Japanese government urges companies to consider women’s health

The government on Friday called on companies to take into account women’s health in order to promote their active participation in society.

Businesses must address women’s specific health issues to increase the number of women in leadership positions, the government said in a white paper on gender equality.

The white paper states that men tend to develop enlarged prostates and other male-specific diseases in their 50s or later, while female-specific diseases are seen in a wide range of ages, from twenties to fifties, the age period when we work the most.

Women tend to develop menstrual problems between the ages of 20 and 40 and endometriosis between the ages of 30 and 40. Symptoms of breast cancer and menopause peak between the ages of 40 and 50, which coincides with the time when women are typically appointed to leadership positions.

The white paper states that there is a correlation between health awareness and motivation to promote, among both men and women.

For example, 29.9% of women in their 20s who believe they are in good health want to be promoted, while the ratio is lower, at 20.1%, among those who do not believe they are in good health.

Women need support to be able to build their careers without reluctantly leaving their jobs, the white paper says.

“A society in which women can work easily despite their health problems will also enable older people, people with disabilities and men to work comfortably,” the white paper says.