Event
【Report】“Disaster Reconstruction and Women’s Independence” an open lecture hosted by RIWAC in 2011.
On Saturday December 10th, 2011 RIWAC hosted an open lecture. The theme for the year was “Disaster Reconstruction and Women’s Independence.” During the lecture lively discussions were held on how it would be possible to offer support on employment and economic independence to women in the severely damaged disaster areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11th.
Ms. Yaeko Tabata, Director of the Morioka Women’s Center in IwatePrefecture and Vice President of Participation and Planning, Iwate delivered a report on current conditions facing women in Iwate and one of the prefecture’s trial reconstruction projects, the “Care Delivery” project. Those involved visit temporary housing areas in patrol cars, nicknamed the “Me-deru Car (cars of re-growth)“ and the project offers support services such as grocery deliveries and checks on the safety of the elderly; the system also provides work opportunities by employing local women to deliver the services. The project is currently being trialed in 3 areas, with plans for an expansion in services (ergo employment opportunities) in the future.
Ms. Masumi Minagawa, part-time university lecturer and research fellow of the Institute of Social Science, University of Tokyo, spoke on the topic “Why do we need Women to participate in Disaster Prevention/Reconstruction? Activation of the Symposium of 6/11 on Gender Equality in Disaster/Reconstruction.” She presented the lucid argument that a woman’s point of view is indispensable in disaster prevention/reconstruction, and cited examples such as the Great Hanshin/Awaji earthquakes. She pointed out that “disasters do greater damage in weak places” and reconfirmed that it is important for those in a vulnerable position to give their ideas and make their demands on reconstruction.
Having listened to both speakers, Ms. Yoko Shoji, RikkyoUniversityGraduateSchool raised the two issues of “regional characteristics” and “the need for women’s participation” as points for discussion. Reconstruction is not just a matter of returning things to the status quo; it is an opportunity to create a new society. It was pointed out that, with this in mind, it was necessary to pay careful attention to the characteristics of the region, while also ensuring the active involvement of women.
The day was so successful that the venue was almost full and we had lively questions and ideas coming from the participants. When asked “what are your criteria for employment?” Ms. Tabata gave a very impressive answer, saying “I have people tell me their dreams.” Using “people who speak of having a dream” as a criteria for selecting a staff surely shows, of itself, a “wish” on the part of those selected to “want to continue this employment opportunity forwards to tomorrow.” Amongst the feedback we received in answer to a questionnaire on the lecture, one said “I felt there was hope in the practical use of “cars of re-growth” and that seems exactly what the open lecture turned out to be – full of hope for tomorrow.
【Report】“Women and Social Research” – an open lecture/symposium hosted by RIWAC in 2010.
On December 4th 2010, RIWAC hosted a lecture/symposium on “Women and Social Research” in the Shin Izumiyama Building. This was an open report on a section of the final year’s compilation of a database on social research related to women and careers (since 1975); a project that began in 2008 when RIWAC was selected as the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s support project for the development of strategic research infrastructure at private universities. Before the report, Ms. Somswasdi of Thailand’s Chiang Mai University gave a lecture on “An Overview of Research on Women in Thailand: From Mainstreem to Feminist” Afterwards we looked at several categories of social research from around 1,000 pieces compiled in the database, and enjoyed a demonstration of the data archive to be published on the website. The day was attended by around 100 people and significant comments were made by two members of the external evaluation panel, allowing us real faith in the project’s outcome.
【Report】”Women’s Life Course and their Career Development – the Role of Women’s Universities” – an open lecture/symposium hosted by RIWAC in FY 2009.
An open lecture/symposium held in 2009 by Japan Women’s University, RIWAC “Women’s Life Course and their Career Development – the Role of Women’s Universities” (Co-hosting the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport, Science and Technology’s support project for the development of strategic research infrastructure “Women and Career Archives” / the university research institute’s research challenge 39 “The Social Advancement of Women and the Significance of Lifelong Learning”)
Opening Statement
1st Session: Lecture 13:35 – 14:35
“Work-life balance and Equal Opportunity Employment”
Hiroki Sato (Professor of the Institute of Social Science, Tokyo University)
10 minute break
2nd Session: Symposium 14:45 – 17:45
“What Career Support is offered by Japan Women’s University?”
× a report on the topic and content of each program
× a discussion on the kind of career support that ought to be available at Japan Women’s University and the partnerships affiliated with each program
× general summary
Closing remarks
A profile of Hiroki Sato
Professor of the Institute of Social Science, Tokyo University
1953: Born in Tokyo
1981: Attended Hitotsubashi University Graduate School of Social Studies where he acquired units in a PhD course before leaving
1981: Researcher at the Employment and Occupation Research Institute (currently the Japan Institute for Labor Policy and Training)
1983: Assistant Professor at the Ohara Institute for Social Research at Hosei University
1991: Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Business Administration at Hosei University
1996 on: Employed in current position
Professor Sato’s publications include:
“An Introduction to Human Resource Management” (co-authored; Nikkei Inc.)
“Childcare Leave for Men: the needs of employees and benefits to the company” (co-authored; Chukoshinsho)
“Utilizing Part-time, Contracted, Outsourced, and Commissioned Human Resources (2nd Edition)” (Edited; Nikkei Bunko)
“Work-life Balance: supporting the balance between work and child rearing” (edited; Gyosei)
Positions concurrently held:
Subcommittee member of the Labor Policy Council, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare
Member of the Council for Gender Equality, Cabinet Office
Member of the 1st Public/Private Committee for the Promotion of Work/Life Balance, Cabinet Office
Chairman of the Committee for the Promotion of Harmonization between Work and Life, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare
【Report】”Seeking Diversity in Women’s Social Participation: Today’s Challenging” – an open lecture/symposium hosted by RIWAC in 2008.
.1st Session: Lecture 13:00 – 14:30
“Differentials among Women”
Lecturer: Toshiaki Tachibanaki (Professor at Doshisha University; and Member of the Committee for Gender Equality, Cabinet Office.
2nd Session: Symposium 14:45 – 17:00
“Seeking Diversity in Women’s Social Participation: Today’s Challenging”
Moderator: Masami Iwata (Director of RIWAC; Professor in the Faculty of Human Society, Japan Women’s University)
Symposium Panel Members:
Mari Osawa (Professor at the Institute of Social Science, University of Tokyo)
Kimiko Kimoto (Professor at Hitotsubashi University)
Machiko Osawa (Professor in the Faculty of Human Society, Japan Women’s University)