英語学習

英語ニュース教材：Can Japan get more female business leaders?（Intermediate レベル）

 

Contents

🎧 Audio

📖 Script

Japan is known for its technological advancements and rich culture, but it faces challenges in achieving gender equality in business leadership. Despite being a developed nation, Japan ranks low globally when it comes to women holding leadership positions in companies. As of now, only a small percentage of women are in executive roles, and this has become a significant economic and social issue.

The Japanese government has set targets to increase the number of women in leadership roles. However, progress has been slow. Several factors contribute to this situation. Cultural norms and traditional gender roles often discourage women from pursuing high-ranking positions. Additionally, the lack of supportive work environments, such as flexible working hours and childcare facilities, makes it harder for women to balance work and family life.

To address these issues, companies are encouraged to foster more inclusive workplaces. This includes promoting policies that support work-life balance and providing mentorship programs for women. By doing so, businesses can not only help women advance in their careers but also benefit from diverse perspectives that can drive innovation and growth.

Countries like Norway and Germany have successfully increased the number of female leaders through legislation and corporate initiatives. Japan can learn from these examples to create a more balanced and equitable business environment. Increasing the number of women in leadership positions is not just a matter of equality but also an economic necessity. Studies show that companies with diverse leadership teams tend to perform better financially.

In conclusion, Japan’s journey towards gender equality in business leadership is crucial for its economic and social development. More efforts are needed to break down barriers and create opportunities for women to lead. With continued focus and action, Japan can improve its standing and set a positive example for other nations.

📝 Vocabulary

  • leadership: the action of leading a group or organization（リーダーシップ）
    例文: “Good leadership can drive a company to success.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • leadership skills
    • leadership qualities
    • leadership role
  • executive: a person with senior managerial responsibility in a business（経営幹部）
    例文: “She was promoted to an executive position last year.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • executive decision
    • executive team
    • chief executive
  • gender equality: equal rights and opportunities regardless of gender（男女平等）
    例文: “Achieving gender equality requires changes in policy and practice.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • gender equality policy
    • gender equality initiatives
    • gender equality goals
  • advancement: the process of promoting a cause or plan（進歩、昇進）
    例文: “Her advancement in the company was well-deserved.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • career advancement
    • technological advancement
    • rapid advancement
  • inclusive: including everyone, especially those who are marginalized（包括的な）
    例文: “An inclusive workplace values all employees equally.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • inclusive policy
    • inclusive environment
    • inclusive approach

✏️ Grammar Point

Relative Clause – “Despite being a developed nation, Japan ranks low globally when it comes to women holding leadership positions in companies.”

文法の日本語補足を見る
関係詞を使って追加情報を提供する文構造

💡 使用場面

ビジネスで、特定の状況や条件を説明するときに使われます。

📝 使用例文

“例: In a business meeting, you might say: ‘If we cut costs now, we can increase our profit margin next quarter.’”

❓ Listening Questions

  1. True/False: Japan is a leader in gender equality in business leadership.
  2. MCQ: What is one reason for the slow progress in women’s leadership roles in Japan?
    a) Lack of interest from women
    b) Cultural norms and traditional gender roles
    c) High educational barriers
    d) Economic instability
  3. MCQ: Which countries have successfully increased female leaders?
    a) United States and Canada
    b) France and China
    c) Norway and Germany
    d) Australia and India
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
  1. False
  2. b) Cultural norms and traditional gender roles
  3. c) Norway and Germany

📚 Reading Questions

  1. What has the Japanese government done to increase women in leadership roles?
  2. Why is increasing the number of women in leadership positions considered an economic necessity?
  3. What is the meaning of the word “inclusive” as used in the script?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る

    🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説

    日本では技術や文化面での進展がある一方で、ビジネスリーダーシップにおける男女平等の達成が課題となっています。政府は女性リーダーの割合を増やす目標を掲げていますが、文化的な背景や働きやすい環境の不足が進展を妨げています。ノルウェーやドイツのように法制化や企業の取り組みが成果を上げている国から学び、女性のリーダーシップ向上が経済成長に不可欠であることを認識する必要があります。今後は、これらの課題に対する持続的な取り組みが求められます。

    Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn8e5ke4v70o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

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