Japan’s women-only universities divided over trans admissions

Some of Japan’s female-only universities have begun to allow transgender women to enrol while others have rejected pressure to become more inclusive amid wider political and legal changes.

A recent survey, conducted by the newspaper Mainichi Shimbun, found that six women’s universities currently admit transgender women, while one more plans to do so before the end of the decade. 

Of the 60 universities polled, 40 responded. Another 16 said they were open to the possibility, with five stating that they were “seriously considering” it.

Among the universities that currently accept trans women are two public institutions, Ochanomizu University in Tokyo and Nara Women’s University, alongside four private universities: Japan Women’s University, Tsuda University, Miyagi Gakuin Women’s University and Notre Dame Seishin University.

In July, Fukuoka Women’s University announced that it would begin accepting transgender women from 2029.

Seventeen universities told the survey they did not currently admit transgender students, with some citing practical barriers such as the absence of multipurpose or all-gender toilets and others stating eligibility was restricted to those registered as female on Japan’s family registry system.

At Tsuda University, one of the institutions that now accepts trans women, president Yuko Takahashi said the decision followed years of internal discussion rather than a rapid policy shift.

“We value the significance of women’s colleges still, even in the 21st century in Japan, because we still have a very serious gender gap,” Takahashi told Times Higher Education.

“But at the same time, we have to recognise there are a lot of diverse women…and we feel that we have to respect their gender identity.”

Takahashi acknowledged that concerns had been raised by some students around facilities, particularly shared bathrooms and residence halls.

Tsuda has increased the number of all-gender toilets on campus but currently does not allow transgender students to live in its dormitories, instead offering financial support for off-campus accommodation.

“Some students feel insecure or afraid… because they are not so familiar with transgender people,” Takahashi said, adding that the university had responded by inviting transgender speakers and holding lecture series to encourage understanding.

One fourth-year undergraduate, who asked to remain anonymous, said that they felt admitting trans women did not undermine the mission of women’s universities.

“Including transgender women is not about taking something away, but about expanding who can feel safe and supported as a woman in an academic space,” the student said.

At the same time, they noted that anxieties about privacy and safety often stemmed from “a lack of knowledge rather than rejection”, arguing that policy changes needed to be paired with dialogue and education.

Akiyoshi Yonezawa, professor in the Global Strategy Office at Tohoku University, said recent legal and political developments had prompted institutions to revisit their policies, especially the passage in 2023 of an act that mandates institutions to promote a greater understanding of LGBT people, and protect them from “unfair discrimination”.

Demographic pressures have pushed some women-only universities into much wider changes such as becoming co-educational or revising their programmes to fit contemporary professional demands, he added.

However, Yonezawa cautioned that many women’s institutions are small and lack the capacity to move quickly. And he stressed that transgender inclusion is not solely a women’s university issue.

“Even co-educational institutions have to think about residence hall issues and bathroom issues,” he said, adding that national admissions guidelines would play a decisive role in shaping future change.

The gradual move towards inclusion in higher education comes against a mixed national backdrop.

In November, Tokyo’s High Court ruled that Japan’s ban on same-sex marriage was constitutional, a decision that campaigners described as a setback and is expected to be appealed to the Supreme Court.

tash.mosheim@timeshighereducation.com