The major of the Japanese city of Osaka has come under fire for claiming that only men should be allowed to do the grocery shopping since women “take a longer time.” While speaking at a press conference about the global health crisis on April 23, a male reporter asked Mayor Ichiro Matsui about reducing the number of people in a store at a given time to reduce infections, which is when the offensive comments came to light.
- Apparently, women like to “linger” at the supermarket. “Women take a longer time grocery shopping because they browse through different products and weigh out which option is best,” Matsui said of women’s grocery shopping habits, according to CNN. “Men quickly grab what they’re told to buy so they won’t linger at the supermarket – that avoids close contact with others.”
- Matsui did try to back down when his sexism was pointed out. While he clearly (and ridiculously) feels that grocery shopping is a job that only men are cut out for, Matsui changed his tone when a reporter pointed out that his remarks were incredibly sexist. Just because he publicly backed away from the idea when confronted doesn’t mean his ideas aren’t offensive and potentially affecting his role as mayor, of course…
- Gender inequality is a serious problem in Japan. Matsui’s comments about grocery shopping may seem innocuous enough, but they’re part of a much larger issue in Japan of women, who make up 51% of the country’s population, are still viewed as being less than. In fact, according to World Bank data, Japan ranks 110th out of 149 countries when it comes to equality, and that’s not good.
- Given the current situation, I’d say no one is feeling like lingering around the grocery store. At this point, if we have to go into a grocery store at all, both men and women are likely trying to speed the trip up and make it as quick as possible so they can get back to the safety of their own home and not get sick. The days of leisurely browsing are long gone and likely won’t return soon.
