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Japan is a nation where, unfortunately, sexual harassment like groping and stalking is almost a daily feature in the news. While there are some measures to prevent acts like these from happening, there are surely some that think it’s just not enough.
One of Kyoto University’s off-campus student housing facilities, the Kumano Dorm, has decided to take initiative in this front by laying it out for students that apply to live in the building. Twitter user @tai_kai_sha uploaded an excerpt of these seven guidelines of “how not to commit sexual harassment”.
▼ It even goes into specifics on how to treat people in general.
Here are the main points of each article:
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Do not touch someone else’s body.
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Don’t make dirty jokes or tell dirty stories in public spaces.
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Don’t make judgmental statements about someone’s appearance or personal lifestyle.
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Don’t compartmentalize behavior by gender, such as saying “girls are like this/boys are like this”.
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Don’t assume that someone isn’t or won’t get angry.
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Don’t automatically assume that every college student should have a significant other.
- If someone criticizes your behavior, it doesn’t matter what your intentions were. Listen to what they have to say first.
Not surprisingly at all, this advice resonated with netizens, with many saying that they wish these rules were posted in other areas of life (especially offices).
“This is amazing! Like, ‘it should be distributed in all industries’ amazing.”
“I love how this also mentions ‘it’s also not okay to compliment someone’s appearance’. No matter how beautiful they may be, there are a lot of men that don’t understand how humiliating it can be to be sexually objectified. It’s the same across all genders.”
“When I read this, it really took some weight off my chest. I thought, ‘So that time I didn’t like what was done to me really was power harassment. I wasn’t mistaken. I should have more confidence in the fact that it wasn’t my fault.’ I feel strangely happy now. Thank you for sharing this.”
Thanks to @tai_kai_sha, many more people than just new dorm students now have access to this valuable life advice.
Sources: Twitter/@tai_kai_sha via Hachima Kiko
Read more stories from SoraNews24.
-- Japanese company’s sexual harassment seminar has a brutally honest opening exercise
-- Leadership does nothing despite public harassment of Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly member
-- “Women who attract chikan, and women who don’t”: The illustrated guide that’s provoking debate
- External Link
- https://soranews24.com/2020/03/14/kyoto-university-dorm-pamphlet-advises-residents-on-how-not-to-commit-sexual-harassment/
20 Comments
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girl_in_tokyo
Thank you so much for your advice! I really need a man to tell me, a woman, how to react to misogynists online. Your input is valuable, and I will immediately stop being sarcastic. Instead I will stay completely quiet, and I'll let the men, who are so much smarter and have so much more experience in dealing with misogyny, take care of it themselves. I am sure none of their commentary will be self-serving excuses or victim blaming. I totally trust them to say all the right things. Again, thanks!
Concerned Citizen
Sexual harassment has been a serious problem in Japan and elsewhere and ought to be addressed. I'm glad to see that happening. Many men, especially, need to get the message that certain behaviors and words are out of line.
I don't want to see things go overboard though, which seems to be happening. Neither do I want to see men confused about what they cannot say and do. In my workplace, where I am usually the only man with several women it seems they are free to lightly touch me, call me handsome (don't know why) etc, but I never do or say those things to them lest I get trouble. It's a double standard I have to live with. I make it a point to never be alone with any one of them either.
While generally it is men that tend to sexually harass, many women are not angels either. How about the gold diggers and gossips? There are many women who judge men by their appearance, social status and wealth. Is this not discouraging for men who lack in these areas?
Recent angst between the sexes has been very sad to see and seems to be driving us further apart than closer together. We are all fallible humans and ought to admit it and try to improve, both men and women. More mutual respect and co-operation needed.
girl_in_tokyo
Right on!! How dare women have the temerity to think they can tap a man on the arm when talking with him?! That’s exactly the same as the men who give a fake massage as an excuse to.touch a woman’s shoulders, or staring directly at a woman’s breasts.
Wow. How can women claim they’re being sexually harassed in the workplace when they do the same thing to men by sexually tapping on men’s’ arms?
The Original Wing
This one's a bit odd to me. Why would anyone make that assumption? Never heard of this being problematic before.
Raw Beer
... but according to #7, if you make such statements you should still be listened to!
starpunk
A lot of this is plain common sense. Body-shaming and telling dirty jokes/stories in public only shows a person's lack of maturity. It highlights their total lack of maturity.
shallots
Hmm...#4 is a little iffy. How is “gender” in Japanese? If you’re talking about “sex,” then I doubt you could complete a medical degree with this restriction. I suppose if “gender” is very clearly referring to a social construct, it might do. Yet, can’t we talk about it? Can’t we discuss it?
lucabrasi
@Burning
Such is the price you pay for being irresistible beyond words ; )
firefox
@that persion
Are you being sarcastic to assume @Girl is sarcastic?
I think being sarcastic makes things so easy to understand.
I wish every comment was sarcastic. It makes things so easy for everyone (both native and non-native English speakers).
that person
@Girl_in_tokyo
im assuming you’re being sarcastic. Please clarify
girl_in_tokyo
I agree. Men should be able to compliment women on how sexy they are at any time. It is not fair if women get angry about this. They should just be happy that a man finds them attractive, right? After all, women live for men's approval, right? What else would we want out of life, if not to be attractive to all men, everywhere, at all times?