Breaking Barriers: The Struggle for Gender Equality in Japan's Medical Profession and the Role of Tokyo Women's Medical University

Modern Western legal theories are based on the idea that "people" generally refer to males. Consequently, modern civil law ensured that men were treated equally and acted freely in public spheres. However, women were confined to the private sphere (home). Under a male-dominated legal system, women are considered inferior and face persistent challenges in securing equal rights. This was evident in the struggles of Ginko Ogino, Japan's first female doctor, to qualify for the national medical exam and in the efforts of Yayoi Yoshioka, founder of Tokyo Women's Medical University. This paper reviews the history of male chauvinism in Japan. Based on the understanding that gender bias is a barrier to the career progression of female medical professionals, we discuss the significance of increasing the number of female doctors to help improve medical services and benefit society more broadly. We also review the efforts of Tokyo Women's Medical University to support the development and advancement of female medical professionals.