A regional assemblywoman who brought her 7-month-old son to the assembly hall has raised a controversy in Japan on whether mothers in politics should be allowed to do the same or focus on fulfilling their public responsibilities without their children in sight. On Nov 22,42-year-old
A regional assemblywoman who brought her 7-month-old son to the assembly hall has raised a controversy in Japan on whether mothers in politics should be allowed to do the same or focus on fulfilling their public responsibilities without their children in sight.
On Nov 22,42-year-old Yuka Ogata of the Kumamoto city assembly took her seat on the assembly floor holding her son. Following a quarrel with the assembly chairman, Ogata was eventually persuaded to leave her baby boy with a friend before attending the session which began about 40 minutes late.
Ogata said she had been asking the assembly office whether she could bring her baby since she became pregnant last year. But having been unable to receive a positive reply, she decided to take her son in with her.
The assembly of the southwestern Japanese city said Ogata was responsible for having obstructed the flow of the session and later issued a written warning for breaching rules.
Sophia University professor of politics Mari Miura, 50, said Ogata’s action has visualized the challenge facing politicians who are mothers. «To increase the number of female assembly members, we need a system that accepts people of various backgrounds. The root of democracy is that all people participate in politics,» Miura said.
