohoku.ac.jp/gcoe/