K.C.

LEADING THE FUTURE: WOMEN AS

THE FACE OF ANTI-NUCLEAR POWER

DEMONSTRATIONS IN CONTEMPORARY

JAPAN

Kalai Chik (21)Hometown:

Los AngelesHong Kong

Major: International Relations

Global Business Management

East Asian Languages and Cultures

ABOUT ME

"The state emphasizes the social role of women as wise mothers. Family

values stressed hard work for the sake of the

household and obedience to in laws"

-Horiguchi, Noriko J.Women Adrift : The Literature

of Japan's Imperial Body

ROLES OF WOMEN IN JAPAN

“A good mother…sacrifices all for her child”

Jill Steury Working Mothers in Japan and the Effects

on Chi ldren and Society

EXPECTATIONS OF MOTHERS

1. How do women maintain their subordinate role and various identities in society while also being leaders in a visible position?

2. What does their societal given roles as “mothers” play into their roles as leaders?

3. How does public opinion influence women’s participation in these protests?

QUESTIONS

Interviews Nanzan Students (9)Nanzan Extension College Students (2)

Key member of the Anti-Nuclear Protests

Case StudyTwo observations of anti-nuclear protests

METHODS

FUKUSHIMA PROTESTS

“When resistance does occur (in Japan), it is often spearheaded by women, politically marginalized

mothers and housewives, who do not possess formal power or status.”

-Morioka RikaJapan Copes with Calamity

Mothers of FukushimaPassivity of populace vs government paralysis

Health hazards concerned mothers Networking and raising awareness

BACKGROUND

“Housewife is a public identity that provides a common ground and legitimacy for women to unite.”

-Morioka RikaJapan Copes with Calamity

Positive Image9/9 Nanzan Students 1 Extension College Student

Key MemberNeutral Image

1 Extension College Student

Results

DATA FROM INTERVIEWS

ANTI-NUCLEAR POWER DEMONSTRATION GROUP IN

NAGOYA

HAZUKI FUJIWARA

Perception of Fukushima women. “Their concerns were dismissed by school teachers as irrational fears of nervous, fussy women.” (Rika, 171)

Encourages and discourages

Sometimes has no affect at all

Public opinion is changing

INFLUENCE OF PUBLIC OPINION

Empowers yet traps womenLimits them to their societal role.

Given legitimacy only for topics relating to a housewife’s responsibilities.

SOCIETAL EXPECTATIONS

Multiple identities work in tandem

Changing views of women

Role-appropriate topics

Public opinion promotes empowerment

CONCLUSIONS

1. Friedman, Seth. "The Changing Roles of Women in Japanese Society." The Changing Roles of Women in Japanese Society . N.p., Dec. 1992. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http://www2.gol.com/users/friedman/writings/p1.html>.

2. Gill, Tom, Brigitte Steger, and David H. Slater.  Japan Copes with Calamity Ethnographies of the Earthquake, Tsunami and Nuclear Disasters of March 2011 . N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.

3. Horiguchi, Noriko J. Women Adrift: The Literature of Japan's Imperial Body . Minneapolis: U of Minnesota, 2011. Print.

4. Steury, Ji l l. 1993. “Working Mothers in Japan and the Effects on Children and Society.” Intercultural Communication Studies . Paper presented at the biennial conference of the Institute for Cross-Cultural Research, San Antonio, TX (March).

REFERENCES

How would you view politically active women in your own country? Why?

DISCUSSION QUESTION