Emma Dalton

Dr. Emma Dalton is a Senior Lecturer in Japanese at La Trobe University, Australia, specializing in gender inequality and political representation in Japan. Her interdisciplinary research bridges sociology, political science, and gender studies through rigorous qualitative methodologies.

Her academic qualifications include:

• PhD from the University of Wollongong, Australia
• Masters of Arts in Japanese Interpreting and Translation from the University of Queensland, Australia
• Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland, Australia

Dr. Dalton's research centers on systemic gender barriers in Japanese society, particularly women's underrepresentation in politics and the pervasive issue of sexual harassment within political institutions. Her work employs in-depth interviews to uncover lived experiences of women politicians and activists, revealing how cultural norms and institutional structures perpetuate inequality. She examines evolving feminist movements in Japan, especially during the #MeToo era, and critically analyzes policies like 'Womenomics' through a neoliberal feminist lens.

Her recent publications demonstrate a cohesive trajectory from foundational studies on electoral politics to urgent investigations of harassment and feminist activism. The articles consistently apply feminist critical discourse analysis across diverse contexts—from media coverage of sexual violence to military culture—highlighting intersectional power dynamics while maintaining Japan-specific cultural nuance.

Recognition for her work includes:

• Japan Foundation Fellowships supporting fieldwork for her first two books

Dr. Dalton actively supervises Masters and PhD students, drawing from her extensive experience teaching Japanese language and society courses across Australia, Japan, and New Zealand since 2007. Her research is sustained through competitive international fellowships, with collaborative projects like her co-authored book on contemporary Japanese feminism demonstrating strong scholarly partnerships.