This project supports the dissertation research of an anthropology student from Columbia University in Japan. The project is to test a theory of gender relations in white collar organizations: to assess the strength of cultural factors vs. organizational factors i explaining the discrimination against female workers in Japanese offices. The student wil do participant observation in two Japanese business firms, one with substantial numbersof women in professional positions and another with few women in high level jobs. By comparing behaviors, attitudes, life histories and professional aspirations of women in the two case studies the student will attempt to assess the importance of internal values against external organizational barriers to advancement. This project is important because Japanese business seems monolithically efficient and production oriented as seen from the US. This sort of case study will provide valuable information on local variation and on barriers to participation by women, which will be useful in dealing with Japanese public and private organizations.
