Post by smartarse on Aug 12, 2009 15:07:39 GMT 10
One of the many reasons why I love the International Herald Tribune is the 'Room for Debate' section of its website.
Occassionally the issues are wacky or narrow (from the point of view of debaters at least), but mostly they are debate-worth issues.
Heres a classic example: roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/11/womens-work-and-japans-hostess-culture/?ref=global-home
Much is said about the surprisingly low status of women in Japan (given its level of economic development) but its very difficult to find concrete examples of what could be done to change that.
With that in mind, it might be fun to debate banning the 'hostess' industry as one part of a series of measures to change the perception of women in Japan.
One thing that (broadly speaking) sets Japanese women apart from their Western counterparts is the dizzying array of patronizing professions and practices that are common place there.
Its not to say that there isn't offensive pornography, poorly regulated prostitution or sexually exploitive industries for women in the West (eg. strippers, 'bikini carwashes', etc) but at least those things are controversial in the west and men (especially high-status buisness men, public officials, etc) have the good sense to be ashamed of themselves when caught out frequenting these sorts of places.
But in Japan they are more numerous, often more perverted, and hugely more socially acceptable. Anyone who has ever been to Japan will have a story about seeing men of all ages reading hardcore porn (real or cartoon based) openly on crowded trains without anyone else seeming even slightly put off by it. You don't see that in Australia. You also don't see 'women's only compartments on trains because sexual harashment is so rife that women often don't feel safe.
So while the lower status of women in Japan might not be because of things like the hostess industry (its mostly likely the result of deeply ingrained social and religious values just as it is in the West), there is a good argument that these sorts of professions reinforce and validate that traditional view.
But on the other hand, if the alternative is for women to work in lower-paying and low-status jobs (like in convenienvce stores) then that doesn't seem to be a win for women.
Interesting issue I reckon!
Occassionally the issues are wacky or narrow (from the point of view of debaters at least), but mostly they are debate-worth issues.
Heres a classic example: roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/11/womens-work-and-japans-hostess-culture/?ref=global-home
Much is said about the surprisingly low status of women in Japan (given its level of economic development) but its very difficult to find concrete examples of what could be done to change that.
With that in mind, it might be fun to debate banning the 'hostess' industry as one part of a series of measures to change the perception of women in Japan.
One thing that (broadly speaking) sets Japanese women apart from their Western counterparts is the dizzying array of patronizing professions and practices that are common place there.
Its not to say that there isn't offensive pornography, poorly regulated prostitution or sexually exploitive industries for women in the West (eg. strippers, 'bikini carwashes', etc) but at least those things are controversial in the west and men (especially high-status buisness men, public officials, etc) have the good sense to be ashamed of themselves when caught out frequenting these sorts of places.
But in Japan they are more numerous, often more perverted, and hugely more socially acceptable. Anyone who has ever been to Japan will have a story about seeing men of all ages reading hardcore porn (real or cartoon based) openly on crowded trains without anyone else seeming even slightly put off by it. You don't see that in Australia. You also don't see 'women's only compartments on trains because sexual harashment is so rife that women often don't feel safe.
So while the lower status of women in Japan might not be because of things like the hostess industry (its mostly likely the result of deeply ingrained social and religious values just as it is in the West), there is a good argument that these sorts of professions reinforce and validate that traditional view.
But on the other hand, if the alternative is for women to work in lower-paying and low-status jobs (like in convenienvce stores) then that doesn't seem to be a win for women.
Interesting issue I reckon!