4 - I am still figuring out what I want to do: Career Education and Self-actualization of Female Students at a Junior College in Japan

In 2020, there was a gender gap in Japanese college enrollment, with girls at 50.9% and boys at 57.7%, a 6.8% difference. However, including junior college enrollment for girls (7.6%) reduces this gap, promoting gender equality.

Historically, junior colleges in Japan played a vital role in offering vocational education, focusing on practical workplace and daily life skills. From 1975 to 1999, the junior college enrollment rate for 18-year-olds exceeded 20%; however, since 2011, the rate has fallen below 10%, and the closing of junior colleges has become unstoppable. Realizing gender equality in higher education is essential for achieving gender equality in Japan. In this sense, the role of junior colleges in educating female students and fostering human resources in local communities is worthy of more attention.

The presentation focuses on female students at a junior college about 100 kilometers north of Tokyo. It explores their career aspirations and job-hunting activities, highlighting their distinctive career satisfaction and self-realization approach. The paper explores their unique career approach, emphasizing "satisfaction" and "comfort" over neoliberal values of high salaries and prestige. Their choices, deeply rooted in family and local ties, challenge neoliberal career values.

This research underscores the influence of cultural and societal factors on career choices, suggesting that Japanese women's preferences stem from their strong community and family bonds, challenging conventional notions of success. Achieving gender equality in higher education is essential for workplace equality in Japan, making the role of junior colleges in educating women and local human resources a crucial focus.