Meeting focusing on “Society good for both women and men” ? Toward trapezoid-shaped curve of employment from M-shaped one

A meeting calling for a “Society food for both women and men” was held at the Bunkyo Ward Gender Equality Center in central Tokyo on January 9, 2010. This year is that of the “Third Basic Plan for Gender Equality”. Fukushima Mizuho, who has become the Minister of Gender Equality in the current coalition government, delivered a speech and exchanged opinions with local assemblypersons who came here from all over Japan. The meeting was co-hosted by the “National Organization of Feminist Legislators” and the “G.planning Bunkyo”. Ms. Fukushima first said, “I would like to do whatever I can while I am in the current position”. She introduced excellent systems to support women to work and raise children in European countries, such as France. Ms. Fukushima reiterated that the current “M-shaped curve of employment” among Japanese women by age group be changed to the “trapezoid-shaped one (reverse U-shaped one)”. (Reported by Y)


「女も男も生きやすい社会」テーマに集会～Ｍ字型から台形雇用めざして
　「女も男も生きやすい社会に」と呼びかける集会が1月9日、東京・文京区男女平等センターで開催され、75人が集まった。今年は「第3次男女共同参画基本計画策定の年」にあたる。連立政権で男女共同参画担当大臣に就任した福島みずほ氏が講演し、全国から集まった地方議員らと意見を交換した。主催は「全国フェミニスト議員連盟」で「G.planning文京」が共催した。福島氏は「私が大臣のうちに、やるだけのことはやりたい」と語り出した。フランスをはじめ、ヨーロッパ各地を訪れた際に知った女性の就労や育児をめぐる制度の充実ぶりを紹介。日本の年齢階層別女性労働力率が示す「Ｍ字型雇用」（Ｍ字型曲線）を、「台形（逆Ｕ字型）にしたい」と繰り返し強調した。（報道部・Y）