Session 5 (10/24) - The Recovery and Challenges of Success in Japan

[Thomas Pineda]

These are all very interesting questions and I appreciate your deep dive into this cultural exchange/practice. Google searching for this ukiyo-e print brought up a lot of other woodblock pictures that featured Victorian fashion- but focusing on this one particular example and imagining what the entire scene must have sounded like and what the food could have smelled like really is an interesting jump off point for a research project. That would be interesting to fill in all the other sensory details for a woodblock print and explain what that snippet of time was like. 

This history of ballroom dancing in Japan is also interesting- it just coincidentally reminded me of the "Shall We Dance?" movie where a Japanese business sneaks away to learn this practice and the way its viewed (or at least in the late 90s).

[Ester Yang]

I'm seeing this happen to mother's of my students. Due to covid-19 a lot of the workers have been furloughed and the first to get affected were the female employees. It's heartbreaking to call home and find out each family's situation due to covid, and even more, find out that the moms are being stressed through emotional labor and household labor. As a female in the society, there are so much that we have to risk and be cautious of. 

[Khrystle San Diego]

Thomas, I think it's important that you brought that information to our discussion. The percentage of females occupying higher positions in companies are low in Japan, China, and South Korea (I think) are definitely a result of these views on women from Confucian values. Being a Filipina, I have seen that many women do take on leadership roles in the Philippines. Though Filipina women do put importance in submission to elders and husbands, I think it's more along the fact that they are a very religious country and generally submit to biblical beliefs. Even if this is so, I've noticed that Filipinos do respect women in government or higher positions. They have already had two women presidents in the past 50 years which is quite important to note in comparison to the United States who has yet to have a women president. 

[Khrystle San Diego]

Lizbeth, unfortunately, you're right. Women in Japan have a more difficult time becoming independent in the workplace while also beginning a family. It's so unfair for women because they have to choose which they will prioritize more, which will then affect their relationship with both. On my most recent visit to Japan, I noticed that many of the retail shops employed women. That could be definitive of the fact that when you work retail, the shop is only open for a designated amount of time. Maybe this allows them to also manage their home lives. 

[Lizbeth Vazquez-Ruiz]

You brought you insights into the discussion. I've only considered the womens perspective on working long hours and choosing between a career and having a family. However, I completely  overlooked the fact that many families in Japan will have an absentee father. If women are choosing between careers and have a family men are forced to choose between being unemployed or working long hours to support their family. Men are also being affected by this, they are forced to work long hours to support their families and most of them are bringing the only income into their home. Which can add a lot of responsibility. 

 

[Serece Tascione]

I completely agree. I feel like we feel this is the only way because that is the only way we have done it. This would be a very interesting research project for the classroom. Facts can then lead to their opinion in a debate format. I think this idea would be fascinating. 

[Serece Tascione]

Intersting and disappointing as you both mentioned. When I hear these things, it seems so 'old school.' That's why I was so shocked in our lecture, and from the readings and videos when I heard about the times around the Uman Ribu movement. It seems like this inequality was only more significant long ago. The fact that we do have so much more research and times have changed, I would think these norms would change too. But yes, since times are changing, I do agree that is why women stay single longer and wait to have children. However, it does seem that eventhough they are trying to change, obstacles still hinder them from accomplishing it like: taxes, extreme social pressures, or even the fact that it wasn't until 1999 that Japanese legalized birth control. The fact that there are these obstacles, I feel, are even more shocking. 

[Serece Tascione]

Brigid, yes, being that when they tried to ammend the law, but quickly scrapped that idea because circumstances chnaged, definitely shows what they feel about woman and the superiority of men. Just knowing that gender can't be controlled, one would think that this law would need an amendment regardless of that fact that a boy was worn. From looking at the lienage, you currently see 3/4 females in line for emperor.  This can obviously happen again in the future, so I woluld feel a country should have laws in place to prepare for this. Especially as you stated, a child needs to be 'prepped' for this role from a young age. Still, the fact that a decision like this can be quickly made just because a male was born is a large factor  that contributes to the way women are viewed and respected. 

[Nayeli Ruiz-Sanchez]

This video had various details in regards to the women’s role in Japanese society. The role of women definitely changed especially after World War II. I was surprised at all the women movements that occurred to create a change. For example, the 3 strands of women’s movement in japan were: feminism, motherhood, and social feminism. A great lesson would be for students to use the compare and contrast graphic organizer to compare and contrast women’s rights and roles in Japan and United Sates. This topic is of special interest to me and I am a bit surprised of the women role in Japan. It is interesting to know that the role is not much different that from the United States and actually seems like we are valued more in the United States at least a little more.

 

[Nayeli Ruiz-Sanchez]

In the article, “Womenomics in Japan: In Brief”, it looked into the participation of women in the workforce. I hoped that women would be able to seek positions to those similar to men. However, I found it surprising that in Japan its like women choose between having kids or working but not doing both. I had always thought that it was possible to do both or that every woman looked forward to this in their life if possible. I also found it interesting that a lot of the women also rather not marry because of all the responsibilities they have as housewives. It seems to be different than here because at least in the United States there are more resources for childcare and for women to be able to fill in the role of a man/women for their children if need be.

[Nayeli Ruiz-Sanchez]

It is astonishing yet not surprising how Japan still believes and follows the idea of only males being worthy to take the throne. Currently, the emperor Naruhito is the new monarch in Japan. Although he has a daughter the one that will take the throne next is his brother because he is a male. I do and at the same time don’t think its fair that Japan is still treating women as if we are not equal to males. I understand there are some differences but women should at least be considered for these roles. I am happy that the United States has finally elected a woman as the Vice President in chair because I do believe that women also have power. It’s not really about power but most importantly about their views and in the way they want to change things for the better of the world.

[Nayeli Ruiz-Sanchez]

Upon reading this article I learned something new but now I stand more on my point that Japan definitely does not treat women equal in comparison to men especially when it comes to workforce and women taking leadership roles. The article said that the Prime minister in a way may it seem like women would have a better life coming their way and a lot of women believe him at the time. In contrast, they quickly found that the new jobs they would be offered were part time positions that did not pay them well. In addition, they would still be responsible for the housework and taking care of their kids and elderly members of their families. Towards the end of the article it did state that their was an increase in the number of women in the LDP because of something Abe did however because of the requirements needed its really hard for women to even come close to winning. In the article it states that to compete, “a candidate needs the signature of 20 fellow politicians.” Since women are not involved in politics it is very hard for them to have fellow politicians sign for them leaving them a great disadvantage.

[Nayeli Ruiz-Sanchez]

I found this article to be of great interest due to reading how women have different views on fertility. Some women would rather just work while others said that by being offered certain programs such as generous childcare, parental leave, and child allowance programs they would be okay. On the other hand there are still couples that due to their struggle they do not care if these programs are offered. Lastly, I was surprised that still due to society norms that can influence couples and individuals to make certain life decisions. For example in the article it states that because the “norms define the essential family form as married couple with breadwinner father, devoted mother, and two children will continue to cause young working men and women to hesitate before moving in with partners or having children outside of marriage when they are unsure if they can live up to this ideal.” I hope that society norms will change because I feel that any human can take both or opposing roles if they like not just necessarily because that is what we learned was okay.

[Betsy Telle]

I like having the students see a different functional government and to compare it to ours. Having students look at the benefits and weakness of both systems. Students could then work together to create their own type of government.

[Betsy Telle]

I was not surprised that the Japanese throne is only passed down to males. It feels that many countries still pass nobility down thru male lineage. It’s interesting that they were willing to consider a female heir until there was a male born. It feels that in a lot of societies that they are becoming welcoming to female power, but often times only when there is a lack of males available. Once there is a male available they revert to the preference for a male.

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