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By Madeleine Glass

From a young age, thousands of women are told that they are beautiful, strong, smart and unique. We are taught the importance of treasuring our differences and accepting others for all their flaws. Motivational speakers preach self-love and that beauty lies within, as opposed to our superficial appearance. Then, we become exposed to a world in which the media has an unbelievably strong presence, that manipulates society’s interpretation of the standard of beauty.

It’s no secret that the mainstream media are obsessed with the appearance of women. Living in a modern era, the media is a large part of our daily lives and whether we recognise it or not, it influences our opinions and reshapes our view of the world, and ourselves. For many of us, our first instinct when bored is to scroll through social media, and become susceptible to self-comparison as we see images of women that are declared beautiful by society, causing us feelings of inferiority and self-doubt. While many of us do acknowledge the possibility of Photoshop being used to ‘perfect’ images prior to being displayed to the public, we fail to understand that while women are being digitally altered, so are our perceptions of what is truly beautiful, healthy and realistic.

So how does this relate to feminism? We live in a culture that makes it close to impossible not to subconsciously compare ourselves to other women. The increasing prominence of the media in modern society places jealousy at high risk of becoming an epidemic, which could have detrimental effects not only on our self-confidence, but the unity of women worldwide.

Let’s aim for cooperation and collaboration within our feminism, not competition and comparison.

Self-comparison promotes the constant evaluation of our personal worth through domains like attractiveness, money, success and intelligence, which consequently manifests into excessively competitive and judgemental attitudes. Beauty standards particularly relate to feminism as they imply that women are mere objects, appreciated solely for their physical appearance. Feminism values the cooperation of women, not the competition and comparison promoted through the endless images presented by the media, that encompass unattainable standards that supposedly determine beauty.  Upon researching the topic of beauty standards, the first quote that I was presented with states that the feminine beauty ideal is “the socially constructed notion that physical attractiveness is one of women’s most important assets , and something all women should strive to achieve and maintain” ("The standard of beauty: A dangerous ideal", 2020).

Beauty standards are ever changing and evolve with time, culture and trends. The social expectation – that women should adhere to these standards – is completely unreasonable and unworldly. The butterfly affect that the media has established manipulates us to believe otherwise. Many women are utterly convinced that they aren’t beautiful, and likewise, they also believe that they aren't strong, worthy or powerful, as we are falsely conditioned that our worth is determined by our attractiveness.

Additionally, these standards invasively attempt to define our extent of femininity, as the media not only idolises particular physical features in context of what is considered ‘beautiful’, but also what is considered ‘feminine’. Due to the extent of influence the media has on modern society, traits that are deemed ‘feminine’ likely become cultural expectations of how a woman must look in order to be beautiful and accepted. Some of the most stereotypical traits include that women have long hair, a narrow waist, large breasts and little to no body hair.

From a perspective of intersectional feminism, this is highly exclusionary of the diverse variety of equal identities and experiences that all women are entitled to. Realistically, women are not the same. We don’t all have an hourglass figure, perfect hair and clear skin, and we should not be labelled by social stereotypes or have our level of femininity intrusively gauged. The liberty of self-expression and individuality is within our right as equal humans, and not even the undeniable power of the media should define us.

Beauty standards are one of the most prominent challenges facing modern feminism today, as they destroy the bond between women, by replacing compassion and collaboration with competition and comparison. The media is a powerful platform that allows voices to be heard, and arises the opportunity of changing societal standards, stereotypes and expectations that prevent each and every one of us from letting our true individuality shine through.

There are many strategies we can use to work together and reshape society to further the feminist movement. These include: supporting Instagram accounts, charities or blogs that promote incredible causes, speaking up for what you believe in, sharing ideas, becoming involved within the community, and encouraging all women by letting them know they're beautiful, strong, smart and unique to reinforce an empowering feminist environment.

Reference:

The standard of beauty: A dangerous ideal. (2020). Retrieved 6 April 2020, from https://www.thewilkesbeacon.com/opinion/2018/10/30/the-standard-of-beauty-a-dangerous-ideal/

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How Beauty Standards Have Reshaped Feminism — The One Woman Project

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From a young age, thousands of women are told that they are beautiful, strong, smart and unique. We are taught the importance of treasuring our differences and accepting others for all their flaws. Motivational speakers preach self-love and that beauty lies within, as opposed to our superficial appe

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US trends in the feminine beauty and overadaptation Allan Muzar

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Fashion and Fetishism: Social History of the Corset, Tight-lacing and Other Forms of Body Sculpture in the West

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Bueaty is in the eye of the west joanne yi

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Western beauty Pressure and their impact on yound university woman

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The general election for Japan's lower house last October was the first since the act on "promotion of gender equality in the political field" three years earlier. Yet the number of women elected to the 465-seat House of Representatives actually fell-to 45, down two from 2017, when Japan ranked 163rd among 193 countries for gender equality in politics. Feminists wanted the act to require parties to field equal numbers of male and female candidates. But after fierce opposition from right-wing Diet members, it only requires political parties to make "every possible effort."

Translated by Charles Goulden.
This essay continues our exclusive collaboration with Le Monde Diplomatique, monthly publishing jointly commissioned and shared articles, both in print and online. To subscribe to LMD, go to mondediplo.com/subscribe.

Only 9.7 percent of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) candidates were women. The center-left Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), the main opposition party, had 18.3 percent women. The Communist Party (JCP) did better with 35.4 percent, and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) had 60 percent, though only nine candidates in total.

Feminism in Japan dates back to the end of the 19th century, when women demanded easier access to education and greater political rights. As part of modernization during the Meiji era (1868-1912), primary education became compulsory for all from 1872; an 1886 decree required prefectural authorities to provide secondary education. Most universities, however, only accepted women after 1945, and even then, until 1995, most women attended two-year junior colleges. Everyone in Japan remembers the scandal, in 2018, when Tokyo Medical University (private) admitted that it had been reducing female applicants' entrance exam scores for years. (Japan has a very low percentage of female doctors by international standards.)

Women began demanding the right to vote as soon as "universal" adult male suffrage was granted in 1925. But in 1941, the World War II forced them to disband their campaign organizations and join the Patriotic Women's Association, and, in 1942, the Greater Japan Women's Association (membership compulsory for all aged 20 or over). This was a considerable setback.

Despite postwar democratic reforms, the conservative right's virtual monopoly on power (the LDP has been in government almost continuously since 1955) was an obstacle to progress on gender equality, adding to the stagnation in social attitudes and politics.

Even so, there have been signs of change in recent years. In January 2021, Akiko Matsuo, founder of the feminist publisher Etc.books, opened Tokyo's first feminist bookshop. In March 2019, Matsuo and feminist writer Minori Kitahara had launched Japan's #MeToo #WithYou movement, calling for demonstrations against the acquittals of four men accused of sexual assault.

Rapists acquitted

Nagoya District Court had acquitted a man accused of repeatedly raping his daughter between the ages of 13 and 19, saying there was "reasonable doubt that it was not impossible for her to resist." Shizuoka District Court had found another man not guilty of raping his daughter between the ages of 12 and 14 because her testimony was "unreliable."

Current Issue

Fukuoka District Court acquitted a middle manager of raping a female colleague after getting her drunk on the grounds that he was unaware of her state. And Shizuoka District Court acquitted a man of raping a woman after beating her, saying he could not have known that her unresponsiveness did not signify consent.

The first three were eventually convicted on appeal, after the demonstrations. Since then, monthly protests known as Flower Demos have become a forum where victims of rape and incest can speak out. As Kitahara explains, "Thanks to WithYou, we can finally hear and believe them. We just needed a safe space for them to talk. Now we have a place where everyone can tell their story, and show solidarity."

Feminists' struggle to reduce Japan's tolerance of sexual and domestic violence began decades ago, as sociologist Chizuko Ueno describes. The women's movement is fighting discrimination: An association formed in 1999 to "condemn sexist comments by Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara"and eliminate them from the public domain, ranks such comments by other public figures. In 2021, equal first place went to Yoshiro Mori, a former LPD prime minister, and Mio Sugita, an LDP Diet member known for her anti-feminist and anti-LGBTQ remarks, who had said the 2019 acquittals were justified because women lie about sexual assault.

110,000 signatures in two days

Mori, who was head of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics organizing committee, provoked worldwide outrage in February 2021 with remarks about "talkative women" prolonging meetings. A petition launched the following day calling for "appropriate sanctions" against him collected 110,000 signatures in two days. A Kyodo poll found that 60 percent of Japanese believed he should step down as committee head. A number of Olympic sponsors and celebrities distanced themselves from his remarks, and more than a thousand volunteers refused to help out during the Olympics. Despite Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's support, Mori was forced to step down, the first time an LDP heavyweight had resigned over sexist behavior.

On February 6, the Choose Life Project livestreamed on YouTube a two-and-a-half-hour forum titled "Don't Be Silent," hashtag (in Japanese) #WomenWhoRefuseToKnowTheirPlace. Twenty-five writers, publishers, NGO members, and activists were invited to comment on Mori's remarks, especially his statements (less publicized abroad) that women were "competitive": "When one raises her hand and speaks, they probably think they should speak, too." He added that the committee included seven women, but "luckily they all know how to behave." The participants agreed that the LDP was incapable of bringing about change, and that it was time for them to speak out.

The younger generation is more open, and more engaged on issues such as the environment and the work/family balance. Activist Tamaka Ogawa says she joined the women's movement after receiving insults-such as "filthy feminist" ( kusofemi)-over a 2013 article defending working mothers.

That's a major issue in Japan, where the birth rate is falling, the population is aging, and many young people are in precarious, low-paid jobs. Less than 3 percent of children were born out of wedlock in 2020, and the decision to marry still largely depends on the man's ability to provide, though attitudes are starting to change.

The post-World War II socioeconomic structure forces women to choose between family and career. The M-shaped curve showing women's participation in the labor force-rising with age, falling after marriage or the birth of a child, rising again as children grow up-has shifted: Women now tend to first drop out of the workforce at 30 instead of 25. Between Us, We Cover the World

Since 1986 it has been illegal to require women to resign when they marry or have children (most companies once made female employees sign a contract agreeing to this). But even today, only 38 percent return to work after their first child, despite government campaigns since 2012 to promote a better work/family balance.

'Career' and 'non-career' workers

In 1985 the Diet ratified the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination (CEDAW) and adopted an equal employment opportunity law. But company bosses circumvented the legislation by inventing a two-track system with "career employees" ( sogoshoku), who could qualify for promotion, and "non-career employees" ( ippanshoku), who could not. Women had to choose their track when they were hired, but opting to be a "career employee" meant accepting long work hours and frequent relocation to provincial offices, like their male colleagues, making it hard to balance work and family life.

Only around 9 percent of middle managers in companies are women, and at senior management level the figure is much lower. Government figures show the pay gap between men and women has fallen from 40 percent in the 1990s to 24.5 percent in 2020 (compared to 16.5 percent in France). But this is due more to a drop in men's pay over the last 20 years than a rise in women's pay. And women often have precarious jobs (part-time, short-term, temporary, etc.) paying less than 55 percent of men's average salary, a trend that is growing.

This is partly due to two laws passed in 1986. The first introduced a personal allowance of ¥380,000 ($3,300) for income tax on one spouse's earnings, provided the other spouse's earnings did not exceed ¥1.03m ($9,000)-the kind of pay that comes with a part-time job, mainly affecting women. The other legalized temporary contracts, banned until then. Applying to 13 sectors in 1986, 26 from 1999, and all since 2015, this law has mainly affected women and young people.

This highlights the government's mixed messages on women's place in society against a background of neoliberal reforms. In December 2012, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe presented increasing women's labor force participation as a key structural reform to revitalize the Japanese economy, saying he wanted to create "a society in which all women shine." Feminists remained skeptical. Though the LDP victory in last year's election was a setback for Japanese women, with fewer female candidates elected than in 2017, the #MeToo movement is inspiring women to mobilize against sexism. But there's a long way to go.

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Japanese Women Are Fighting Back Against Pervasive Sexism

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The general election for Japan's lower house last October was the first since the act on "promotion of gender equality in the political field" three years earlier. Yet the number of women elected to the 465-seat House of Representatives actually fell-to 45, down two from 2017, when Japan ranked 163rd among 193 countries for gender equality in politics.

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If you regularly watch TV, you've probably seen a cartoon bear pitching you toilet paper, a gecko with a British accent selling you auto insurance and a bunny in sunglasses promoting batteries.

This has always struck me as a bit odd. Sure, it makes sense to use cartoon characters to sell products to kids - a phenomenon that's been well-documented.

But why are advertisers using the same techniques on adults?

To me, it's just one symptom of a broader trend of infantilization in Western culture. It began before the advent of smartphones and social media. But, as I argue in my book " The Terminal Self," our everyday interactions with these computer technologies have accelerated and normalized our culture's infantile tendencies.
Society-wide arrested development
The dictionary defines infantilizing as treating someone "as a child or in a way that denies their maturity in age or experience."

What's considered age-appropriate or mature is obviously quite relative. But most societies and cultures will deem behaviors appropriate for some stages of life, but not others.

As the Bible puts it in 1 Corinthians 13:11, "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me."

Some psychologists will be quick to note that not everyone puts their "childish ways" behind them. You can become fixated at a particular stage of development and fail to reach an age-appropriate level of maturity. When facing unmanageable stress or trauma, you can even regress to a previous stage of development. And psychologist Abraham Maslow has suggested that spontaneous childlike behaviors in adults aren't inherently problematic.

But some cultural practices today routinely infantilize large swaths of the population.

We see it in our everyday speech, when we refer to grown women as "girls"; in how we treat senior citizens, when we place them in adult care centers where they're forced to surrender their autonomy and privacy; and in the way school personnel and parents treat teenagers, refusing to acknowledge their intelligence and need for autonomy, restricting their freedom, and limiting their ability to enter the workforce.

Can entire societies succumb to infantilization?

Frankfurt School scholars such as Herbert Marcuse, Erich Fromm and other critical theorists suggest that - like individuals - a society can also suffer from arrested development.

In their view, adults' failure to reach emotional, social or cognitive maturity is not due to individual shortcomings.

Rather, it is socially engineered.
A return to innocence
Visiting America in 1946, French anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss commented on the endearingly infantile traits of American culture. He especially noted adults' childish adulation of baseball, their passionate approach to toy-like cars and the amount of time they invested in hobbies.

As contemporary scholars note, however, this " infantilist ethos" has become less charming - and more pervasive.

Researchers on both sides of the Atlantic have observed how this ethos has now crept into a vast range of social spheres.

In many workplaces, managers can now electronically monitor their employees, many of whom work in open spaces with little personal privacy. As sociologist Gary T. Marx observed, it creates a situation in which workers feel that managers expect them "to behave irresponsibly, to take advantage, and to screw up unless they remove all temptation, prevent them from doing so or trick or force them to do otherwise."

Much has been written about higher education's tendency to infantilize its students, whether it's through monitoring their social media accounts, guiding their every step, or promoting "safe spaces" on campus.

Meanwhile, tourist destinations like Las Vegas market excess, indulgence and freedom from responsibility in casino environments that conjure memories of childhood fantasies: the Old West, medieval castles and the circus. Scholars have also explored how this form of Las Vegas-style "Disneyfication" has left its stamp on planned communities, architecture and contemporary art.

Then we've witnessed the rise of a "therapy culture," which, as sociologist Frank Furedi warns, treats adults as vulnerable, weak and fragile, while implying that their troubles rooted in childhood qualify them for a "permanent suspension of moral sense." He argues that this absolves grown-ups from adult responsibilities and erodes their trust in their own experiences and insights.

Researchers in Russia and Spain have even identified infantilist trends in language, and
French sociologist Jacqueline Barus-Michel observes that we now communicate in "flashes," rather than via thoughtful discourse - "poorer, binary, similar to computer language, and aiming to shock."

Others have noted similar trends in popular culture - in the shorter sentences
in contemporary novels, in the lack of sophistication in political rhetoric and in sensationalist cable news coverage.
High-tech pacifiers
While scholars such as James Côté and Gary Cross remind us that infantilizing trends began well before our current moment, I believe our daily interactions with smartphones and social media are so pleasurable precisely because they normalize and gratify infantile dispositions.

They endorse self-centeredness and inflated exhibitionism. They promote an orientation towards the present, rewarding impulsivity and celebrating constant and instant gratification.

They flatter our needs for visibility and provide us with 24/7 personalized attention, while eroding our ability to empathize with others.

Whether we use them for work or pleasure, our devices also foster a submissive attitude. In order to take advantage of all they offer, we have to surrender to their requirements, agreeing to "terms" we do not understand and handing over stores of personal data.

Indeed, the routine and aggressive ways our devices violate our privacy via surveillance automatically deprive us of this fundamental adult right.

While we might find it trivial or amusing, the infantilist ethos becomes especially seductive in times of social crises and fear. And its favoring of simple, easy and fast betrays natural affinities for certain political solutions over others.

And typically not intelligent ones.

Democratic policymaking requires debate, demands compromise and involves critical thinking. It entails considering different viewpoints, anticipating the future, and composing thoughtful legislation.

What's a fast, easy and simple alternative to this political process? It's not difficult to imagine an infantile society being attracted to authoritarian rule.

Unfortunately, our social institutions and technological devices seem to erode hallmarks of maturity: patience, empathy, solidarity, humility and commitment to a project greater than oneself.

All are qualities that have traditionally been considered essential for both healthy adulthood and for the proper functioning of democracy.

Simon Gottschalk, Professor of Sociology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

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If you regularly watch TV, you've probably seen a cartoon bear pitching you toilet paper, a gecko with a British accent selling you auto insurance and a bunny in sunglasses promoting batteries. This has always struck me as a bit odd.

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Source: Mike Von / Unsplash

When I was a freshman in college, a few American "frat bros" shoved their phones into my face while streaming hentai, a form of Japanese animated pornography, and proceeded to ask me inappropriate questions.

Growing up in America, I've come to normalize these distasteful experiences that are unique to Asian women.

Pornhub recently released rankings of their most popular categories in 2019. Unsurprisingly, "Japanese" was the most searched term of the year - the only oddly-specific ethnicity on the list. It was also the #1 most viewed category across men and women.

Such fetishization and stereotyping of Asian women have become so prevalent, to the point where we're ignoring the fact that 41-61% of Asian women reported they have experienced physical or sexual violence from their partners.

This is the highest rate amongst all ethnic groups.

In this article, I hope to clear any misunderstandings about my culture that often lead to false stereotypes.

Did anyone else notice the new playlist curated by Spotify under the category Anime?

Anime has become one of the defining aspects of Japanese culture. When asked about Japan, most Americans think of sushi and anime.

I feel a sense of pride knowing that a form of Japanese entertainment has become an international masterpiece.

On the other hand, I have encountered people who tend to hyper-sexualize our language or Japanese women because anime is the only thing they know about our culture.

In efforts to appeal to its predominantly male audience, anime creators are proactively enlarging breasts and thickening thighs. Anime tends to portray young girls with large breasts, thin waists, and curvy bodies that resemble unrealistic beauty standards.

Skirt-flips, exhibition, and groping are ridiculously common as well. To make matters worse, these actions are framed to be trivial and of no consequence; the male characters always get away with sexually harassing or assaulting women without facing any repercussions.

These female characters, more often than not, refuse to play any significant role in driving the plot forward. They are simply taking up screen time to serve as eye candy for the male audience.

While anime is fulfilling male sexual fantasies, it's also perpetuating the patriarchal values that women are simply commodity goods.

As if it isn't obvious enough, just because anime eroticizes Japanese women doesn't mean you can, too.

Most people are probably aware of the eroticization and hyper-sexualization of Asian women. This is a common behavior that our society has tolerated and normalized, re-labeling it as "yellow fever" and other subtle characterizations.

Asian women tend to be portrayed as submissive, compliant, and domesticated. I can't speak in-depth about other Asian cultures, but this is definitely the norm in Japanese culture.

Although gender norms have been changing progressively in recent years, Japanese women are still expected to be wives and mothers before they are individuals. This undoubtedly influences the way we, as Japanese women, carry ourselves.

In addition, there are other cultural aspects - which both women and men share - that can be perceived as submissive in nature.

In Japanese culture, politeness and selflessness are key values. We are extremely collectivist compared to Americans.

Growing up, my parents taught me to put others before me. At the dinner table, I have to serve everyone else before serving myself. When attending a meeting, I make sure others are seated before I take a seat.

These actions may seem silly, but the point is that the core values of selflessness and politeness are deeply embedded in our daily lives, and every little thing we do.

Americans, who lie on the other side of the individualism-collectivism spectrum, mistakenly assume that my polite gestures are conveying submission. They establish a faulty power dynamic in their minds that they are dominant over me and that I have accepted a submissive role.

This type of cultural ignorance is giving birth to the harmful stereotype that all Asian women are submissive and "easy to handle." Such stereotypes contribute to the staggering rates of violence against Asian women.

Growing up, I tried to disassociate with my heritage as much as possible because I didn't want to be ridiculed or harassed for being "the Japanese girl."

I was too caught up avoiding uncomfortable conversations that I refused to appreciate my culture.

I missed out on a decade that I could have spent building a deeper connection with such a significant piece of my identity. The language, norms, and values - the intricacies of my culture are what makes it so beautiful.

Rather than scratching the surface, all I ask from you is to look beyond what you can see.

Aside from the hyper-sexualization of women in anime, there are concepts and ideologies showcased in anime that accurately replicate Japanese culture. Many of my friends have told me they learn a lot about our core values and sense of humor from anime.

There are people in Japan living normal lives. My culture is not your fetish.

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When I was a freshman in college, a few American "frat bros" shoved their phones into my face while streaming hentai, a form of Japanese animated pornography, and proceeded to ask me inappropriate questions. Growing up in America, I've come to normalize these distasteful experiences that are unique to Asian women.

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Modern japanese beauty standards vs how they differ from other cultures

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Modern japanese beauty standards vs how they differ from other cultures

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Modern Japanese Beauty Standards and How They Differ from Other Cultures – The JBeauty Collection

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What are the modern Japanese beauty standards, traits for an ideal Japanese woman? Let’s dive into Japanese beauty standards and how they differ from other cultures such as Korea.

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A day after former Tokyo Olympics boss Yoshiro Mori made global headlines with his sexist comments, Momoko Nojo, 23, helped start a petition calling for action against him. "The aim wasn't his resignation," says Nojo, whose petition - co-created with 10 other women - took two days to collect 100,000 signatures. "I felt we needed to do something, because until now we, as a society, have accepted these kinds of comments."

Mori - an 83-year-old former prime minister who had told a Japanese Olympic Committee meeting that women talked too much - resigned a week later (pictured above). When broadcasters and newspapers reported that he had handpicked another man in his 80s as his replacement, young women called for a transparent process, resulting in the appointment of Seiko Hashimoto - a much younger, female, former Olympics Minister - instead.

The move was seen as something of a victory for women. But Nojo, who is the head of a youth group called No Youth No Japan, says Mori's resignation doesn't come close to tackling the overall problem of gender inequality in Japan. "Companies criticised Mr Mori's comments, but some of them have less than 1% female board members, and that needs to change," she says.

Risa Kamio, an elected member of the Setagaya City Council in Tokyo, agrees. "To me, Mr Mori was only the tip of the iceberg. It was like a whack-a-mole game. People criticised him because he came out to be whacked, but there are many other moles," she says.

The topic of gender equality keeps making headlines in Japan, for all the wrong reasons. Indeed, just a few days after Mori resigned, the ruling party hit the news again by announcing that, while it was willing to allow women to attend its all-male board meetings, they would not be allowed to speak.

These high-profile incidents come despite well-publicised policies aimed at promoting women's representation in society, including an ambitious target announced in 2015 for women to hold 30% of leadership positions by 2020. And the incidents coincide with a steady drop by Japan in global gender equality rankings; the World Economic Forum describes the country's gender gap as " the largest among advanced economies ".

Momoko Nojo, pictured here carrying her petition, says it was important to speak up about Mori's comments (Credit: Momoko Nojo)

While more women have indeed joined the workforce, many remain in part-time or non-career track roles, which will not allow them to access the top jobs. In the private sector, the number of female managers rose to 7.8% in 2019, but that is still nowhere near the 30% target, which the government has quietly pushed back to 2030. And in politics, women make up just 9.9% of lawmakers in parliament's more powerful lower house - ranking Japan 166th out of 193 countries.

The result is that men still dominate business and political leadership in Japan, policies that really meet women's needs are slow to emerge and - in some quarters - misogyny continues to thrive.

Why people don't speak out

Part of the reason comments like Mori's have gone unchallenged for a long time is because of society's unspoken etiquette: in general, people don't get into arguments, particularly with their elders. "Japan is a country where people find it difficult to speak out regardless of your age or gender," says Nojo, whose petition helped force out Mori. "If you do, you could be seen as selfish."

It's the Japanese concept of "reading the air" - kuuki o yomu in Japanese. Even if you find someone's remarks sexist, many choose not to confront the issue, so that the situation doesn't become awkward. That has allowed Mori and others like him to perceive their remarks as acceptable. In the past, even if these leaders were criticised, they were able to apologise, bid for public sympathy by saying, "My wife (and/or daughters) told me off", just as Mori did - and get away with it.

That's why many older women expressed support for Nojo's petition; many said they felt partially responsible that incidents like this kept happening because they didn't speak out in the past.

"I want to say loudly that it's not only Japanese women who are angry about those sexist remarks," points out Komazaki. "The majority of men, including lawmakers, think these sexist comments and actions by Mr Mori and the [ruling] LDP are unthinkable."

While generational change will help, he adds, some older men have already updated their attitudes though interactions with grandchildren or younger colleagues, and realised that acceptable attitudes and perceptions surrounding gender have changed.

'One person cannot fight alone'

As people update their attitudes, social media is also increasingly offering a platform for Nojo's generation to voice opinions, - and more crucially, for them to be taken seriously by stakeholders, like the Olympic sponsors.

Yet pressure from younger members of society needs to be combined with new policy - and messaging - from the top.

Entrenched gender roles mean many women step off the career track when they have kids, missing out on leadership opportunities (Credit: Alamy)

When Japan's new leader, Yoshihide Suga, took office in September 2020, he named just two women in his cabinet (Credit: Alamy)

Kamio doesn't know how long it will take to reach a better level of gender parity, pointing out that despite some changes, social attitudes mean that boys and girls are still raised differently. "As a mother of a boy, I keep reminding myself how important it is to make him help with housework," she says.

But journalist Shirakawa says Mori's forced resignation represents significant progress, noting that had it happened even a few years ago, he might have been able to simply apologise and keep his job.

And unlike previous generations, Nojo and Tanaka - two women in their 20s - say they aren't concerned about the repercussions of their activism as they look for jobs. But even they aren't ready to enter politics. "I know someone has to do it," says Nojo, "but I don't feel like I can be happy if I become a politician," adding that she may have been affected by what she sees in the political arena and how hard she thinks it would be to thrive there.

A survey by research body Dentsu Institute, meanwhile, showed that while people increasingly want the gender equality issue addressed, they expect it to take a long time; participants estimated that it would take 24.7 years before women make up 30% of Japanese company management, and 33.5 years for women to make up half of national lawmakers.

Underlining the slow progress, late last month, yet another high-profile Olympic official had to step down over sexist comments. Creative Director Hiroshi Sasaki suggested it would be appropriate to dress Japan's plus-sized celebrity comedian, Naomi Watanabe, up as a pig for the opening ceremony and call her "OlymPig".

We still have a long way to go.

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A day after former Tokyo Olympics boss Yoshiro Mori made global headlines with his sexist comments, Momoko Nojo, 23, helped start a petition calling for action against him. "The aim wasn't his resignation," says Nojo, whose petition - co-created with 10 other women - took two days to collect 100,000 signatures.

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Japanese woman who don't follow mainstream beauty standards

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Japanese woman who don't follow mainstream beauty standards

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Photo: pixabay.com

As anyone with an internet connection likely knows, Japanese fashionistas are notably stylish. Many residents espouse stylish choices with unique sensibilities that comprise cutting-edge trends unique to the island nation. Take, for example, genderless influencers like Peco and Ryuchell who flash unisex outfits on Instagram. Or the numerous YouTubers embracing avante-garde street fashion such as lolita or chicana. Although eye-popping, these stylish trendsetters often require a double-take.

However, there is a dark side to this image-conscious country. Many young people report a low sense of self-worth, and poor body image is increasingly a problem, especially among young women. These negative attitudes are likely driving many to consider cosmetic surgery as the COVID-19 lockdown provides ample downtime. Indeed, many residents feel pressured to look their best, even if drastic steps are required.

Just like any culture, Japanese culture considers a handful of physical traits to be beautiful. Westerners living in the island nation have likely been confounded by compliments aimed at their "high noses." Although they may seem backhanded at first, residents often admire individuals with a high nasal bridge. Most Japanese natives have low nasal bridges and many are envious of this trait, which they consider beautiful.

Of course, there are other common notions of beauty, several of which may also be difficult for outsiders to understand. On her YouTube channel, Ryo :3 talks about the pressures that Japanese women face to uphold these ideals, and what happens when they choose not to or are unable to do so.
Tanned in Japan
Ryo jumps right into Japanese standards of beauty. The YouTuber quickly admits that she bends the rules when it comes to what is considered attractive in her home country and thinks that it's important for others to feel the same.

Regardless, Japanese culture has long considered white, light skin to be pleasing to the eye. This norm likely developed as whitening cosmetics were imported from China in the Asuka period (the 1300s). Privileged people used these cosmetics, and the pale complexion they displayed became a cherished trait.

However, in the 1990s and 2000s, a counter-trend developed. These women had darkly-tanned skin and wore heavy makeup. According to Ryo, this trend may have been part of a larger pushback on stringent social norms. Japan is a country that values uniformity. During this period, many residents increasingly chose to express their individuality, which they did by making louder fashion choices.

Overall, Ryo thinks that this is a healthy way of thinking. Individuals need not conform to others' expectations of beauty but instead, they should do what's best for them. Ryo enjoys having darker skin, even though it is not traditionally beautiful. For her, darker skin feels healthy, and sun exposure helps her control her acne. Just because she is a woman does not mean she needs to do the same as the women of yesteryear.
Tall in Japan
Again, Ryo is taking time out of her normal content schedule to talk about beauty. Ryo is above average in height. More specifically, she is 181 centimeters tall. Unfortunately, being so tall in Japan is not particularly comfortable.

Naturally, in a compact island nation, amenities and structures in Japan are typically small. This causes trouble for tall people, who often have to crouch over and watch their heads as they go about their day. Furthermore, Japanese residents are not typically tall. Afterall, Ryo reminds, the average male is about 170 cm. This makes shopping for clothes particularly challenging for the YouTuber. Ryo often seeks out more Western garments and import stores. Unfortunately, she can only do most of her shopping abroad.

Finally, Ryo notes that tall women do not conform to typical beauty standards in Japan. Japanese culture mostly favors petite women who are considered cute. Ryo received a lot of negative attention over her height as she grew up and had difficulty fitting in and dealing with her insecurities, especially when she was a teenager. She often felt judged by others and had to deal with bullying. This was a hard experience for a young person to shrug off.

Nevertheless, Ryo is an adult who now recognizes her own individuality and beauty. She knows she must make choices for herself and cannot live to meet other people's expectations. Learning English and learning about other cultures helped her become more comfortable with herself. She thinks others should do what they have to adopt a similar mindset.

Read more stories from grape Japan.

-- Illustrator's charming key chain design gives you a travel companion to paint with nature

-- Unsettling experiences on the train and how a young commuter stepped up [manga]

-- Model artist creates stunningly detailed Evangelion diorama using 100 yen shop items

© grape Japan

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Japanese women who don't follow mainstream beauty standards

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As anyone with an internet connection likely knows, Japanese fashionistas are notably stylish. Many residents espouse stylish choices with unique sensibilities that comprise cutting-edge trends unique to the island nation. Take, for example, genderless influencers like Peco and Ryuchell who flash unisex outfits on Instagram. Or the numerous YouTubers embracing avante-garde street...

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Evolution of the feminist movement in japan-Machiko Matsui

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Evolution of the feminist movement in japan-Machiko Matsui

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https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/4316048.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3A1694ec1d8adfecdfcc15da7c706b8c69&ab_segments=&origin=&acceptTC=1

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The Infantilization of Women in Mainstream Media and Society

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By: Tavisha Sood Throughout history, women’s physical appearance has been under dispute, constantly being altered, reshaped, redesigned and rethought for the benefit of the patriarchal society and the male gaze. Over time, the slow and steady infantilization of women, in particular of their physical…

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Despite the role that social media has played on her road to success, Little Thunder has mixed feelings about how our digital interconnectedness can affect creativity and artistic motivations. She says, "Drawing is a really personal thing, but now that we live in a world of social media, it makes art more complicated. The artist will be affected by other people's opinions, how many 'Likes' they'll get, or whether or not their art will really resonate, which are all things that contaminate the purity of the art. I know that it's hard to maintain that kind of purity, but at the very least you need to understand that you are the very first viewer of any of the artwork that you create, and if it's able to give you a positive reaction, then it's already a success."

Little Thunder 在网络上吸引了大批的粉丝，现在已经成为香港最著名的漫画艺术家之一。尽管社交媒体是 Little Thunder 获得成功的因素之一，但她对于数字社交对人们创造力和艺术动机的影响有着复杂的感情。她说："绘画本是非常个人的事情。但现在我们生活在社交媒体的世界里，这让艺术变得更复杂了。艺术家会受到别人意见的影响，会关心他们能得到多少个'赞'，或者他们的艺术是否能与观众产生共鸣？这些都会玷污艺术的纯粹。我知道，要保持这种纯粹并非易事，但至少你需要明白，你是自己的作品的第一个观众，只要你喜欢它，它就已经是一件成功的作品了。"

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Exploring femininity with Hong Kong-based illustrator Little Thunder

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Despite the role that social media has played on her road to success, Little Thunder has mixed feelings about how our digital interconnectedness can affect creativity and artistic motivations. She says, "Drawing is a really personal thing, but now that we live in a world of social media, it makes art more complicated.

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Born and raised in Hong Kong, Little Thunder 門小雷 is the talented illustrator behind the amazing tattooed breastfeeding mama on the cover of Issue #34 of The Natural Parent Magazine, which is out on New Zealand shelves now. Her work often depicts strong female subjects, and draws on Japanese manga, American pin-up art, and her own cultural history. We spoke to Little Thunder to learn more about her, and about her work.

We absolutely loved your piece depicting a breastfeeding mother - for obvious reasons - what inspired you to create this piece?

Thank you. I think that breastfeeding and tattooing are still not widely accepted by the society. It is a very strange thing. Tattoo is a declaration, a commitment to oneself, and breastfeeding is a very natural behavior that human beings are born with. Both are actually a way of expressing love, and it is a very personal matter. Creating this piece is to bring out a seemingly strange but warm picture.

What does your work aim to say?

I like to paint strong and confident women, not necessarily the "strong" kind of "strong", but believe that one is strong, the woman who knows herself and is honest, is the sexiest. I hope I can show it by painting.

Tattoo is a declaration, a commitment to oneself, and breastfeeding is a very natural behavior that human beings are born with. Both are actually a way of expressing love, and it is a very personal matter.

Women, seem to play a significant part in your artwork. Would you say that's true? How does your work comment on current social or political issues?

Sometimes I paint some sexy and charming girls, and I will be judged on the Internet, saying that I should not materialize women. I have never planned to materialize women. The "feminism" in my mind is that women can do whatever they like, even if they are car girls and strippers, as long as they really want to do it, it is right.

Who are your biggest influences?

Every period has a very influence on my work. Recently, "Tuzuka Osamu" of "Buddha" has been shocked again and constantly thinking about life.

Which current art world trends are you following?

This question has been thinking about me for a long time. Is there any artistic trend I am following? It is indeed inspired by other painters, but it is not because of the trend that affects me. It seems that art has no time limit, and suddenly it can touch you.

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Little Thunder: Illustrator with Keen Storytelling Abilities

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Born and raised in Hong Kong, Little Thunder 門小雷 is the talented illustrator behind the amazing tattooed breastfeeding mama on the cover of Issue #34 of The Natural Parent Magazine, which is out on New Zealand shelves now. Her work often depicts strong female subjects, and draws on Japanese manga,

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https://hypebae.com/2018/4/little-thunder-comic-artist-me-art-book-exhibition-hong-kong-interview

"Since learning pole dancing a few years ago, I’ve started to pay attention to the female body and its movement. I began to realize how alluring it is to be sexy, and I wanted to translate that into my art. Sexiness isn’t just about having a voluptuous figure or posing seductively. Girls are attractive when they understand themselves well — what they have or might not have. Being vulnerable and honest with yourself is what makes you sexy." Little thunder

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Do not mistake Little Thunder for just another illustrator. With a keen eye for observation and exceptional storytelling abilities, the comic artist is among one of the most prolific in the Hong Kong art scene. Since getting her comic strips published in a local newspaper when she's only a teenager, Little Thunder has never stopped creating. Her meticulously fine brushstrokes and perfectly blended colors have taken her to many places over the years, from working with established brands like Nike, Dior and Shu Uemura, to becoming the first-ever Asian artist invited to perform at the prestigious Angoulême International Comics Festival, Europe's largest comics festival.

Following the release of her pole dancing moves encyclopedia THE BLISTER EXISTS last year, Little Thunder has recently launched her latest art book and exhibition entitled in Japan and Hong Kong. Learn more about the artist and her new show by reading our interview below.

What's the meaning behind the title of your new book, #Me? Does it have anything to do with social media?

This book is about the little things in life that many girls may find relatable. Before publishing #Me, I'd receive comments from a lot of people on Instagram, saying that they too have done things depicted in my work. I'd always get messages like "It's Me," "So me," "ME!!" - and that's where the title of the book came from.

From showing in Tokyo and Kyoto to bringing the exhibition to your hometown Hong Kong, what has been the most satisfying part about this project?

The texture of prints are definitely incomparable with that of original art. I was so glad to see visitors in Tokyo and Kyoto really studying my work. I've also noticed that audiences from different places seem to have varying habits of appreciating art. While the Japanese are into drawings that involve storytelling, like comics, people in Hong Kong tend to be attracted by my individual portraits.

When did you know you want to become a comic artist?

I really enjoyed watching Japanese anime when I was a kid. When I was eight years old, I began drawing comics on my school exercise books. My sister is my first-ever reader. I never had plans to become anything in particular career-wise. Drawing keeps me happy, that's probably why I've never stopped doing that.

As a comic artist, you're always telling stories through your art. What are some of your favorite stories to tell? Are there any particular subjects or themes you like to explore through your work?

I love telling stories that are a bit surreal, and subtly conveying some kind of message in my art. In terms of topics, they keep changing as I grow older. Through my comics, you'll be able to get a glimpse of whatever my thoughts are at a particular phase of my life. I'm not a talker myself. Drawing comics allows me to express myself without using words.

How has growing up in Hong Kong shaped your artistic sensibilities?

Hong Kong was an absolutely stunning place during my childhood. It wasn't perfect, but it was full of character. I'm not saying these because of nostalgia. Even when I was very little, I was already obsessed with that kind of beauty. Although the city is becoming more and more unappealing these days, we shouldn't lose our aesthetic sense because of our surrounding environment. Be observant and you'll be able to find something beautiful, even from within what might seem to be ugly.

Girls, and very often sexually-empowered women, seem to play a significant role in your art. Would you say that's true?

Since learning pole dancing a few years ago, I've started to pay attention to the female body and its movement. I began to realize how alluring it is to be sexy, and I wanted to translate that into my art. Sexiness isn't just about having a voluptuous figure or posing seductively. Girls are attractive when they understand themselves well - what they have or might not have. Being vulnerable and honest with yourself is what makes you sexy.

From music and film to fashion and beauty, you've been tapped to collaborate on various projects throughout your career. What's something you'd like to try next?

I never make any specific plans, but I'm always eager to try something new when an interesting opportunity arises. I learn so much every time I work on a brand new project. I love being able to be spontaneous and having room for improvement.

What are some things or people that you're currently inspired by?

Probably people and things I encounter. Whether you like them or not, you could always grasp something new by observing what's around you and by feeling emotions deeply.

Little Thunder's "#Me" exhibition is currently running in Kyoto, Japan until April 14. Check out the location below, and head over here for more information.

"#Me" Exhibition (Kyoto)
Art&Books petitame2/F, 313 - 3 Hayaocho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 600-8114, Japan

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Meet Little Thunder, the Comic Artist Telling Beautifully-Drawn Stories of Girls

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Do not mistake Little Thunder for just another illustrator. With a keen eye for observation and exceptional storytelling abilities, the comic artist is among one of the most prolific in the Hong Kong art scene. Since getting her comic strips published in a local newspaper when she's only a teenager, Little Thunder has never stopped creating.