Women in Japan

1. Women in Japan • “complementary incompetence” – Edwards • Men, shakai – women, katei • Earning money vs. managing money • Dutiful worker, dutiful homemaker • How different are things in the US? • The bumbling American man in the kitchen

2. Women at work • Complementary incompetence at work • Electronics vs. auto (NYT) • Other “acceptable” jobs • Teaching, nursing • The demographic crunch: unhappy women • do not marry • do not have children

3. Women and the law • equal opportunity laws of 1985 and 1997 • Complications: • Men and women equally exploited? (NYT) • Implementation in an entrenched system: male/female tracking (Ehara, Renshaw) • Inequities unrectified, and women continue to opt out

4. Japanese urban female lifecourse (1) • “traditional” • Educated in good schools through junior college • goes to work as an “office lady” • After some years, marries, has two children • When children are off to school, cultivates friendships, hobbies, possibly community service

5. Japanese urban female lifecourse (2) • “new trend” • Educated in good schools through four year university • goes to work as manager or other professional • In late 20s, marries, has one child • When children are off to school, seeks to return to work force, or starts a business, etc.

6. Japanese urban female lifecourse (3) • “professional” • Educated in very good schools; attends elite four year university • goes to work in big business or government • May marry, may not • If married, either has non-traditional husband or the means to afford outside assistance with child care

7. Women in high places • government • Doi Takako, head of Japan Socialist Party • Noda Seiko, former minister of Posts &Tel. • Ōta (Ohta) Fusae, governor of Osaka • Ogata Sadako, UN High Commissioner for Refugees • Tanaka Makiko,recent Foreign Minister

8. “International” women • A way of opting out of the system • Study overseas • Marry foreigners (80%-20%) • Reside abroad long term, sometimes return • The difficulties of returning • The gaijin • ijime

9. Summary (so far) • today’s Japanese woman • is better educated • marries later • is more likely to have a career • Is unlikely to have more than one child (1.38) • And yet • Barriers to meaningful work remain • Objectification and “juvenilization” continue

10. Women’s magazines • What can we learn about women and society from women’s magazines? • Much like women’s magazines in the US • But big events are particularly revealing • 1958: the crown prince meets Shoda Michiko • Unprecedented marriage to a commoner • Triggers the “Micchi boom”

11. Wedding portrayals • Meet on a Karuizawa tennis court, 1958 • A fine romance • The handsome prince • The lovely commoner • But wait: • Her father is one of the wealthiest men in Asia

12. The people’s princess? • Demand for information about the couple is insatiable • But are they to be admired or pitied? • The royals as prisoners of their position • To support them, we should be better commoners

13. A sly critique • Creators tired of feeding the beast • A more critical view is offered, but indirectly • By children!

14. Michiko and Masako • How was the Michiko story read in the West? • Progress for women despite barriers • Masako, 40 years later • Same story • My thanks to Jan Bardsley, UNC Chapel Hill for pictures and info.