Married Couples
A married couple in Japan has taken legal action against Miyazaki Sangyo-keiei University, accusing the institution of unfair treatment and gender discrimination after the university allowed only the husband to retain his academic position following their marriage.
According to reports from Japanese media, the couple, both employed in the university’s law faculty, informed the dean of their marriage in July 2024.
However, the dean reportedly expressed discomfort with the situation and informed the couple that the woman’s employment contract would be terminated by the end of March.
This decision was based on an unwritten rule that prohibited spouses from working at the same institution due to the university’s small size, as reported by NHK, Japan’s public broadcaster.
The couple even went as far as filing for divorce in an effort to keep their jobs. However, this drastic step did not prevent the university from taking further action.
The husband, who was a law professor, was demoted to the position of associate professor, while the woman, an assistant professor, was reassigned to a clerical position.
Feeling discriminated against and deprived of her career, the woman expressed her frustration in a televised interview, where her face was not shown. “I felt I was forced to choose between marriage and my career,” she said. “I’m deeply saddened and indignant that a university that promotes women’s education and career support would unfairly strip a female teacher of her job and sense of fulfillment.”
The couple filed a lawsuit against the university and the dean in the Miyazaki District Court last month, seeking the reinstatement of their original positions.
The court confirmed the filing, but the university has remained tight-lipped on the matter, citing privacy concerns. A university spokesperson only commented that the couple had committed “a grave violation of the rules.”
This case has sparked outrage in Japan, a country known for its highly educated female population but still struggling with gender equality.
Japan ranks 118th out of 146 countries in the 2024 World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap report, with women still facing barriers in leadership roles in business and academia.
The couple’s legal battle highlights the persistent gender discrimination and lack of workplace equality in Japan, particularly in the education sector.
It also raises questions about the fairness of the university’s employment policies and the struggle faced by working women who choose to balance marriage and career.
