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What does Japan think of Gender Bias?

By on February 14, 2022

When Shiori Ito, a Japanese woman who became a symbol of Japan’s #MeToo movement won a civil case against Noriyuki Yamaguchi, a former broadcast journalist who she sued for rape, the topic of gender bias has become a hot topic of debates in Japan.

With the growing MeToo movement in the world, people have become more aware of words and actions that should be avoided to prevent gender bias. Most employers have adopted measures to educate their employees on anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies.

How gender bias is perceived in Japan is the topic of a study made by Japan Trend Research. It asked the opinion of 500 people: 100 men and women in their 20s and 60s and over nationwide.

One of the questions asked was – how people felt about promoting gender neutrality through discontinuation of Sanrio’s popular products.  Of the 78.8% polled, about 80% answered, “I don’t think it’s necessary to cancel the sale.” In contrast, only 6.6% said, “I think it is normal to cancel the sale.”

The number of concerned people that find Sanrio products being discontinued to be non-discriminatory are high.  They said they wouldn’t teach the same to their children.

On the question of whether he or she had made any statements that could be perceived as gender bias by others, 59.2% had never been told, and the other 40.8% seemed to have had gender bias issues.

Based on the answers, 25% of gender bias experience appears to have come from both the opposite and same sex. When asked whether they had made any statements that were perceived as gender prejudice, 71.6% answered ‘never’. In contrast, the rate by which people have admitted to having made such statements came from 28.4%, with 12.2% of it said towards the opposite sex. Some added, “I think I may have said it in jest, but I do not remember.” Some may have said it innocently.

What do they think of ‘Gender Prejudice’?

It seems that 35.0% of the respondents said “I don’t really care” while 34.6% felt that “it can’t be helped to some extent”.  The 30.4% of respondents answered, “the thought should be discarded”.

Should the past be reshaped to fit the present times?

Cartoons depicting gender roles has its influences and social effects. The study asked people whether Japan needs to change its archaic business trend of making characters into goods. The practice started 20 years ago (particularly before the Showa era) depicting fixed gender roles in society.

As many as 71.6% answered they don’t think it is necessary for past works. On the other hand, 28.4% are more open to change even for past works.

The survey was carried out from January 25-February 1, 2022.

 

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