According to a survey of non-managerial staff conducted by a Japanese thinktank, only 12.9 percent of women are interested in advancing to managerial positions, compared with 40.3 percent of men. 27.1 percent of women, compared with only 18.7 percent of men, stated that they were discouraged because of the difficulties in balancing managerial responsibilities with their personal lives. [English summary of Japanese language item, by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]