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Savvy Tokyo's series "Ladies And The Law" dig back in time tracing the catalysts for change in Japanese laws that directly or indirectly affect women and their families.
In 1980s Japan, women in the workplace were often regarded as window-dressing (so-called “office flowers”) or helpmates. Many reported for work half an hour earlier than men, to brew the tea and clean their desks. Women were usually the ones to answer the phone first thing in the morning because men believed that hearing a “lively” woman’s voice was a good way to start the day. Intrusive personal questions and even unwelcome physical contact from male colleagues was also a “regular” behavior at the workplace.
This was the working world K. entered after graduating from university in late 1985 when she began working as a part-time editor for a small, independent magazine publisher in Fukuoka. It was a small company of just a few employees, but for her it was the job she had always wanted.
K. was greatly skilled at her work and became a full-time regular employee in early 1986. K. was not only a good editor, she was also a good writer. This led to more responsibility, including reporting, managing other writers and attending external events. Her star was on the rise.
Her boss, H., had been hired about six months before she was. He was described as introverted and quiet. He also had somewhat outdated ideas about the way that women should act. H. struggled with the fact that K. was so good at her job and felt threatened by her success.
Because of his decision-making authority at the magazine, in December 1987, H. tried to force K. to resign, citing financial difficulties at the magazine. Around this time, H. also began to spread rumors about K.’s private life, suggesting to her colleagues and to other business associates that she was promiscuous and wild and led a life better suited to “a bar hostess.” He also told people that a novel K. had written was pornographic and based on her own life experiences.
Click here to read more.
-- Ladies & the Law: The 1968 patricide case that paved the road toward equality in Japan
- External Link
- https://savvytokyo.com/
12 Comments
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SaikoPhysco
Maybe we should address today's work environment..... the 80's was 30 or more years ago.
Yubaru
A big part of the problem is that there are far too many women themselves that do not understand what constituents sexual harassment. Many unwittingly participate in it, or allow it to occur because there is little education regarding it through out the entire system.
Schools don't teach it, and schools are a huge part of the problem, segregating boys and girls in class, among a host of other problems.
There needs to be clear definitions made publicly known and zero tolerance policies as well!
Yubaru
Knowing the history is important!
Maria
There is also the fact that when a man behaves inappropropriately, and the woman calls him out on it, he most likely to gaslight her: "I was only kidding. Can't you take a joke? I didn't mean anything by it, sheesh, it's like you can't even smile at blahblahuselessnoisevacuum..."
Times that by the number of men around her in the workplace, and she is immediately dissuaded from taking it further. Remember the photo of the men surrrounding Yuko Ogata when she brought her child into chambers?
That's what it's like.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/11/27/national/japanese-lawmaker-sparks-debate-taking-baby-work/
Yubaru
It has happened where I work many times, and what's even sadder is that one some occasions other women in the office stood up for the guy who made the comments! "Oh dont over do it!" or some other condescending opinion!
Fouxdefa
Just turn on the TV, the variety shows are full of it. What bra size do you wear? that's a nice tight shirt you have on, I want a pair of your panties etc. etc. as funny moments or as compliments, and the female celebs on TV with them are shown enjoying it, so maybe Tarou at the office thinks that's normal way to communicate with women and all women enjoy it even if they protest and act shy, that's cute too, blah blah blah...the pop culture is also miles away from being helpful.
Yubaru
Just this past week, watching some "variety show" and the female who was the guest, was talking about how much she works out, showed some "selfies" and talked about how her butt has gotten tighter and more shapely. The host of the show, at her invitation , asked him to feel her butt, to "prove" that yeah it was "tight".
Gets right up behind her, in full camera, puts right hand on right butt cheek, left on left, and squeezed. Audience laughs, hear the obligatory "sugoi" "sugoi", and folks wonder why there is sexual harassment here?
Why is it necessary to publicize the "3 size" of models or idols? bust-waist-hips...
Society is a huge part of the problem as well as the solution, but as long as society dont really give a crap, nothing much is going to really change!
Maria
Clearly, some guys just don't know when they're not wanted; nor what is inappropriate behaviour for the workplace; nor what consensual flirting is; nor the difference between someone being attracted to them, and someone who is just being polite and/or tolerating your bs for fear of being hassled even worse.
Jonathan Prin
Different times, different cultures.
The woman could stand up for her rights. Good.
Still. No man would have won such a case against his male boss right after graduation in similar case, where sexual references would just not appear.
You are not greatly skilled with little experience in Japan and usually speaking around the world right after graduation.
It is harder for a lady to fight males because she is just barred from getting angry emotionnally in Japan. That is all.
Seek help to people who can help, only useful tip.
Fouxdefa
Kniknaknokkaer
Maybe I should have been clearer. Of course what is on TV is consensual (I hope) since it's all scripted and even members of the public that appear have been briefed on and agree to what's going to happen.
But it's just not always presented that way. It's the way the sexual comments, comments about marital status, etc. come out even in the discussion of unrelated topics and programming--it's that reinforcement of a stereotype that's unhelpful.
The stereotype I mean is that women (no matter the original conversation topic, no matter their role on the program) are automatically objects for men to look at in a sexual manner and judge accordingly ("pretty" characters get flirty comments, "ugly" characters get sarcastic ones; no female character goes without some kind of comment about her looks), and that their marital status is a much more important part of their identity than it is for a man, and that men may verbalize/tease/act on all these things without opprobrium.
Is TV an influence or a barometer of social mores? Either way, it is not challenging these stereotypes ripe for abuse that are alive and well in the minds of too many Tarous, but rather encourages them.