WOMEN & MEDIA IN JAPAN

This Web site is designed to introduce the circumstances by which Japanese women are surrounded, from perspectives of gender discrimination, inequalities, biased perception and gender roles.

□ Who Are “Winners & Losers”?

Perhaps from 10 years or so, this two words “winners & losers” started being frequently used to describe women through media. The general definition of winners among women is who gain happiness from their marriage and family. On the other hand, the definition of losers often points at women who are single and dedicate to their jobs. Even though they feel happiness with their work, how successful the women does not matter; these women are considered just losers because they are not married. Although essentially media added the implications to the words, and it has been disseminated, the origin of the idea has been deep rooted.

□ Japan Is “the Great Nation of Sexual Molesters”

Saikyo line, which connects Saitama prefecture and Tokyo, is known as the frequent crimes being committed during rush hours in the morning & in the evening. Every morning and evening, some women are suffered from fear of being targeted by sexual molesters. The molesters mostly target at women who are teenagers and in 20s. In fact 80% of the victims are teenagers and people in 20s. The Metropolitan Police Department have been announcing the number of acknowledged and arrested crimes on the trains, but the actual number who have been suffered from the crime is immeasurable. According to a survey, more than 60% of victims have just run away or have not said a word or even never resisted, because they felt fear or embarrassed.

□ Who Rule the World?

Patriarchy is a universal circumstance and future subject Patriarchy and male chauvinism in Japan has a long history; back to Meiji Era (1868 - 1919). In this era, the government ruled the patriarchal system and it has been perpetuated. What I would like to address here is the consciousness that wife holds. In the beginning of Meiji era, after marriage, women were considered financially incompetent person under husband’s complete control.