Gender Roles in Japanese Culture Essay - 2946 Words

Gender roles are stereotypical labels placed on males and females within a specific culture. In addition, gender stereotypes for males and females are products of cultural aspects rather than their physical differences (Kincaid, 2013). As time inevitably progresses through history, a coherent pattern can be identified in regards to changes in gender stereotypes. These changes in gender roles are directly correlated with the alterations in societal advancement. The changes in societal and cultural development over the course of history can be thoroughly recognized in specifically Japanese culture. Although gender roles in Japanese culture deviates from western norms, perpetual emphasis is placed in adopting desirable characteristics for men†¦show more content†¦Within Japanese culture during this time period, desirable traits within males and females were explicitly emphasized through Confucianism. The Confucian ethical system teaches people loyalty, piety, and respect toward s superiors; it also stresses intrinsic aspects within an individual such as integrity, righteousness, and warm heartedness (Yoko and Katsurada, 2002). Although expressed and articulated into different aspects of life depending on an individual’s sex, loyalty was a trait that both women and men were expected to exhibit with absolute certainty. Men were primarily taught to be loyal to their lords, whereas, women were taught to be loyal to their family and husband. Significant differences in ethics and mannerisms between western or European cultures and Japanese cultures were conspicuously observed. The unequivocal characteristic of loyalty in Japanese culture was perceived as only a contract within legal and governmental systems in European society. Japanese, and even Chinese, cultures believed loyalty to be much more than just a regulation for government and systems, but also as an ethical conduct. The loyalty expressed in Japanese culture is indisputably witnessed throughout all of Japan. It is interesting to also take note that the gender role differences in Japan were not as distinct as the Western or European cultures. The contrastingShow MoreRelatedGender Roles And The Japanese Culture924 Words   |  4 PagesThere are many different genres of manga. Each and every one of these genres has faced changes as the years progress due to the culture of Japan changing. Things like political changes, social changes, foreign influences and the like have all affect the Japanese culture. The changing culture made way for new ideas to be brought into manga. Two genres in particular have been affected by these changes, shounen and shoujo manga. Shounen manga is defined as being made for young boys. 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Representations (and expectations) of the female form and sexuality are well depicted in the Japanese manga: graphic novel artwork that is read ubiquitously throughout Japan. Exploration of this art-form and the culture that grows around it provides a unique insight into current cultural attitudes in Japan. Shojo manga -Read MoreIntroduction. Women Across The World Struggle To Make Their1454 Words   |  6 Pagesand Zimmerman, MacKinnon, and Smith defend women’s rights and call for an open and organized society that promotes equalit y for all genders, ethnic, cultural, and religious groups. Additionally, one of the conflict theorists, Dahrendorf, argues historical changes and inequality creates groups of conflict that attribute to women’s suppression within leadership roles in society. 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While it is essential to the coexistence of the human race, communication is the one thing that is common amongst people of all cultures. Crapo (2013) explained that communication is transference of a philosophies and information from one person to another by ones actions, gestures, and words (Human communication, para.1). Although people use different avenues to express their thoughtsRead MoreThe Third Sex in Eastern Civilization1357 Words   |  6 Pageslooking at certain topic such as Gender, sex and religion. Gender is defined as the cultural, behavioral, or psychological characteristics, typically belonging to one sex. Sex is the behavioral, functional and Structural characteristics that distinguish males from females; it is also the act of people (or animals) attempting to sexually reproduce. Western civilizations and religions have always been strict and less acce pting when it comes to the conversation of gender and sex. It is usually something