2011, this is a generation called gender equality which means men and women are equal in society. In fact, many developed countries have some improvement such as equal employment opportunity. It is not perfect yet, however, it is true that many countries in the world are trying to make a better society for women. Now, we need to make change of the women's rights in developing countries. In the last post of the blog, I would like to explore what makes women's rights improve for the better.
Equal education is especially important in developing countries. Having the same and equal education between boy and girl makes possibility of equal job employment. In other word, women will be treated better in society. According to the book "Half the Sky", unequal education in developing countries causes very serious problem in job employment.
In the first world such as the US and Japan, we have very high literacy rate. That helps people especially women have better working environment. However, women have totally low literacy rate in the third world. That makes women in the third world work as cleaning lady, nannies, and sometimes sex workers. Women in the third world should have high literacy rate by offering equal education opportunity.
The most important thing is the support from men. Men are not supposed to make women over work because of any reason. In many developing countries, single mothers, poverty, and luck of fathering is very serious problem. At this point, men (ex-husband) are supposed to help women and children somehow such as giving children support.
There are many brave women in the world like Mukhtar Mai and Greg Mortenson according to the "Half the Sky". They fight for the women's rights and also they built school for girls. I hope more children in developing countries have better job opportunities and bright future.
In the end, "Half the Sky, turning oppression into opportunity for women worldwide" is one of my favorite books for women's rights. There are many stories of brave women who made change. I recommend everybody to read it!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Adapted Children
As a Japanese student, one of the differences I often feel in America is that there are many adapted children compared to my country. In Japan, I hardly ever hear about adapted children. However, I realized that America has more complicated family situation. Adapted children system is good thing at the same time because that gurantees rights of women who is having hard time being pregnant because of their body problems and so on.
I have some examples for this. One of my friends is adapted when she was a little. She said she does not even remember the real parents. However, it seems like she was raised with so much affection from her parents who adapted her. I know some parents who adapted children even from overseas such as China and Russia. I respect people who adapt chidren because I cannot believe I will accept other children as part of my family in the future. However, I also consider I do want to have children when I get married. I will be sad if I cannot be pregnant, so I would like to adapt children at that time.
I think this is great thing because it guarantees both women's rights as having children and children's rights as having parents. There are still many children who do not have parents and have so many problems such as luck of education and eating habits. I hope adapting children will be common in many countries in the world so that guarantees rights of women and children.
I have some examples for this. One of my friends is adapted when she was a little. She said she does not even remember the real parents. However, it seems like she was raised with so much affection from her parents who adapted her. I know some parents who adapted children even from overseas such as China and Russia. I respect people who adapt chidren because I cannot believe I will accept other children as part of my family in the future. However, I also consider I do want to have children when I get married. I will be sad if I cannot be pregnant, so I would like to adapt children at that time.
I think this is great thing because it guarantees both women's rights as having children and children's rights as having parents. There are still many children who do not have parents and have so many problems such as luck of education and eating habits. I hope adapting children will be common in many countries in the world so that guarantees rights of women and children.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Sex Education
Even though sex outside the marriage has been getting common in many countries, it seems like sex education is still not well organized yet in some of the countries. I wonder where young people get the right information about sex. Well, sex education should be for the better because that would absolutely prevent unexpected pregnancy and disease.
We had group presentation about sex education and teen pregnancy in one of the classes the other day. During the presentation, one of the students asked me "What's the difference of sex education between Japanese and America?" As a Japanese who is living and studying in America, I have two perspectives, Japanese and American. I usually use both of the lens when I think about something. However, I could not come up with any idea of Japanese sex education at that moment.
I remember that my class room teacher talked about the period for girls when I was in elementary school. However, we did not have opportunities to talk about sex or sexuality that much. I realized that America is more open about talking about those things since I came here. Now, I consider that we have the right to know about it as human being.
It was very nice opportunity that I was able to participate one of the women's studies event called "I Love Female Orgasm". That gave audience to talk and share about sex openly. I believe that this is very important because that gives us chance to share the right information. We should not be shy about it because I realized that it is part of our lives as human being.
I hope more countries will openly have better sex education, so young people would know the right information and that prevents unexpected pregnancy and disease, too. We just have to know we have the right to know it.
We had group presentation about sex education and teen pregnancy in one of the classes the other day. During the presentation, one of the students asked me "What's the difference of sex education between Japanese and America?" As a Japanese who is living and studying in America, I have two perspectives, Japanese and American. I usually use both of the lens when I think about something. However, I could not come up with any idea of Japanese sex education at that moment.
I remember that my class room teacher talked about the period for girls when I was in elementary school. However, we did not have opportunities to talk about sex or sexuality that much. I realized that America is more open about talking about those things since I came here. Now, I consider that we have the right to know about it as human being.
It was very nice opportunity that I was able to participate one of the women's studies event called "I Love Female Orgasm". That gave audience to talk and share about sex openly. I believe that this is very important because that gives us chance to share the right information. We should not be shy about it because I realized that it is part of our lives as human being.
I hope more countries will openly have better sex education, so young people would know the right information and that prevents unexpected pregnancy and disease, too. We just have to know we have the right to know it.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Cheap labor
As I mentioned one of my posts before, many women in developing countries have been having huge problems as cheap labors. I heard story of nannies, sex workers, and workers in the factories. In the first world, people would think that eating, working, and having at least needed things for lives without almost any problems is common thing. People also think that environment they are living in is comfortable such as house, water, air, and more. However, it seems like it would be different in the developing countries.
In the past post, I talked about the nannies and sex workers. Unfortunately, it seems like there are still so many women who work as nannies, and sex workers. I am shocked mainly because there are more women who work as cheap labors compared to men. Especially single mothers, for example, they cannot help working outside their countries or in bad working environment.
When people talk about single mothers working hard for their children, I always wonder "it is luck of fathering" and "where do their father doing?". It is very sad there are many fathers who do not care about their children any more after divorce.
I think every country has to have at least some children support. Otherwise, we cannnot solve those serious problems. In Sweden, all fathers are forced to pay some children support after divorce. If the mothers did not know who the fathers of the children are because of the rape and some other reasons, the fathers will be found by DNA. This helps children of Sweden a lot. I believe that fathers should have responsibilities, too.
I hope more mothers have more time to spend time with their children and have good working environment in the near future.
In the past post, I talked about the nannies and sex workers. Unfortunately, it seems like there are still so many women who work as nannies, and sex workers. I am shocked mainly because there are more women who work as cheap labors compared to men. Especially single mothers, for example, they cannot help working outside their countries or in bad working environment.
When people talk about single mothers working hard for their children, I always wonder "it is luck of fathering" and "where do their father doing?". It is very sad there are many fathers who do not care about their children any more after divorce.
I think every country has to have at least some children support. Otherwise, we cannnot solve those serious problems. In Sweden, all fathers are forced to pay some children support after divorce. If the mothers did not know who the fathers of the children are because of the rape and some other reasons, the fathers will be found by DNA. This helps children of Sweden a lot. I believe that fathers should have responsibilities, too.
I hope more mothers have more time to spend time with their children and have good working environment in the near future.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Cannot work without college degree?
These days, I often hear people cannot get better job without college degree. Especially when people talk about people in the sex industry, they say "people who work for the sex industry do not have opportunity to work in the other fields because they only have high school degree or even drop out of high school. I would think they are mainly talk about women who work in the industry. However, I believe that people who do not have college degree should not be treated that way.
Of course, people who have college degree have to be treated special when they get job because they might have better skills compared to people who have never had college education. However, that does not mean people who only have high school degree or drop out of high school only have chance to work for sex industry. I think this is one of the discrimination against women.
I actually have never heard people talking about men who do not have college degree have to work for the sex industry. I assume men's rights are always respected compared to women. Women's rights should be respected as men.
In Japan, for instance, people could never write "men are required for this job" any more. People try to respect women's job opportunity, too. Even though people try something to make women's job opportunity better, it is still hard to have equal society for women. But it is getting better is sure thing.
In Sweden, people treat the part time workers as same as full time workers. This means companies offer the same insurance system and holidays for part time workers who are usually women.
I hope women's job opportunity will be respected and be better in the future.
Of course, people who have college degree have to be treated special when they get job because they might have better skills compared to people who have never had college education. However, that does not mean people who only have high school degree or drop out of high school only have chance to work for sex industry. I think this is one of the discrimination against women.
I actually have never heard people talking about men who do not have college degree have to work for the sex industry. I assume men's rights are always respected compared to women. Women's rights should be respected as men.
In Japan, for instance, people could never write "men are required for this job" any more. People try to respect women's job opportunity, too. Even though people try something to make women's job opportunity better, it is still hard to have equal society for women. But it is getting better is sure thing.
In Sweden, people treat the part time workers as same as full time workers. This means companies offer the same insurance system and holidays for part time workers who are usually women.
I hope women's job opportunity will be respected and be better in the future.
High divorce rate and many step family situation in the US
In the class, I learned about 50 % of the US partents end up with divorce. I was very surprised at this fact because I was burn and raised in Japan and I would say Japan is the country which has one of the lowest divorce rates in the world. ( It is changing,but it used to be.) When I was a small child, all my friends have both parents, father and mother. I thought it is very natural thing to have both parents from the environment I had. However, I started to realize that having single father or mother is not rare thing any more since I started studying in America.
United States has high marrige rate, divorce rate, and re-marrige rate. I was very surprised at knowing the family situations of my friends and classmates here because many people are in the step family situation or single parent situation. According to the textbook, it says about the half of Americans today are step family situation. This means US has very high divorce rate.
I wonder if divorce gives children bad influence. It must be hard for children to accept step family situation. Here, I would suggest US has to have new policy about divorce such as parents have to be together at least children become 16.
Italy is also one of the countries which has low divorce rate because divorce was not allowed until 1970. In addtion, there are many Catholic in Italy. Still, people in Italy have to have 2 years consideration time if people want to get divorce. Those lows prevents divorce, too.
countries which have high divorce rates like the US should have at least good children support for children of single fathers or single mothers. Otherwise, children could not have fair education. I would think all children have to have at least college education like Sweden. if they want to.
United States has high marrige rate, divorce rate, and re-marrige rate. I was very surprised at knowing the family situations of my friends and classmates here because many people are in the step family situation or single parent situation. According to the textbook, it says about the half of Americans today are step family situation. This means US has very high divorce rate.
I wonder if divorce gives children bad influence. It must be hard for children to accept step family situation. Here, I would suggest US has to have new policy about divorce such as parents have to be together at least children become 16.
Italy is also one of the countries which has low divorce rate because divorce was not allowed until 1970. In addtion, there are many Catholic in Italy. Still, people in Italy have to have 2 years consideration time if people want to get divorce. Those lows prevents divorce, too.
countries which have high divorce rates like the US should have at least good children support for children of single fathers or single mothers. Otherwise, children could not have fair education. I would think all children have to have at least college education like Sweden. if they want to.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Women's rights in Sweden
Last semester, I learned many women's situation in developing countries in my women's studies class 395. I was very sad to know many single mothers in the world are facing some difficulties such as working in the first world far away from their children, no support from their ex-husbands, and many more problems. Today, I was reading an article from government about family situation and women's rights in Sweden. Then I started to get interested in it.
In Sweden, one fourth of children under 18 have only single fathers or single mothers. It is considered most of them live with their mothers. Divorce is not too common in Sweden. However, Sweden has system of "Sambo" which means unmarried couples can have children and live together just like normal family does. It is considered this Sambo system is process to marriage. However, sometimes Sambo couples break up. So, there are many children who only have single mothers.
In this situation, however, children in Sweden can get good supports. For instance, their father is forced to pay the children support every month. This is guranteed right after divorce or breaking up of Sambo relations. Therefore, children can get at least some support from their fathers. If the fathers did not have ability to pay, the government helps to pay. Therefore, children and mothers would not be worry about life too much.
In addition to the children support from the fathers, Sweden government offers apartment or house support. This would often happen to people who have low incomes and many children. The government will help to pay about 50 percent of the rent or loan.
One more thing I was especially interested in is education. People in Sweden can have free education in public school untill graduate school. This means everybody has rights to have education equally. Many people in the world give up going to college or graduate school because of the economical reason. Especially, more children who have single mothers have to give up the college education compared to children who have parents. This is also support for the single mothers.
I think Sweden has a great society for children and women. I have heard the country has good system for old people, too. I hope more countries have the society like Sweden so women have more rights to spend with their children without working far away from their children. It is very hard to change the society individually, however, many countries can try by looking at the model like Sweden. I hope more happiness and comfortable society for children and women in the future.
In Sweden, one fourth of children under 18 have only single fathers or single mothers. It is considered most of them live with their mothers. Divorce is not too common in Sweden. However, Sweden has system of "Sambo" which means unmarried couples can have children and live together just like normal family does. It is considered this Sambo system is process to marriage. However, sometimes Sambo couples break up. So, there are many children who only have single mothers.
In this situation, however, children in Sweden can get good supports. For instance, their father is forced to pay the children support every month. This is guranteed right after divorce or breaking up of Sambo relations. Therefore, children can get at least some support from their fathers. If the fathers did not have ability to pay, the government helps to pay. Therefore, children and mothers would not be worry about life too much.
In addition to the children support from the fathers, Sweden government offers apartment or house support. This would often happen to people who have low incomes and many children. The government will help to pay about 50 percent of the rent or loan.
One more thing I was especially interested in is education. People in Sweden can have free education in public school untill graduate school. This means everybody has rights to have education equally. Many people in the world give up going to college or graduate school because of the economical reason. Especially, more children who have single mothers have to give up the college education compared to children who have parents. This is also support for the single mothers.
I think Sweden has a great society for children and women. I have heard the country has good system for old people, too. I hope more countries have the society like Sweden so women have more rights to spend with their children without working far away from their children. It is very hard to change the society individually, however, many countries can try by looking at the model like Sweden. I hope more happiness and comfortable society for children and women in the future.
Pregnancy and Education
The famous American TV show "Teen Mom" shows us reality of teen mom in America. This TV program is very popular especially among college students. Students often talk about this program in many places. Then, I started to think that teen pregnancy could be related with their education. I found a very interesting web site about the relationships between teen mom and their education.
According to the website teenpregnancy.org, "about half (51%) of teen moms have a high school diploma compared to 89 % of women who did not have a teen birth." It also says that young teen mothers are even less likely to graduate from high school. I think this could be a huge problem because without having high school education causes many difficulties for teen moms. For instance, they would have hard time to get jobs, and they have possibility not to raise their children well compared to people who have high school education and college degree.
It also talks about the children of teen moms. It says "Children of teen mothers are more likely than mothers who have birth at age 20-21 to drop out of high school. In fact, only about two-thirds of children born to teen mothers earned a high school diploma compared to 81 percent of children of later childbearers." This is also problem because many children of teen moms have tendency to drop out high school and not do well in society.
This article reminds me of the newspaper I read a couple years ago. It says Japanese students who drop out high school have tendency to work as sex workers because they usually have no place to work and Japanese sex industry is one of the big industries in Japan. It makes a lot of money, and it does not require high school and college degree. I was very sad because Japanese education has very good quality, and we have free high school education in public high school.
Teen pregnancy would cause some problems not only for mothers, but also children. I believe people should have at least high school education to be a member of society. This website also says that teens who had high school education are less likely to get pregnant. Attending college and get more education is associated with a lower risk of pregnancy, too. We need to think about this problem for the future. I hope many children will have bright future.
According to the website teenpregnancy.org, "about half (51%) of teen moms have a high school diploma compared to 89 % of women who did not have a teen birth." It also says that young teen mothers are even less likely to graduate from high school. I think this could be a huge problem because without having high school education causes many difficulties for teen moms. For instance, they would have hard time to get jobs, and they have possibility not to raise their children well compared to people who have high school education and college degree.
It also talks about the children of teen moms. It says "Children of teen mothers are more likely than mothers who have birth at age 20-21 to drop out of high school. In fact, only about two-thirds of children born to teen mothers earned a high school diploma compared to 81 percent of children of later childbearers." This is also problem because many children of teen moms have tendency to drop out high school and not do well in society.
This article reminds me of the newspaper I read a couple years ago. It says Japanese students who drop out high school have tendency to work as sex workers because they usually have no place to work and Japanese sex industry is one of the big industries in Japan. It makes a lot of money, and it does not require high school and college degree. I was very sad because Japanese education has very good quality, and we have free high school education in public high school.
Teen pregnancy would cause some problems not only for mothers, but also children. I believe people should have at least high school education to be a member of society. This website also says that teens who had high school education are less likely to get pregnant. Attending college and get more education is associated with a lower risk of pregnancy, too. We need to think about this problem for the future. I hope many children will have bright future.
Monday, April 4, 2011
fair trading
As I mentioned in this blog before, women's working environment in developing countries are not always good. I would like to talk about children's working environment, too because this could be social justice which is similar to women's studies topic.
I watched short documentary called "Dark side of chocolate" a couple of months ago. This documentary basically shows us children forced workers in some developing countries and their working environment. I was very shocked because there are many small children working in cacao farms. They are just like age 7 and forced to work in the low wages or even without wages. Those small children seem like there is no opportunities to get education. Therefore, they cannot write and read. They are just forced to work. Watch this video to know the real situation. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y882AajKo1s
I was not sure what I can do to help those children. However, I learned from the documentary that there is small thing what we could do to help those children. "Buy fair trade products" and "Pay attention to the products that you consume". The documentary was telling that because the groceries you are eating in general might have dark side even though you would not notice. For instance, the chocolate you are eating now might be cheap and that would be the reason you chose it. However, the chocolate might have produced by children workforce with low wages or without wages. Therefore, buying fair trade products helps working environment of children and women in developing countries.
If you want to be one of the members who make change the working environment in some developing countries, please find this mark at grocery stores. Small cooperation makes a big change. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhzPGWbJQHE
I watched short documentary called "Dark side of chocolate" a couple of months ago. This documentary basically shows us children forced workers in some developing countries and their working environment. I was very shocked because there are many small children working in cacao farms. They are just like age 7 and forced to work in the low wages or even without wages. Those small children seem like there is no opportunities to get education. Therefore, they cannot write and read. They are just forced to work. Watch this video to know the real situation. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y882AajKo1s
I was not sure what I can do to help those children. However, I learned from the documentary that there is small thing what we could do to help those children. "Buy fair trade products" and "Pay attention to the products that you consume". The documentary was telling that because the groceries you are eating in general might have dark side even though you would not notice. For instance, the chocolate you are eating now might be cheap and that would be the reason you chose it. However, the chocolate might have produced by children workforce with low wages or without wages. Therefore, buying fair trade products helps working environment of children and women in developing countries.
If you want to be one of the members who make change the working environment in some developing countries, please find this mark at grocery stores. Small cooperation makes a big change. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhzPGWbJQHE
Sunday, April 3, 2011
luck of masculine quality?
I have been talking about this title with my girl friends for a while. I realized Japanese men are getting feminine in these days compared to a decade or more years ago. I especially feel that since I live in America now so that I compared Japanese to Americans unconsciously.
One reason I can consider for this problem is that we do not have military service in Japan. Therefore, young men could be lazy in that way because they are always safe and they do not have to go to the hard trainings or wars. In Korea, for instance, young people are forced to go to military at least for two years. Of cource, many young men go to militalry in America, too. I am sure this makes young people strong both mentally and physically.
Another reason I could consider is Japanese economy. Since the economy is bad, Japanese men cannot do what they used to do. For instance, buy cars or treat girls. They could not do what they want and this would decrease the sexual desire since they do not have confident of themselves. Luck of confidence-this problem is very serious because the job getting situation of young people now is the worse ever. Many companies insist that they are luck of confident, let us hire students from other countries who are studying in Japan.
I found an interesting movie, The Rebound. I found the quality of Aram is similar to recent Japanese. I think it is rare to find guy's feminine quality in American movie, so I thought this is very interesting and easy to understand how most Japanese men are in 2011 since this movie might familiar for you. Please watch this movie. Here, I have introduction of The Rebound.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGyLFdzhw-c
One reason I can consider for this problem is that we do not have military service in Japan. Therefore, young men could be lazy in that way because they are always safe and they do not have to go to the hard trainings or wars. In Korea, for instance, young people are forced to go to military at least for two years. Of cource, many young men go to militalry in America, too. I am sure this makes young people strong both mentally and physically.
Another reason I could consider is Japanese economy. Since the economy is bad, Japanese men cannot do what they used to do. For instance, buy cars or treat girls. They could not do what they want and this would decrease the sexual desire since they do not have confident of themselves. Luck of confidence-this problem is very serious because the job getting situation of young people now is the worse ever. Many companies insist that they are luck of confident, let us hire students from other countries who are studying in Japan.
I found an interesting movie, The Rebound. I found the quality of Aram is similar to recent Japanese. I think it is rare to find guy's feminine quality in American movie, so I thought this is very interesting and easy to understand how most Japanese men are in 2011 since this movie might familiar for you. Please watch this movie. Here, I have introduction of The Rebound.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGyLFdzhw-c
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Women's rights
In the last blog, I mentioned women's working environment in the world. Unfortunately, there is still bad condition in some developing countries. I found an interesting book to change women's working environment for the better.
Have you ever heard of the book "Half the Sky"? This would be very good book who is interested in women's rights. There are many stories about women who change the women's rights for the better. I especially like the story about Mukhtar Mai.
She is a woman from Pakistan. When she was young, she was a victim of the gang rape. She was very depressed after that and thought to suicide to cleanse herself and her family of the shame. However, she also thought it would happen again to other people if she did not fight for the women's rights. Then, she decided to report it to the police even though she did not want to talk about her sad experience.
After the attackers were arrested, she received money as compensation. She donated all the money for girl's education. By using those money, she had her first school for girls. Thanks for the school, more girls were able to get education. It increases girl's literacy rate. She believes in education and thinks education is most important thing that women have equal power as men.
Now, she got so many awards for women's right, and she has her own organization to make women's life comfortable.
There are a lot of wonderful story of brave women in this book, "Half the Sky". Have a look, and I am sure you will like it.
Have you ever heard of the book "Half the Sky"? This would be very good book who is interested in women's rights. There are many stories about women who change the women's rights for the better. I especially like the story about Mukhtar Mai.
She is a woman from Pakistan. When she was young, she was a victim of the gang rape. She was very depressed after that and thought to suicide to cleanse herself and her family of the shame. However, she also thought it would happen again to other people if she did not fight for the women's rights. Then, she decided to report it to the police even though she did not want to talk about her sad experience.
After the attackers were arrested, she received money as compensation. She donated all the money for girl's education. By using those money, she had her first school for girls. Thanks for the school, more girls were able to get education. It increases girl's literacy rate. She believes in education and thinks education is most important thing that women have equal power as men.
Now, she got so many awards for women's right, and she has her own organization to make women's life comfortable.
There are a lot of wonderful story of brave women in this book, "Half the Sky". Have a look, and I am sure you will like it.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Women's working environment in the world ~maids and sex workers~
I have talked in one of my blogs that more women started to get higher position at work these days. At the same time, however, it seems like there are still many problem of women's working environment in the world even though many people would think men and women are getting equal in society.
I found a interesting book called "Global Women" written by Barbara Ehrenreich and Arlie Russell Hochschild. This book basically talks about the third world women who work in the first world as nannies, maids and sex workers.
In many developing countries, women or mothers are forced to work in developed countries to feed their family. Most women are single mothers, and they would not have support from their ex-husbands. Therefore, women have to work outside the countries to feed their children and pay for education. Women who work as nannies, maids, and sex workers usually have bad working environment. For instance, their employers are very strict, and they are forced to over work. However, working in the first world still makes more money, so they were compelled to work far away from their family. Many children are having hard time without having their mothers.
I think those could be a problem because the third countries lose young women and mother's workforce and power, and that makes their economy even more worse. Moreover, children lose motherhood when they need it.
One solution I could consider is having better education in the third countries especially for girls. That helps to increase literacy rate of women, so women could have better and stable job in their own counties. More children hopefully will be their mothers when they are small. I hope there will be more smile in the third world in our near future.
I found a interesting book called "Global Women" written by Barbara Ehrenreich and Arlie Russell Hochschild. This book basically talks about the third world women who work in the first world as nannies, maids and sex workers.
In many developing countries, women or mothers are forced to work in developed countries to feed their family. Most women are single mothers, and they would not have support from their ex-husbands. Therefore, women have to work outside the countries to feed their children and pay for education. Women who work as nannies, maids, and sex workers usually have bad working environment. For instance, their employers are very strict, and they are forced to over work. However, working in the first world still makes more money, so they were compelled to work far away from their family. Many children are having hard time without having their mothers.
I think those could be a problem because the third countries lose young women and mother's workforce and power, and that makes their economy even more worse. Moreover, children lose motherhood when they need it.
One solution I could consider is having better education in the third countries especially for girls. That helps to increase literacy rate of women, so women could have better and stable job in their own counties. More children hopefully will be their mothers when they are small. I hope there will be more smile in the third world in our near future.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Feminism in music
We listen music almost everyday. I sometimes care what the singers say in the songs and I found some songs which have feminism message which means women's power and independent. Did you come up with any ideas? I have some examples that I thought there's feminist messages.
"Take a bow" by Rihanna would include feminist message because this song has very independent woman's message. It seems like she would never go back to the guy again and shows independent woman. If people were in this situation, many songs would be sad songs. This song, however, it tells us not weak woman, but strong. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3UjJ4wKLkg
I have one more example which is "I'm not missing you" by Stacie Orrico. This songs tells us independent woman, too. She used to be weak and rely on the boyfriend all the time. However, she started to be strong, more likely independent. I could tell she wants to be by herself since she is strong enough. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlLckjP337U
Music is always close to our life. We can listen almost every where even if you are not into it. Let's take one minite to think if there is a certain message in the song. You would probably find some gender messages or women's message in the songs.
"Take a bow" by Rihanna would include feminist message because this song has very independent woman's message. It seems like she would never go back to the guy again and shows independent woman. If people were in this situation, many songs would be sad songs. This song, however, it tells us not weak woman, but strong. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3UjJ4wKLkg
I have one more example which is "I'm not missing you" by Stacie Orrico. This songs tells us independent woman, too. She used to be weak and rely on the boyfriend all the time. However, she started to be strong, more likely independent. I could tell she wants to be by herself since she is strong enough. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlLckjP337U
Music is always close to our life. We can listen almost every where even if you are not into it. Let's take one minite to think if there is a certain message in the song. You would probably find some gender messages or women's message in the songs.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Women's power and feminism in Korean film
I just introduced two Gensha films in my last blog which shows women's power. As I mentioned in the last blog, Korean films started to show us more like that. Today, I would like to introduce one of my favorites "My Sassy Girl".
This is a story about Korean couple. The girl is very strong and her role is always active instead of passive. She always ask something to her boyfriend and makes him do it. There are a lot of interesting scene in this film. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKZn8CFnyQY&feature=related
I think this film is very female centered because the boyfriend just followed what the girl friend said. It is very interesting because there are many scenes she made him feel like "he has to follow" what she says. We can tell how she talks and act. I think this gril is very powerful, and this is the first film for me which made me feel women's power.
At the end of this film, however, we could actually see her feminine side at the same time. She had a will to see her boyfriend again even though she once said good bye to him.
through this film and a couple of other films, I realized that there might be a feminine side when the film shows strong women. This is one of the parts I thought interesting. What I thought one more thing is existence of those women's power's film means women started having more power compared to a decade ago. It is very interesting thing, too. I am interested in what the women in film would be like 10 years later.
This is a story about Korean couple. The girl is very strong and her role is always active instead of passive. She always ask something to her boyfriend and makes him do it. There are a lot of interesting scene in this film. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKZn8CFnyQY&feature=related
I think this film is very female centered because the boyfriend just followed what the girl friend said. It is very interesting because there are many scenes she made him feel like "he has to follow" what she says. We can tell how she talks and act. I think this gril is very powerful, and this is the first film for me which made me feel women's power.
At the end of this film, however, we could actually see her feminine side at the same time. She had a will to see her boyfriend again even though she once said good bye to him.
through this film and a couple of other films, I realized that there might be a feminine side when the film shows strong women. This is one of the parts I thought interesting. What I thought one more thing is existence of those women's power's film means women started having more power compared to a decade ago. It is very interesting thing, too. I am interested in what the women in film would be like 10 years later.
Feminism in the film
I recently realized that we can see feminism type of films more in Asian films. I know a lot of Korean films which shows us strong women. I felt those are very women centered film which used to be rare a decade ago. Today, however, I would like to introduce two of the Japanese cultural films which show us strong woman. I thought this film is interesting because we can see feminism and male gaze in one film.
The name of the film is "Sakuran". Basically, this is a story about Japanese Geisha. If you are not familiar with Geisha, I would say Geisha is Japanese proffesional entertainers trained in traditional dancing and music. They usually wear Japanese traditional clothes, Kimono. Even though this is a story of Japanese culture long time ago, we could still see strong women in this film.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRH_GYnx9IQ
This film also shows us Laura Mulvey's theory "Male gaze". Women are totally object of desire and many scenes are seen from men's perspective. Those beautiful outfits and makeup, and some erotic scenes. It is interesting because this film has gender message like women have power. Moreover, we could see the Male Gaze at the same time.
There are one more film which is similar with this film. It is called "Sayuri". This film also shows us Geisha culture. Therefore, you would see a lot of strong women characters in this film, too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWDdI9rFgWM
Sayuri is very interesting, too because this film basically shows Japanese Geisha culture, but the directer is an American who is from Madison, Wisconsin. It would be from different perspective compared to Sakuran since Sakuran has Japanese directer and Sayuri has American directer. But I am sure you will enjoy watching the strong women and Male Gaze in both films.
The name of the film is "Sakuran". Basically, this is a story about Japanese Geisha. If you are not familiar with Geisha, I would say Geisha is Japanese proffesional entertainers trained in traditional dancing and music. They usually wear Japanese traditional clothes, Kimono. Even though this is a story of Japanese culture long time ago, we could still see strong women in this film.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRH_GYnx9IQ
This film also shows us Laura Mulvey's theory "Male gaze". Women are totally object of desire and many scenes are seen from men's perspective. Those beautiful outfits and makeup, and some erotic scenes. It is interesting because this film has gender message like women have power. Moreover, we could see the Male Gaze at the same time.
There are one more film which is similar with this film. It is called "Sayuri". This film also shows us Geisha culture. Therefore, you would see a lot of strong women characters in this film, too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWDdI9rFgWM
Sayuri is very interesting, too because this film basically shows Japanese Geisha culture, but the directer is an American who is from Madison, Wisconsin. It would be from different perspective compared to Sakuran since Sakuran has Japanese directer and Sayuri has American directer. But I am sure you will enjoy watching the strong women and Male Gaze in both films.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Is appearance very important in society?
I am a woman who have been taught by my parents "intelligence and having some skill is very important when you get a job." They also said that "being pretty does not guarabtee entire life. It might be not true for some people, but it is very important to have some sort of skill for your future." Yes, I still think it is true. However, I have been feeling some "change" in these years.
I have interviewed some presidents of companies. I asked "what kind of people do you want to hire? or what kind of people are you looking for as your employees?" They answered "well, communication skill is very important because it is indispensable for any kind of job." I was surprised because I thought they would say how smart is important such as certain collage degree is needed or good greades from college is needed. Moreover, they mentioned that "appearance is very important because that gives customers good impression of the companies since now is a generation "the service industry."
I also found some examples or evidences from the textbook. There are a couple of examples, but what I thought imteresting for me was "China's cosmetic surgery craze" because it seems like height is socially important in China. For instance, people in China should have certain height to be a foreign ministry because they are expected to be tall to match the height of their foreign counterparts.
It was very interesting to find out that appearance is important especially in some occupations. I am sure the growth of service industries makes us require good appearance. This is true in 2011, but I still feel like improving ability is important.
I have interviewed some presidents of companies. I asked "what kind of people do you want to hire? or what kind of people are you looking for as your employees?" They answered "well, communication skill is very important because it is indispensable for any kind of job." I was surprised because I thought they would say how smart is important such as certain collage degree is needed or good greades from college is needed. Moreover, they mentioned that "appearance is very important because that gives customers good impression of the companies since now is a generation "the service industry."
I also found some examples or evidences from the textbook. There are a couple of examples, but what I thought imteresting for me was "China's cosmetic surgery craze" because it seems like height is socially important in China. For instance, people in China should have certain height to be a foreign ministry because they are expected to be tall to match the height of their foreign counterparts.
It was very interesting to find out that appearance is important especially in some occupations. I am sure the growth of service industries makes us require good appearance. This is true in 2011, but I still feel like improving ability is important.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
gender difference-in speech
"Hey, What's up?"
This is how my guy friends answer when I make phone call to them. As we all know how women and men talk is different, which we call feminine speech and masculine speech. As a woman, I was told how to talk by my parents very strictly. When I was a little child, I was not sure why they told me like "you have to talk like this way because you are a girl." Now, I started to understand why because it is one of the gender norms.
According to the text book, Women's Voices Feminist Visions, the difference how to talk shows the gender differences in status and power. It also says that features of women and men in speech. Women's speech, for instance, it is more polite, less profane, and uses more standard forms. What I think women and men in speech is we can often find it on the phone call. On the phone, how women and men talk is different not only for speech, but also pitch. Women usually use higher pitch.
In Japan, for instance, having feminine speech as women is considered very important. In many occasions in Japan, women have feminine speech such as restaurant's waitress, shop clerks, banks and so on. Very extreme example of this, for instance, young clerks at clothing shops use high pitch voice and say "hi, may I help you?" Sometimes, we see this on TV. Comedians pretend like young shop clerks and make fun of them.
Yes, masculinity and femininity means not only looks, but also gender performance. Sometimes, gender performance attracts people who is opposite sex. It is always close to our life in general.
This is how my guy friends answer when I make phone call to them. As we all know how women and men talk is different, which we call feminine speech and masculine speech. As a woman, I was told how to talk by my parents very strictly. When I was a little child, I was not sure why they told me like "you have to talk like this way because you are a girl." Now, I started to understand why because it is one of the gender norms.
According to the text book, Women's Voices Feminist Visions, the difference how to talk shows the gender differences in status and power. It also says that features of women and men in speech. Women's speech, for instance, it is more polite, less profane, and uses more standard forms. What I think women and men in speech is we can often find it on the phone call. On the phone, how women and men talk is different not only for speech, but also pitch. Women usually use higher pitch.
In Japan, for instance, having feminine speech as women is considered very important. In many occasions in Japan, women have feminine speech such as restaurant's waitress, shop clerks, banks and so on. Very extreme example of this, for instance, young clerks at clothing shops use high pitch voice and say "hi, may I help you?" Sometimes, we see this on TV. Comedians pretend like young shop clerks and make fun of them.
Yes, masculinity and femininity means not only looks, but also gender performance. Sometimes, gender performance attracts people who is opposite sex. It is always close to our life in general.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
is it getting women's dominant society?
In the last blog, I talked about women's change which means women are getting more opportunities in society. Yes, this might be true in many places in the world because many women started to get higher position at work or even run business. According to the Toyo Economy Inc Japan, many women in the world became president of the big companies in 2010 compare to 10 years ago. For instance, 44% of women occupy presidents in big companies in Norway, and 15.2% in the US.
So now, what men have to do? Are they still in the same situation which they used to be? Do they still keep to work and say 'women should be at home and do house work.'?
My mother called me this morning and said one of her men coworkers will take paid off for baby time. Yes, this means not only us, but also society knows that women and men's change such as more women have better job. Therefore, 'paid off for baby system' for men would probably mean 'gender norm's change' which means men or fathers have to take care of their children more than they used to do instead of women or mothers.
Moreover, I heard from one of my friends that her mother earns more than her father since her mother is a CEO of a big company. We can tell gender norms are getting different from several years ago. We are not in a period of typical and traditional gender norms. According to the article 'The End of Men', in 1970, women contributed 2 to 6 percent of the family in come which is few. Now, however, women contribute 42.2 percent of the family in come. Moreover, four in ten mothers are the primary breadwinners in their families.
Women's opportunities in society has changed which means change of men's role in society at the same time. We are in a generation more men are taking care of their children instead of working. The gender role we used to have is changing.
So now, what men have to do? Are they still in the same situation which they used to be? Do they still keep to work and say 'women should be at home and do house work.'?
My mother called me this morning and said one of her men coworkers will take paid off for baby time. Yes, this means not only us, but also society knows that women and men's change such as more women have better job. Therefore, 'paid off for baby system' for men would probably mean 'gender norm's change' which means men or fathers have to take care of their children more than they used to do instead of women or mothers.
Moreover, I heard from one of my friends that her mother earns more than her father since her mother is a CEO of a big company. We can tell gender norms are getting different from several years ago. We are not in a period of typical and traditional gender norms. According to the article 'The End of Men', in 1970, women contributed 2 to 6 percent of the family in come which is few. Now, however, women contribute 42.2 percent of the family in come. Moreover, four in ten mothers are the primary breadwinners in their families.
Women's opportunities in society has changed which means change of men's role in society at the same time. We are in a generation more men are taking care of their children instead of working. The gender role we used to have is changing.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Women's change?
In around 1950s in the US, there used to be more house wives. At that moment, women are considered to stay at home as house wives. That is why we still have image of women being at home for house work. Do you think it is still the same in 2011? Or would you think there is any change?
I would assume that you think it is getting different. More women have opportunities to work and even promote their position nowadays. Women's opportunities or change in employment, for instance, have you ever seen the film nine to five? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVKTZ4CEM90 This film tells us the change of women's image. We are in a period that women started to have more freedom such as having jobs and career.
When I was a child, my mother was a house wife, and only my father had job. I assume that this is typical image of gender role which we used to have. Would you think children in 2011 have the same image of gender role? They might have the same image, but more children would probably have the different image of gender role.
In Japan, for example, parents who use day care for children are increasing in 2010 compare to 10 years ago according to Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan. This means, of course, more wives work so they need day care for their children. I would say children would not have the same image of gender role what children in 10 years ago used to have because more women work.
If this situation continued, women get strong position at work or even society, what would be the influence for men? Is there any change for men as well?
I would assume that you think it is getting different. More women have opportunities to work and even promote their position nowadays. Women's opportunities or change in employment, for instance, have you ever seen the film nine to five? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVKTZ4CEM90 This film tells us the change of women's image. We are in a period that women started to have more freedom such as having jobs and career.
When I was a child, my mother was a house wife, and only my father had job. I assume that this is typical image of gender role which we used to have. Would you think children in 2011 have the same image of gender role? They might have the same image, but more children would probably have the different image of gender role.
In Japan, for example, parents who use day care for children are increasing in 2010 compare to 10 years ago according to Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan. This means, of course, more wives work so they need day care for their children. I would say children would not have the same image of gender role what children in 10 years ago used to have because more women work.
If this situation continued, women get strong position at work or even society, what would be the influence for men? Is there any change for men as well?
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Female Gaze?
Have you ever heard of the Laura Mulvey's theory 'Male Gaze'? This theory basically means you all see women in the media as men's perspective. In the film, for instance, how would you see a very beautiful woman wearing sexy short dress? You might see her as men's perspective without noticing even if you are woman. In her theory, women in media are considered sexual object and to-be-looked-at-ness.
I have some examples which you would probably find the male gaze in media. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wtQdoYrwJI&feature=BF&list=PL4283F6DF81C0BD5B&index=4
This is a video of Marilyn Monroe, The River of No Return. When she sings in front of a lot of men, they look at her like as a sexual object. I assume that audiences of this video probably watch it from men's perspective. This is what Laura Mulvery calls 'Male Gaze' in media.
Now, you would probably be getting familiar with this theory. Don't you wonder if there's 'female gaze'? It might be as not common as male gaze which we could often find in many films and TV. However, we could still find out in some places. Female gaze, for instance, I have very familar exmple people in the US. When you go to shop to the famous American Brand, Abercrombie and Fitch, you will find sexy guy models advertisement in the shop or even on the shop bags. http://image-search.yahoo.co.jp/detail?p=Abercrombie%26Fitch&rkf=1&ib=18&ktot=0&dtot=0 I think that this is female gaze which means men could be a sexual object for women, too.
Moreover, when I traveled Tokyo Japan, I saw some cool and Masculine clerks in the same shop. I thought this might be purpose to get women's attention which is kind of connected with female gaze.
Male or female gaze is always interesting because we unconsciously use those in our everyday life. When you use media such as TV, film and magazine, do you unconsciously use male gaze or female gaze?
I have some examples which you would probably find the male gaze in media. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wtQdoYrwJI&feature=BF&list=PL4283F6DF81C0BD5B&index=4
This is a video of Marilyn Monroe, The River of No Return. When she sings in front of a lot of men, they look at her like as a sexual object. I assume that audiences of this video probably watch it from men's perspective. This is what Laura Mulvery calls 'Male Gaze' in media.
Now, you would probably be getting familiar with this theory. Don't you wonder if there's 'female gaze'? It might be as not common as male gaze which we could often find in many films and TV. However, we could still find out in some places. Female gaze, for instance, I have very familar exmple people in the US. When you go to shop to the famous American Brand, Abercrombie and Fitch, you will find sexy guy models advertisement in the shop or even on the shop bags. http://image-search.yahoo.co.jp/detail?p=Abercrombie%26Fitch&rkf=1&ib=18&ktot=0&dtot=0 I think that this is female gaze which means men could be a sexual object for women, too.
Moreover, when I traveled Tokyo Japan, I saw some cool and Masculine clerks in the same shop. I thought this might be purpose to get women's attention which is kind of connected with female gaze.
Male or female gaze is always interesting because we unconsciously use those in our everyday life. When you use media such as TV, film and magazine, do you unconsciously use male gaze or female gaze?
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