Need of Long-Term Policy for Woman's Participation in Technology
Akira Nagashima
Executive Director, Yokoham National University, Japan
Although I am not the expert on the subject, I realize that we must work hard to promote women’s participation in science and technology. The international workshop organized under the leadership of Professor Ogawa was a very timely and important event. It was a great chance to understand the situation of the subject in diversified Asian countries and also to stimulate the movement in each country by analysing common underlying problems.
A few years ago, the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers (JSME), one of the largest professional societies in Japan, was blamed by the Science Council of Japan because the percentage of women members in JSME was one of the lowest among major professional societies in Japan. Many statistics indicated that, especially in the field of engineering, woman’s participation is low in Japan. But even in this bad Japan, three girl students were formally admitted to the school of science at Tohoku University as early as in 1913, almost 100 years ago. Since then, as far as I understand, participation in the field of science is better than that in engineering. Even in the field of computer engineers, woman’s participation is low. The working conditions at heavy industries such as iron/steel factory or shipbuilding or construction/civil engineering have significantly improved in recent years. People should realize that the work of engineers, at least in industrialized countries, has changed to much sophisticated or ordinary job. So, obviously this is not because of so-called muscular discrimination.
It is often said that the science community and the technology community are completely different world as far as industrial influence or business community concerns. Engineers are (or are expected) motivated to apply latest accomplishments of science to real world. Business as well as every aspect of the social life is under the heavy influence of science and technology. Women are not well represented even in the scientist/researcher community. But, the situation is much worse in the engineer’s community although the role and responsibility of engineer is increasingly heavy. In a sense, this is the engineering dominant world. Women should play more visible role also in engineers’ community. Engineers’ participation in the society is much larger than that of thirty years ago.
The problem we have to consider is how we can improve women’s participation not only in science but also in engineering. The root is deep and the long term policy is needed. To increase woman engineers, the number of girl students in engineering courses at higher education institutions/schools has to increase. In order to increase girl students, the number of applicants has to increase. Cultivation of young people’s motivation toward science and technology is one of the key factors. So, to be more fundamental, understanding of basic science and technology among parents should be improved. This is partly the matter of elementary education. Japanese government is slowly wakening up to tackle this issue.
As the ironical fruit of the workshop, Japanese participants had to repeatedly learn that women’s participation in science in Japan in any measure has been the lowest among Asian countries. It was statistically shown in presentations by all of presenters from over sea countries. The more shocking thing to me was that there have been almost no effective actions or long-term policies toward this issue comparing with other Asian countries. In governmental committees and other influential organizations, we should discuss this issue in presence of many male members.
I would like to repeat the issue of engineers. This was just one example of many complicated subjects which we discussed in the workshop. Woman’s role in much broader fields such as scientists, engineers, practitioners and so on, was discussed. Participants representing broader world of science and technology and medicine could gather. Through the discussions, we had realized, on one hand, that the issue was only a part of complicated social network and could learn, on the other hand, that some countries have been making real progresses by accumulated efforts of individuals and/or groups. Especially in the field of technology, it is important to encourage movements by peoples in industry and professional societies.
Concluding this short remark, I would like to mention one more aspect considering the nature of this particular workshop. That is the special concern to historical background and tradition of Asian countries. For example, policy and tactics to attain the full-scale women’s participation in technology and science in Asia will not be same as those in US in the last 20 years. More studies are needed to make this point clear. The present workshop and additional studies under the leadership of Professor Ogawa were really fruitful and I wish this tie could make a powerful move toward our common goal, fully active women’s participation in every field of science and technology.
