Forensic Accounting and the Japanese Police

[xicarus_complex]

I've lurked for awhile, but this is my first time asking a question, so here goes =)!

Search Terms: I've looked through relevant tags and searched "forensic accountants in Japan", "Japanese fraud squad", "Japanese police dress code", and pretty much every variation thereof =/. I've learned a bit about the profession, at least in North America and

Comments

[xicarus_complex]

Thank you so much! I knew sexism was an issue, but I didn't realize just how deeply entrenched it was, so I really appreciate all this information and I hope you don't mind if I ask a few follow-up questions. Generally speaking, how would a woman get started on the male track? Is it simply a matter of applying for traditionally masculine positions and proving yourself once you have them? What sort of discrimination would she face on a day-to-day basis? Would she be expected or even allowed to participate in socialization after hours because, though she is on the male track, it doesn't seem likely that her coworkers would appreciate her presence very much? My last is probably a person-to-person question, but how does one (effectively) deal with that sort of treatment? Rei isn't exactly the type to grin and bear it, but she's calm enough and accustomed enough to charges of frigidity that she probably could, especially if it there were long-term advantages, since she doesn't plan to marry and her only hope of escape is a corporation.

On that point, do you know if foreign corporations are any better, as far as equality rights go?

Thank you again and again for all your assistance! I really, really appreciate it.

[lilacsigil]

She would need to get into a good university first, and make connections there. After that, she needs to apply for traditionally male positions and excel at them. She will absolutely be required to socialise after-hours, including drinking, because it's part of the job. Fitting in is going to be even more important for her than it is for a regular police officer.

Personally, I don't think I could deal with it - maybe look up stories of women who were first in their professions in the 60s and 70s when the same attitudes were more common in the Western world? Then again, if I couldn't support myself for life on "women's wages" and had no intention of marrying a man, I might feel differently. Some women seem to deal by being extra-super-polite and humble, doing every humiliating "feminine" task given to them. Others become one of the boys. Some gain business connections and then freelance.

Foreign corporations are definitely better as far as equality goes - they'll actually enforce anti-harrassment and anti-discrimination laws to some degree - and there are likely to be a greater number of professional women, as translators and foreign execs in Japan. Workplace culture is not dissimilar though - many more men than women on the career track, all-female support staff, long hours, drinking etc. A major point against working for foreign companies, in some people's eyes, is that you're likely to be sent overseas and disrupt the family (abandoning your elderly parents and damaging your children's education) but obviously Rei may not see this as an issue, especially if she has a brother (the eldest son and his wife care for the parents.)

[xicarus_complex]

Thank you! I didn't even think about looking for stories from the sixties/seventies west, but that's a great idea and I didn't know foreign companies tended to require overseas travel, which would definitely be an issue for Rei, as she's an only child, with a grandfather and a shrine that she'd hate to leave behind, even for a few weeks. Your insight has really been invaluable and I can't thank you enough for all the time and effort you've put into it; you've given me a lot to work with. Thanks again~!