Analysis of the conditions for promoting women's political participation in 'local government'

Research Project

Project/Area Number	12610170
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Section	一般
Research Field	社会学(含社会福祉関係)
Research Institution	Niigata University
Principal Investigator	WATANABE Noboru Faculty of Humanities, Niigata University, Professor, 人文学部, 助教授 (50250395)
Project Period (FY)	2000 – 2001
Project Status	Completed (Fiscal Year 2001)
Budget Amount *help	¥2,200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,200,000) Fiscal Year 2001: ¥1,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000) Fiscal Year 2000: ¥1,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000)
Keywords	gender / political participation / policies for women / 政治参加
Research Abstract	The purpose of the present study is to investigate the terms and conditions for women to take part in local politics, especially focusing on their life course. In order to do this, comparative study with local councilmen was done. A high ratio area (7 local councils in 20% and more of Tokyo Metropolis) and a low ratio area (5% and under of Niigata 5 councils and Yamagata 4 councils) were chosen to clear the difference (local difference or gender effect) based on the height of the woman member ratio at the local council. It was found from the result that difference in the route which they reaches members of local councils is big. There are many people who become a member of an local councils through the political party and the citizen activities in case of local councilwomen, although the case that it becomes a member of local councils is overwhelming through the economic groups, existent community groups and the labor unions in case of local councilmen. When it says about the attribute, a woman member of a local councils has many 50's and 40's in the age, and a man member of local council has many 50's and 60's. Women members of local councils in the educational background was higher relatively, and men members of local councils about their residence was longer relatively. But, regional differences are big about the attribute, too. Effects seem to be seen about the political socialization in case of local councilwomen. In this case, regional differences are big in a woman member of an local council. It has the primary political socialization effect in the country, and the second political socialization effect is tends to be strong in the metropolis. From the above examination, it is necessary to build the second political socialization device, and to activate any kinds of citizen's activities in the local areas for promoting woman's political participation.