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Japan's first lady says Shinzō Abe helps with household chores 'when he can' Japan's first lady says Shinzō Abe helps with household chores 'when he can'
(about 2 hours later)
Japan's first lady says she has such a busy schedule that sometimes the prime minister must do the dishes or take out the rubbish. Japan's first lady says she has such a busy schedule that sometimes the prime minister must do the dishes or take out the rubbish. Akie Abe said this kind of flexibility was needed for the advancement of women in Japan.
Akie Abe said this kind of flexibility was needed for the advancement of women in Japan. Her husband, Shinzō Abe, is pushing for companies and the government to hire and promote more women. He appointed five women to his 18-member cabinet on Wednesday.
Her husband, prime minister Shinzō Abe, is pushing for companies and the government to hire and promote more women. He appointed five women to his 18-member cabinet on Wednesday. Akie Abe said on Thursday that her husband gave her time to undertake a range of activities, from raising organic rice to appearing in a gay pride parade.
Akie Abe told the Associated Press on Thursday that her husband gave her time for a wide range of activities, from raising organic rice to appearing in a gay pride parade. Despite his conservative image, she says her husband does chores when he can. "Sometimes he tries to move things out of the way, but I end up scolding him for putting things in the wrong place. Poor thing," she said.
Despite her husband's conservative image, she says he does chores when he can. "Sometimes he tries to move things out of the way, but I end up scolding him for putting things in the wrong place. Poor thing," she said. Akie Abe said she was often out all day, leaving her little time for cleaning. She sometimes hears her husband mumbling about the house, but says he is never bossy or demanding.
Abe, 52, said she was often out all day, leaving her little time for cleaning. She sometimes hears her husband mumbling about the house, but says he is never a bossy husband telling her to do things for him. Though she openly refers to herself as a member of the "opposition in the household" on some issues her husband supports, such as nuclear energy, she is a big supporter of his policy of promoting women's advancement, which has been described as "womenomics".
Even though she openly refers to herself as a member of the "opposition in the household" on some issues her husband favors, such as nuclear energy, she is a big supporter of his policy of promoting women's advancement, which has been dubbed "womenomics". Akie Abe says women tend to work harder than men in many parts of the world, but they are often not represented fairly. It is important that society allows women enough flexibility to return to work after child-rearing or other life events that often interrupt their professional careers, she said.
Akie Abe says women tend to work harder than men in many parts of the world, but they are not represented fairly. It is important that society allows women enough flexibility to work again after child-rearing or other life events that often interrupt their professional careers, she said. In Japan, women are underrepresented in senior-level positions. They have long been discriminated against in salary and promotion in corporate Japan, and often face obstacles to pursuing their career due to lack of childcare support and unhelpful spouses.
In Japan, women are under-represented in senior-level positions in companies, government or universities. Women have long been discriminated against in salary and promotion in corporate Japan, and often faced obstacles to pursuing their career due to lack of help in child care and helpful spouses.