Emma Dalton is a Japanese studies scholar with interdisciplinary research interests in sociology and political science. Her research is concerned broadly with gender inequality in Japan and more specifically with women's participation and representation in Japanese politics.

Dr Dalton's first book, Women and Politics in Contemporary Japan (2015), made the case for a connection between long-term Liberal Democratic Party rule and women's political under-representation. This research was the product of her PhD research on women politicians. In 2021, she published 'Sexual Harassment in Japanese Politics'. The fieldwork for both projects was funded by Japan Foundation Fellowships. Dr Dalton's third book (2022), co-authored with Dr Caroline Norma (RMIT), is 'Voices from the Contemporary Japanese Feminist Movement'.

Dr Dalton is a Senior Lecturer in Japanese Studies at La Trobe University.