The Role of Government and Institutions for Improving Women's Status―A case study of Japan,China and Korea

摘要

This research emphasizes the role of government and institutions for improving women's status. Although the idea of the gender equality is recognized as universal value in the 20th century,women still suffer from gender discrimination across the world. Most existing research examines the culture as the cause of discrimination. However,from the comparative study of Japan,China and Korea gender discrimination is a more complex problem which is affected by culture,economic and political conditions,institutions and government. Among these,the critical factors which should be dealt with are the role played by government and institutions. The research shows that women's statuses in three countries have improved or worsened by governmental efforts and institutions.Therefore,in order to solve the problem of discrimination,it is necessary that government has to put efforts for equality of rights between men and women. Without governmental efforts for women in terms of creating policies and institutions,for instance,gender discrimination that has its roots in political and economics conditions as well as patriarchal culture cannot be solved,which in turn could act against the growth of not only women but the whole society.