JAPN 311 - Social Issues in Japan
Course Description: As the drive to rebuild modern Japan after WWII slowed, latent and new social problems have become visible. This course offers interdisciplinary perspectives on issues such as care of the elderly and homeless, equal treatment of minorities, gender and labor issues, domestic and world ecological concerns, and relevant institutions that promote or attack prejudice towards heterogeneous social groups. Taught in English.
Course Narrative: In Japn 311 I learned a lot about Japanese culture and social issues present in Japanese society. This course required me to critically think about different experiences of individuals in Japan. I was particularly interested in topics related to Japanese women and their role in society. As part of a discussion post we did for the class I learned about the gendered role of women. Women in Japan were expected to be housewives, and women were looked down upon for working. Often the men were the breadwinners of the household, and they were always at work. In addition to my discussion post on gendered labor in Japan, for my final research project I looked at the sex industry in the country. I was particularly intrigued by the freedom and ability to work on a topic that may seem taboo. In Japan there are Hostess Clubs where female staff work, but there are also places where men are the sex workers. Although Japan has an Anti-Prostitution Law, people still find a way around sexy work. I learned a lot about the way women are treated in Japanese society, which is very similar to the machismo found in Spanish and Latin American cultures. I wish to further look at similarities between women’s role in Japanese society as well as women’s role in Mexican society. This course relates to Span 316 because in that course we learned about machismo in Spanish culture. I intend to one day visit Japan and experience all it has to offer through the inspiration of this class.
Major Learning Outcome Fulfillment:
MLO 4
Evidence:
Gendered Labor Discussion Post
Final Research Presentation
Final Short Research Paper
Course Narrative: In Japn 311 I learned a lot about Japanese culture and social issues present in Japanese society. This course required me to critically think about different experiences of individuals in Japan. I was particularly interested in topics related to Japanese women and their role in society. As part of a discussion post we did for the class I learned about the gendered role of women. Women in Japan were expected to be housewives, and women were looked down upon for working. Often the men were the breadwinners of the household, and they were always at work. In addition to my discussion post on gendered labor in Japan, for my final research project I looked at the sex industry in the country. I was particularly intrigued by the freedom and ability to work on a topic that may seem taboo. In Japan there are Hostess Clubs where female staff work, but there are also places where men are the sex workers. Although Japan has an Anti-Prostitution Law, people still find a way around sexy work. I learned a lot about the way women are treated in Japanese society, which is very similar to the machismo found in Spanish and Latin American cultures. I wish to further look at similarities between women’s role in Japanese society as well as women’s role in Mexican society. This course relates to Span 316 because in that course we learned about machismo in Spanish culture. I intend to one day visit Japan and experience all it has to offer through the inspiration of this class.
Major Learning Outcome Fulfillment:
MLO 4
Evidence:
Gendered Labor Discussion Post
Final Research Presentation
Final Short Research Paper