Current Events > Women of Japan speak out about pervasive sexual harassment and misogyny

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http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-43721227

In the space of a fortnight in Japan, a model accused a renowned photographer of exploitation and two top officials resigned over sex scandals. This has re-ignited the #MeToo debate in a country which has been reluctant to acknowledge it as a hard reality for women, as the BBC's Sakiko Shiraishi reports.

In Japan, where the spectre of public censure looms large, it is unsurprising that women are often discouraged from speaking out. A US state department human rights report notes that sexual harassment in the workplace remains "widespread".

But in the space of just a few weeks a spate of allegations has led to public figures being shamed, top officials resigning and also a backlash against the women behind the claims.

By far the biggest scalp claimed was that of Junichi Fukuda, the top bureaucrat in Japan's finance ministry who is accused of sexually harassing a female journalist by making suggestive comments to her. Mr Fukuda resigned last week but denies the allegations and has said he will sue the magazine that made the revelations for defamation.

Following his resignation, TV Asahi said one of its reporters had been the victim of harassment by Mr Fukuda and said it would lodge a protest with the finance ministry.

Suffering in silence
But perhaps most interesting is how all the institutions involved responded.

The finance ministry called on female reporters to step forward to co-operate with fact-finding, a gesture widely criticised, including by Seiko Noda, Japan's minister in charge of female empowerment, as tantamount to pressuring victims to stand up in front of those who allegedly harassed them.

Most telling is how the female reporter's own employer responded to her allegations. Hiroshi Shinozuka, the head of TV Asahi's network news division, explained she had taken her story to the magazine after being advised against reporting it.

"We are doing some deep soul-searching as regards our inability to respond appropriately despite receiving information that one of our employees had been sexually harassed," said Mr Shinozuka, who said the main concern was her emotional state.

Before Mr Fukuda's resignation, Japan's Newspaper Workers' Union issued a blistering statement.

"Female reporters have had to suffer silently, despite being subjected to humiliating and mortifying treatment When a reporter accuses an interviewee of sexual harassment, the media company must respond immediately and adamantly to protect the human rights of the reporter as well as protect the safety of their working environment."

But the reporter has also seen a significant backlash on social media, from politicians and even celebrities. Many chose to critique the reporter for handing in the recorded interview to the magazine. Hirofumi Shimomura, a former culture minister, said he considered that "a crime in a sense" but later apologised for that comment.

Kazuko Ito, a lawyer vocal about the MeToo movement in Japan, said Japan's law against sexual exploitation is way behind other developed countries. Sex crime laws were amended last June after 110 years but for her the problem runs much deeper.

"Lack of legal protection, combined with cultural pressure to accept and bear one's hardship, make young women vulnerable.

"Japanese people are taught not to say NO," she added, saying that it is almost as if people are hardwired not to refuse unfair demands.

"What they need is solidarity across industries and societies. That will encourage more people to speak up."

good. japan has a severe problem with how it treats women and the fact women are expected to just be silent is repugnant.
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Feminists need to rise up and save womanfolk in Japan and throughout the eastern world.

And the alt-right will complain about feminism "infesting" their holy land Japan.
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Solar_Crimson posted...

And the alt-right will complain about feminism "infesting" their holy land Japan.

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Solar_Crimson posted...

And the alt-right will complain about feminism "infesting" their holy land Japan.

Oh definitely. You almost always see alt-righters with the weird ass anime avatars. This will enrage them! lol
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I hope some real change results from this.
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Send more American women to enact change
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Heineken14 posted...

Solar_Crimson posted...

And the alt-right will complain about feminism "infesting" their holy land Japan.

Oh definitely. You almost always see alt-righters with the weird ass anime avatars. This will enrage them! lol

Tell them they can continue to harass their 2D waifus at home.
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CensorErik posted...

Heineken14 posted...

Solar_Crimson posted...

And the alt-right will complain about feminism "infesting" their holy land Japan.

Oh definitely. You almost always see alt-righters with the weird ass anime avatars. This will enrage them! lol

Tell them they can continue to harass their 2D waifus at home.

those poor body pillows.
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So... those naughty cartoons are actually an accurate portrayal?

I'm okay with reform. I'm not okay with certain parties within the Western hemisphere trying to influence said reform.
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I support the movement and everything, but why do people on the internet who care so vehemently about womens' rights overseas only come out of the woodwork when the media sensationalizes something like this? Where were they yesterday and the day before, when women were beheaded for showing their ankles in Saudi Arabia? Where will they be next week, when women in Iraq are stoned to death for "allowing" themselves to be raped?

My dude nobody here is stanning for the gender relations of Islamic countries
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Zeraora posted...

I support the movement and everything, but why do people on the internet who care so vehemently about womens' rights overseas only come out of the woodwork when the media sensationalizes something like this? Where were they yesterday and the day before, when women were beheaded for showing their ankles in Saudi Arabia? Where will they be next week, when women in Iraq are stoned to death for "allowing" themselves to be raped?

But what about children starving in Africa
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Zeraora posted...

I support the movement and everything, but why do people on the internet who care so vehemently about womens' rights overseas only come out of the woodwork when the media sensationalizes something like this? Where were they yesterday and the day before, when women were beheaded for showing their ankles in Saudi Arabia? Where will they be next week, when women in Iraq are stoned to death for "allowing" themselves to be raped?

To be fair the article did specify "behind other developed countries". Obviously a figure in power wouldn't resign over harassment allegations outside of North American/EU/Commonwealth nations.
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