The term Womenomics was coined by Japanese-American Kathy Matsui in a paper published in 1999. According to the author, Japan’s GDP could grow by an estimate of 10% by reducing the workforce gender gap.
In recent years, the term has evolved and transcended its original usage. In Shipman and Kay’s book Womenomics: Write Your Own Rules for Success. Womenomics is described as a paradigm shift in the economy and business. As women gain notoriety and presence as agents of change in the workforce.
Diagnosing The Issue
According to the National Girls c level contact list Collaborative Project in the US. By 2016 women had relatively low shares both in engineering (15%) and computer and mathematical sciences (26%).
According to Harvard Business Review a male-centric culture. The difference in treatment, and prevalent harmful stereotypes about genders discourage young women from exploring STEM-related subjects from an early age.
Beyond the Numbers
So, how did Japan fare with its start an online shoe business with shopify store push for Womenomics? Were they successful? The answer is complicated. On one hand, the share of women in their prime working years increased from 73.6% to 77.5%. That’s an impressive 2 million new women in the workforce. So, by raw numbers, it was a huge success.
Yet, in an interview with Forbes, Nobuko Kobayashi, Strategy Execution Leader of EY Asia-Pacific, explains that even if women have joined the workforce, the cultural framework which led to their exclusion is still there, and it’s causing other forms of discrimination
Gender and project management
Once again, the numbers are buy lead growing, albeit slowly. Beyond having the right skill set to fill the role, women have to assert themselves to gain acceptance and overcome typical stereotypes. If you’ve ever heard someone say “she’s not like other women” or “she’s like one of the guys” that’s the kind of narrative that they have to contend with.
