Ian W. Kamp

Bishounen – Male character in Anime and Manga with strong female appearance characteristics. – “Delicate, Cute, and Refined”

Yaoi – Anime or Manga dealing with sexual attraction between two males. Usually one character is Bishounen

Yuri – Anime or Manga dealing with sexual attraction between two females.

Shoujou – Manga and Anime marketed toward women

Shounen – Manga and Anime marketed toward men

Shounen-AI – Manga and Anime dealing with relationship between males. Less sexual content than “yaoi”

Manga and Anime Female Stereotypes

Generally, in Manga and Japanese Animation you will see these three types of stereotypes. Traits are often amplified.

Leader – Often takes typical “male” roles. Very assertive.

Reserved / Subservient Type – Very traditional in typical female roles.

Hyper Girl Type – Immature and always jumpy. Usually young.

Anime and Manga as Anti-Feminist – Women always have specific stereotypes. Animators often portray women as sex objects (panty shots, big breasts, etc.)

Anime / Manga as Pro-Femenist – Women are often in position of power, Not so much “Damsel in Distress” stereotype.

Sources -

http://www.ex.org/2.8/45-essay_sterotypes.html

http://www.awn.com/mag/issue1.5/articles/goslingcult1.5.html

http://animeworld.com/essays/feminism.html

http://www.naughtykitty.org/shoujo.html

Feminism in Japan
Eryka Thorley
and
Alonzo Antonucci

The Progression of Herstory
To organize the now-voting women of Japan (1945), the Ministry of Labor created the Women’s Bureau in 1947.
Modifications to the constitution after WWII. Article 9,14,24.
1975 was declared the International Year for Women by the United Nations. (CEDAW)
Equal Employment Opportunity Law (EEOL) of 1985 was created to “eliminate all forms of discrimination against women.”

Pre 1970’s Feminism in Japan
Women found themselves associating with the politics of the New Left after WWII.
The US-Japan Security Treaty of 1960, radical student activism, anti-Vietnam protests, and environmental concerns roused the action and interests of Japanese women in the 1960’s.
Militaristic response to protests with the death of Kamba Michiko and numerous others in anti-war demonstrations.
Women became disillusioned with the duty of supporting their male counterparts along with their marginal duties within these social movements.
Japanese women slowly became disenfranchised with the New Left and began seeking their own place within policy and action.

“As for us women, who are objects of men’s sexual desire, we maintain the ie (household) which, for the State, serves as a stage for children, and functions to bind men to the system, and through our unpaid labor we also indirectly support the interests of capital. Thus as for our liberation as women, it must be a liberation of Eros, which means a reform of our stream of consciousness that denies our sex, and by regarding children as the children of society, we call the struggle that of childcare laborers, and we direct our movement towards the dismantling of the ie (and in the process we will take up the issue of abortion and sexual diseases).”

1970’s Feminism
The Women’s Liberation Movement was stimulated by Western Feminism, yet was very uniquely Japanese.
Women’s Lib groups joined together to discuss and unite women on a traditionally divided front.
They discussed sexism, racism, environmentalism, the family system along with its connection to government, sexual crimes along with numerous other issues.
1970’s Feminism
The Eugenic Protection Law revision in 1970. (1948)
Attempt to tighten the previous policies regarding abortion which allowed women the right to an abortion based on economic reasons.
The revision attempted to cut economics from the equation.
It did not pass.
Environmentalism is a female dominated issue in Japan stemming from their typical gendered roles of protector of the family, children, and nature. (Ecofeminism)
At one time Japan was considered the most polluted country in the world. (Mercury poisoning in Minamata)
Many newspapers, magazines, and translations were published by women throughout Japan to spread information and ideals regarding the Women’s Lib Movement.

“Modern Japan, it may be argued, is less homophobic than most Western societies.” (Leupp, 201)Japan has no laws against homosexuality; there are no references to sodomy on the books, and no specific anti-discrimination legislation.
“There remains no place in Japanese society for the exclusively gay or lesbian individual who is unwilling or unable to sublimate his or her sexual identity and pursue the charade of marriage.” (“Lesbian”)

The Beautiful Way: The Roots of Homosexuality in Japan
http://www.geocities.com/bjcjapan/roots.html
Japanese gay slang
Bian (ビアン)
Rezubian is a transliteration, and bian a contraction, of the English word lesbian. Unlike the similar word rezu (see below), bian is commonly used only by lesbians to describe themselves and others, akin to the use of the word “dyke” in modern America, as rezu is used occasionally as a pejorative and frequently by popular non-lesbian media.
Futsū (普通) Literally “normal”: heterosexual, a heterosexual person.
Onabe (お鍋, おなべ) Literally “a pot,” this word refers to lesbians or occasionally to female cross-dressers. Often pejorative.

The Gay and Lesbian Sex Tourism
Utopia Guide to Japan (2nd Edition):The Gay and Lesbian Scene in 27 Cities Including Tokyo, Kyoto and Nagoya

Male Geisha’sThe woman, a successful executive, has joined a growing number of professional women in Japan are forking out $1,000 to $50,000 a night for male companionship.They meet their “hosts” in hundreds of clubs that have sprung up around Tokyo – the industry says only compliments are exchanged. The women pay for a man to lavish them with undivided attention.”There’s nothing wrong with a woman paying to be entertained by a man,” one female client says. “It’s just another step in equality.”
“I give women things that men normally don’t do, like complimenting their appearance,” says one host, 24-year-old Yunosuke, who only goes by his single host name. “I make women happy.”
And they make him happy: Yunosuke says he earned more than $200,000 last year, enough to let him visit a salon once a day to have his hair dyed and blow-dried.
“Women see us as one of their accessories,” he says. “They like to wear nice things, so I try to look prettier for them all the time.”
What drives the business boom is an increase in the earning power of Japanese women, according to Air Group, It’s a dizzying reversal of traditional gender roles in a country long known for geishas pampering male clients with conversation, singing and dancing. Now a new breed of entertainer has cropped up — think of them as male geishas.
a company that owns a chain of “host” clubs.

Correlation of Feminism and Anime
There is clear evidence among both men and women, that the role of women in Japan is no longer the traditional housewife/mother25. Surveys by the Prime Minister’s Office in 1987 and 1995 demonstrate the shift in public opinion of women by both sexes.

While in 1987 over 50% of the men surveyed agreed with the traditional role of women in Japan, by 1995 the percentage had dropped to 33%26. Interestingly, observing the state of Japanese animation over the past decade or so reveals a relative parallel between the content of Japanese. However animation and these results.

Divorce rate? 14.5% (U.S. rate is 47%)

Percent of marriages that are arranged: 15%

Number 2 reason that Japanese women seek divorce: domestic violence. (Incompatible personalities is the number one reason)

Whereas 87% of American women think being in love is necessary for a good marriage, only 68% of Japanese women think it is needed.

Number of Japanese women in the work force in 1996: 27 million (41% of the total labor force). Percent that are managers: about 1%. % of working males that are managers: 6.6%. % of women managers in the U.S. in the same year: 43%. (Source:

Kimono in the Boardroom: The Invisible Evolution of Japanese Women Managers, 1999
There is clear evidence among both men and women, that the role of women in Japan is no longer the traditionalhousewife/mother25. Surveys by the Prime Minister’s Office in 1987 and 1995 demonstratethe shift in public opinion of women by both sexes. While in 1987 over 50% of the mensurveyed agreed with the traditional role of women in Japan, by 1995 the percentage haddropped to 33%26. Interestingly, observing the state of Japanese animation over the pastdecade or so reveals a relative parallel between the content of Japanese However animation and theseresults.

www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/essay/files/SeanBoden_WomenandAnime.pdf
Women and Anime: Popular Culture and its Reflection of Japanese Society
Battle Athletes: Anime
Earth’s greatest title is to be that of the Cosmo Beauty – the ultimate female athlete.

Kickboxing Geishas: How Modern Japanese Women Are Changing their Countryby Veronica ChambersForget the stereotypes. Today’s Japanese women are shattering them — breaking the bonds of tradition and dramatically transforming their culture. Shopping-crazed schoolgirls in Hello Kitty costumes and the Harajuku girls Gwen Stefani helped make so popular have grabbed the media’s attention. But as critically acclaimed author Veronica Chambers has discovered through years of returning to Japan and interviewing Japanese women, the more interesting story is that of the legions of everyday women — from the office suites to radio and TV studios to the worlds of art and fashion and on to the halls of government — who have kicked off a revolution in their country.

http://www.globecorner.com/t/t44/22234.php

Japanese Women’s WrestlingThe Crush Gals were formed in the early 1980s, Nagayo and Asuka qucikly became by far the most popular women’s tag team since the Beauty Pair in the 1970’s, and possibly the most popular ever. They drew huge crowds of teenage girls for their wars with Dump Matsumoto, a large woman who naturally was a heel, and arguably the best heel of all time.
Women in Japanese SportsHomare Sawa- Japanese women’s soccer star
Japanese Women’s National Team Member, Member of the Atlanta Beat, World All-Star Player 1999 In Homare’s first Women’s World Cup in 1995 she was only 16 years old and after October of 2003, she will have competed in 3 Women’s World Cups. As a member of the Atlanta Beat Coach Tom Stone says of Homare, “Sawa might possibly be the most talented player the Beat has seen in its short history. She excels in every aspect of the game.” ”I enjoy the technical aspects of soccer and take pride in my skill level. Full90 only adds to my confidence and provides me with the added protection that will enable me to have a long, successful career.”
Feminism Today
Greater overall gender equality. New space for “being a woman.”
Male Geishas
Lesbianism and the break down of traditional sexual stereotypes.
Larger number of female within the work force along with a reduced birth rate and a greater number of single women.
Less patriarchy
within the family
structure and
government, although
there is still much to
accomplish for
total equality.

Marriage in Japan

• Traditional
• Modern
• Western

Traditional

• Typically, only the male works outside the home, while housekeeping, cooking, raising the children, etc. is reserved for the wife.
• The most important time for a housewife is “giving birth.”
• The eldest son is viewed as the future keeper of the house.

Modern

• Marriages are chosen by the couple rather than arranged by the parents. Women have more power in the home, are able to socialize more, can file for divorce, and can even have an occupation.
• However, in most cases, the wives will still stay at home and care for children and the home, while the husband works all day to provide for his family.

Western

• The term “Housewife” is almost non-existent. Both the husband and wife will partake in household chores, including cooking and cleaning.
• Both the husband and wife may have occupations.
• Fathers will usually play a larger role in the raising of the children compared to the Traditional or Modern husband.

Problems with Marriage

• Wives often complain about how house-trained their husbands are NOT.
• Wives often have to wake up early to make breakfast for their husbands, and stay up late to make dinner for when they return home.
• Sean McAllister stated “the women are accused of hanging around cafes with each other moaning about being bored… the husbands are accused of never being there, of always being tired.”
• Many single women actually think that the husband in a marriage has it hard, while the wife gets off easy.
• Many wives consider marriage a “duty,” often being loveless and sexless. Often, the wife will find out that their husband has a mistress, but will not challenge him.

Divorce

• Much more accepted now than 50 years ago.
• Wives often wait to file for divorce until all of the children have left the home and finished college, in order to prevent any negative effect on the offspring.
• Wives will now wait for husbands to receive their pension checks, then divorce and take half of the money.

Sources

http://tenfootfilms.blogspot.com/

http://www.asij.ac.jp/middle/ac/ss/8ah/hypertokyo/1999/p3e/tomoyo2.htm

(Jesse Pitstick and Matt York have their own sources and their own material)

This is where Josh talked about why the Japanese soldiers were willing to commit such acts and how the women are coping with it today.