Still Waters
Posted Jul 9 2007
Gender and Other Social Disparities
In my workplace, just because I’m a woman, my director thinks it’s OK to ask me out for tea. As an example, I have ideas on how to organize programs but I feel like because
I’m a woman my ideas get ignored. Although they’re competitive, it’s easier for men to get promotions. They have more respect for other men. If I say something it may get ignored, but a man can say it and it gets respected. I’m not a new college graduate with no experience. This happens to younger women too. Men often treat them with less respect and ignore their opinions. Many women don’t complain. This may be because they believe in traditional ways. I think that many of these things are backwards. I’m a single mother, taking care of two children and I run my household. They know this, but they still treat me like a little girl. I think it will take at least another 50 years before things are equal.
Are there laws in place to protect women?
Of course. We have as many anti-discrimination laws as the U.S. it’s hard to make claims because it’s hard to prove. For example, they say "I didn’t mean anything. I’m sorry, it was just a misunderstanding." Unless it’s an extreme case, it’s hard to prove a hostile work place for women. In my division, there are about 500 people. About 40% are women. Many women take two years leave to raise kids. They’re paid 50% of their salary during this time. It’s hard to return since they have fewer friends. There are many changes at the work place: new people, new software, and new laws. The husbands aren’t helpful. They have to pick up kids from school, do home chores, and can’t do overtime. Its almost always the mother picking up kids, not the fathers. Gender is still not equal.
Japanese mental culture is changing. Many high school 
boys are more worried about things like their hair. Their mental culture is different than their fathers. They’re not as ambitious as females. They don’t care about being responsible in traditional ways. They work at convenience stores or doing odd jobs such as bar tendering. They might spend all of their money in one night. They live off of girlfriends and parents. They’re known as freeters, which is a combination of English and German.
Why are they increasing in number?
Again, the disparity of education…the disparity of elite schools and less academically rigorous schools. We’re creating social layers. Some think, "I’m working as a manager, but I see the friends I grew up with working at a convenience store or looking for a job. That’s OK, but since I’m more intelligent or worked harder so I deserve it. They made their choices. It doesn’t take into account these social disparities.
Politicians say disparity is OK. "Some people are more intelligent than others." Some schools, even in schools with compulsory education, students charged with supplies due to budget cuts. Even in rich schools, but the parent there are more able to support.
I think it’s safe to say that the Japanese government doesn’t care about equality. They need compliant workers. Major companies who are big tax payers get listened to. They bring in money so the government listens. These companies need cheap workers. Even some universities support this. They release "research" supporting companies and their policies. Universities exist not to study, but to contribute to society with certain concepts. What I mean is that professors and students are doing research and development funded by companies. They have a close relationship. These students work for companies and they’re happy to get on-the-job training. Training is part of the curriculum. The Toyota plan, which is nearby, isn’t particularly interesting to visit, but they collaborate with Gifu University on research as part of education. It seems that professors and students are happy to do research. Not just theory and text book, but practical application to impact society.
Believe me, you’ll continue to see the disparity in Japan 
growing. It’s as if the government wants these social layers as they’re cutting back on welfare and social programs. If you do your research, you’ll see that this is true.
We think because of internet, we’re more global, but how’s someone in the U.S. going to understand a little city like Ogaki? We think we understand what’s going on, but we really don’t. Around the world, the media really deceives us.
I used to be part of a local peace movement, including 
raising money to help injured children in Iraq. One book that made a huge impact on me was Addicted to War. Most Japanese people don’t even know about it. I’m not saying everything in this book is correct, but it gets you to think.
There is much disparity in the United States, but there are many freedoms to express yourselves. It’s completely stronger to get together and organize. There’s an exciting energy. It’s much more difficult here. I can’t even organize my own family and close friends. People are more reserved and have a stronger group mentality. The female government workers don’t speak up because "that’s life in Japanese government." Adding to that, there’s a focus on modesty and not being loud is still how must women act. I’m quite a good actress. I can function in this conservative government office, yet be involved with the peace movement and they have no idea. Women are women’s worst enemy. It’s seen as our duty to be passive and serve men. They try to train young girls and daughters. Being obedient and avoiding being loud is cultural. You see it in the government workers.
There’s a popular saying in the U.S. that "well behaved women never make history."
I understand. Well, I hope this interview was useful to you.
Brazilians in Japan! That has got to be the most interesting thing I've learned about Ogaki. I never heard of it before until I read this article. But this is so interesting, I didn't know it was so hard to blend in a group of people into society. I mean I see what happens when some spanish speakers can't read a sign. But they take it to the next level. People over there can actually go to the city for help. What is this? No need for marches just to get help and basic rights. The info about students who commit suicide because they feel to pressured by parents can be considered here too. I mean the SAT suicides, and other problems. But I think it's because Japan also seems like they have a very anal system. Live by the book, die by the book. That sort of thing needs to be taken care of with more liberal power. less conservativeness means more change and growth. I think the Japanese need to be with therir school system as they are with their building designs, freeflowing.
Like i said before before i had different thoughts about japan. But after reading this interview and remembering that i had a class of japan in summer school last year. It seems that over there things are some the same as the united states but witha different that the rules of immigration are differently. I think that is fair what the rules of immigration they have with the immigrants. Because they help them succed and become someone in life. Not like in here in the united states they discriminated the immigranst or judge them because of who they are or just because they are latin and or because they speak spanish. I think that that's what the government in thge us should do. I agree that if they have done penalties than they have a reason to send them back to their birth place. But if they just come to work and have a better life its find. And its niced that people over there can help everytime they need help even on the streets.That's why my thughts have change about Japan i would like to visit one time.
Its interesting to see the differences between the U.S. and Japan. Over there they help out immigrants and here all people want to do is send them back. From what the lady mentioned it isn't all good but its like that in every country with immigrants. The mentioning of the Chinese Immigrants girls reminds me of the human trafficking situation. Its similar how the girls go to different countries with dreams of making money in a legit way and end up working as hookers and other things they never thought they would be doing.
I ran into this one looking at the curriculum page. Once again you've inspired me not to hesitate on curiosity since this is how this interview came to be. This interview also provided me with a place to go when I go to Japan. As for the Brazilians in Japan, I don't think I would prefer it if the US was more open with immigration but treated the immigrants as Brazilians are treated in Japan. In the curriculum piece, you said many students based their opinion on Japan based on one interview. I think the main reason that happened was because the lady interviewed seemed to know what she was talking about. According to the interview, the Brazilians are barely starting to move together to form the "salad bowl" pattern and retain part of their culture. I find it pretty interesting because it is like hearing about Mexican immigration in Oakland, but in slow motion. I hope that more people in Ogaki think like her because I like her dedication to integrate Brazilians into Japan. I just wish more people ion the US were like her (not to lose culture but to integrate communities). I real,ly like to hear that the government there is helping Brazilians by offering services in Portuguese as well. I am not happy, however, that many Brazilians are dropping out but it is to be expected when many immigrants come to a country, they can't all succeed. I really dislike hearing that Chinese girls are still being taken advantage of, on a worldwide basis! As she said the abused workers can be hard to find, especially since they rarely come out in the open. Many people must feel as frustrated and powerless as I do when I hear about this. Whew... This interview went IN DEPTH!!! I can't finish reading it right now but I promise I will get back to it (it is too good to miss) Thank you very much for doing this interview, you have amped up a voice that may have otherwise gone unheard.