On being a feminist in Tokyo
By definition, feminist: a person who supports the belief that women should have the same rights and opportunities as men. Well I guess I am, but for some reason when a Japanese man says that I'm a feminist, I want to say, "I'm not a feminist, I'm just using common sense!" It's interesting how men let their sense of 'manliness' override their common sense. Women have already proven to be just as competent or superior as men in many areas.
However, many men have insisted that because of womens' different physical and emotional qualities that they are weaker and as such are unworthy of fair and equal treatment in the workplace or at home. Yes, I've heard things are changing. Both women and men have told me that the situation of equality is getting better in Japan. But when I hear of reasonably young married men who go home, plop their beer belly and overweight butts on the sofa, watch T.V. and do close to NOTHING when they're at home I still get a little 'ticked of', and wonder, "Just where is the equality?" Oh, did I forget to mention that the wife may be working a job outside the home AND taking care of home and children? So, why do people 'wonder' about the declining birthrate in Japan???
I'll add another perspective that I received from a friend, she said, "Strangely, it seems that the idea of being a 'feminist' sounds a bit cool to many Japanese men. They pretend to be feminists 'ostensibly', but many, many women are still experiencing gender discrimination actually. Anyway, I also feel that the fact that some Japanese men are at least pretending to be feminists means that the Japanese society may be changing little by little though…" On 'pretending', I think pretending is good! If one pretends long enough the truth eventually becomes evident. Proof, look at racism in America. YES, racism is alive and well in America but conditions are better than before. So, even in Japan there is hope!
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