Office lady
Office Lady (usually abbreviated as OL , オ ー エ ルōeru , dt. "Office lady") is a Japanese word creation and in Japan describes a typically younger female office worker. This term has a slightly derogatory appeal.
OL sat down in the early 1960s by replacing the abbreviation BG (ビージー, Biji ) used for Japanese-English b usiness g irl stood. BG could be misunderstood as the abbreviation for b ar g irl , which among other things refers to prostitutes who look for their customers in bars. It was also felt that it was no longer appropriate to call adult women girls .
OLs do simple office work, serve tea and are used in the reception area. In the meantime, however, OL are also taking on more important tasks, partly because they have been with the company for many years, and partly because of the competitive pressure on Japanese companies, which allows them to deploy their employees more efficiently. Female employees who are e.g. B. also take part in advanced training courses, are then - also with a slightly ironic tone - referred to as career woman ( キ ャ リ ア ウ ー マ ン kyaria ūman ).
salary
The salary of female employees in Japan is usually not enough to run an independent household. After Tokyo had moved OL most still need a second income, and lucrative opportunities in bars and entertainment areas lure. On the other hand, many female employees do not leave the parental home until they get married ( parasitic single ) and can then afford a very expensive lifestyle, especially since traditionally the groom's family, not the bride's, has to pay for a high dowry .
life situation
It was common for female employees to leave the company when they marry or when they reach an age limit of 30 years at the latest. With the drastic increase in the average age at marriage in the last 15 years, the larger proportion of OL in Japanese society and slightly increasing salaries even for female employees with company affiliation, the latter now form a financially strong population group that also places higher demands on the male population.
hierarchy
In the Japanese open plan offices the hierarchy is very pronounced and clearly recognizable. The OL, subordinate to their male colleagues ( salaryman ) , typically sits near the entrance door or the entrance area. From then on, the hierarchy rises steadily down to the depths of the room, with higher-level employees sitting behind their subordinates.
In popular culture (in mangas , animes and films), OLs are often portrayed as being under-challenged and bored with their professional activities.