What are the "questionable norms" working women face in the workplace? (Part 1)

What kind of society enables sustainable work practices from the perspective of women's advancement? This series features members of Dentsu Inc.'s " Sustainability Consulting Office "—a specialized organization supporting corporate sustainable business creation—interviewing next-generation opinion leaders.

In the fifth installment, Mr. Takayuki Fukushima, Creative Planner at the Sustainability Consulting Office and CCO of " NewsPicks Studios," interviews Ms. Ai Kawaguchi. Ms. Kawaguchi is Editor-in-Chief of "NewsPicks for WE," a project supporting and empowering women's career development, and Advertising Production Team Leader at " NewsPicks Studios," a group specializing in planning and producing video content. This interview is presented in two parts.

Gathering Real Insights from Working Women

Fukushima: Currently, sustainable work practices and sustainable corporate management are key challenges. Promoting women's advancement stands as one of the critical agendas within this. This is an agenda that impacts everyone, regardless of gender. "NewsPicks for WE" is a project supporting women's career development. Could you tell us about its activities and the background behind its launch?

Kawaguchi: Since launching in 2021, "NewsPicks for WE" has focused on International Women's Day, publishing diverse content and organizing events.

The impetus for its launch was the postponement of the so-called "202030" initiative. In 2003, the Gender Equality Bureau of the Cabinet Office set the goal that "by 2020, women should occupy at least 30% of leadership positions across all sectors of society." However, this target was not achieved by 2020, and without any reflection on the failure, the deadline was simply pushed back. Furthermore, Japan continues to rank low in the World Economic Forum's "Gender Gap Index," with stagnation in women's advancement in political and economic spheres seen as a key cause.

In response to this situation, NewsPicks, as an economic media outlet, launched "NewsPicks for WE" to do what we can. While media outlets have previously featured female entrepreneurs and active female leaders within companies, there was no platform specifically gathering the real insights of working women in their 20s to 40s who are currently juggling work with childcare and household duties, grappling with frustrations yet persevering. Therefore, we have continued our activities along two axes: gathering, disseminating, and sharing the real insights of working women, and delivering this information to male leaders within organizations where women work.

Fukushima: This project was launched by volunteers within the company, including Ms. Kawaguchi, and has been fueled by their passion for about five years. Where does that passion come from?

Kawaguchi: I married at 29 and left my job at a publishing company to become a full-time homemaker. I felt cut off from society and carried a sense of unease every day. I eventually divorced, but when we separated, I was dependent on my husband financially, so I couldn't rent a place on my own. Changing the name on utilities after the divorce was also a hassle. Furthermore, the path back to my career was incredibly difficult. It was only through these experiences as a direct participant, facing life stage changes and barriers unique to women, that I first realized how often women suffer disadvantages. This personal experience made me keenly aware of significant problems within the social structure itself, and that became my driving force.

To change the male-centric social structure, we gather concrete examples and take action

Fukushima: What I find wonderful about the "NewsPicks for WE" initiative is that it's not just one-way information dissemination; it has a community function. Being able to meet people in similar situations, even if they're from different industries or professions, and engage in dialogue around shared themes is incredibly meaningful for those directly affected. What aspects do you personally prioritize in this activity, Ms. Kawaguchi?

Kawaguchi: Exactly. We prioritize hearing the real voices of working women themselves. Fundamentally, "NewsPicks" itself is a media platform with a strong community aspect. "NewsPicks for WE" also emphasizes community functionality, valuing the genuine insights and passion of everyone who participates.

Each individual's concerns are unique to them. While some challenges may be universal, there's much to learn by relating to these specific stories and making them personal. That's why we strive to gather as many concrete examples as possible.

Fukushima: Indeed, with ten people, there are likely ten different examples. Amidst this, there's also concern that under the keyword of "women's advancement," focusing solely on metrics like the ratio of female managers might narrow the discussion. Mr. Kawaguchi, what meaning or challenges do you see in this metric-driven approach?

Kawaguchi: Without external pressure, the status quo won't change, so metrics are important. Using the keyword "women's advancement" as a rallying cry helps some people understand its importance, so I think such language is necessary. However, we must recognize that these metrics and terms are meant to be tools for changing social structures.

Changing traditional social structures inevitably takes decades. First, we must visualize that "these kinds of cases are occurring" and "this many people are speaking out." By sharing real insights, we need to make women's hardships feel personally relevant, leading to action that says, "We must change the social structure through national systems."

We cannot overhaul the operating systems of companies and society overnight. In fact, companies achieving tangible results in women's advancement are where they are today precisely because they have pursued initiatives over the long term. I, too, am prepared to commit to this effort for 10 or 20 years, determined not to give up.

To cut into the social structures built over many years, we must question what has been taken for granted. For this reason, the activities of "NewsPicks for WE," which draws out real voices about the difficulties women face in building their careers, are of great significance. In the second part, we will discuss the background behind the launch of the "WE CHANGE AWARDS 2025," to be held on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.