Outrage Over Politician’s Proposal to Control Women’s Lives Sparks Backlash in Japan

This story is proof that women’s rights still face unimaginable challenges today.

Sophia

• Published in Interesting
• November 16, 2024

In a world where women are breaking barriers and demanding equality, outdated proposals like those of Naoki Hyakuta serve as stark reminders of how far we still have to go. The leader of Japan’s Conservative Party recently caused outrage by suggesting extreme measures to combat the country’s declining birth rate.

His ideas included banning women from marrying after the age of 25, forcing hysterectomies at 30 for those without children, and restricting women from attending college beyond 18 to encourage early marriage and motherhood.

Although Hyakuta later claimed these suggestions were hypothetical, the damage was already done, igniting debates about women’s rights, societal expectations, and the dangerous implications of political overreach.

Hyakuta’s remarks shine a spotlight on lingering societal pressures that reduce women to their reproductive roles, even in 2024. Japan, facing an aging population and a plummeting birth rate, struggles with economic instability and cultural expectations that deter many women from pursuing marriage and parenthood.

The proposals ignore these complex realities, instead blaming women for the demographic crisis. Many women in Japan opt to prioritize education or careers over traditional family roles, driven by the lack of systemic support and labor inequities.

Hyakuta’s vision dismisses these realities, perpetuating stereotypes that a woman’s worth hinges solely on her ability to reproduce.

The Politics of Familyhood and Reproduction

Naoki Hyakuta’s shocking proposals—which primarily included banning women from marrying after 25 and requiring hysterectomies at 30—shine a harsh spotlight on the societal pressures surrounding reproduction and family life.

His comments were presented as a way to address Japan’s declining birth rate and ignore the complex interplay of economic and cultural factors contributing to the crisis.

In 2024, Japan recorded its lowest birth rate since 1969, highlighting a demographic challenge deeply rooted in systemic issues.

Economic instability is a major barrier to family growth.

With stagnant wages, high costs of living, and job insecurity, many women feel unprepared to raise children.

A 2017 study revealed that 60% of Japanese women were too overworked and exhausted to prioritize dating or marriage, let alone starting families.

These conditions leave younger generations grappling with whether they can afford to meet societal expectations.

Cultural expectations compound these challenges.

Japan’s traditional patriarchal framework assigns caregiving and household duties to women while men are expected to be the primary earners.

For women aspiring to build careers and financial independence, these outdated roles often feel incompatible with modern life.

Unsurprisingly, many choose to delay or avoid marriage altogether.

In 2023, marriage rates dipped below 500,000 for the first time in 90 years, a stark indicator of shifting priorities.

Critics like actor Chizuru Higåashi and author Sumie Kawakami have decried Hyakuta’s remarks as misogynistic and harmful, labeling them a "call to violence against women."

Although Hyakuta apologized, claiming his ideas were “hypothetical,” the backlash underscores how women’s autonomy is still undervalued, with motherhood often regarded as their primary role.

In a world striving for equality, Hyakuta’s remarks serve as a sobering reminder of how far we still have to go. Comment down your thoughts, or share this story and ask: are women truly free to define their own futures?

Sophia