Position of Women in the Traditional Japanese Society

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Film is an imitation employed by writers to express views ad opinions in society. In many fictional films, characters are portrayed with either better or worse behaviors as compared to behaviors of real characters. Other actors try as much as possible to match the objects of the film with real life events. In his works, Azu differentiates between the new generation and the old generation (Wood 117).

It is noted that actors in the film are presented in a better way than they would appear in real life. In other words, Azu’s film presents characters in an idealized form. This would mean that the film criticizes the existing social structure because those with perceived antisocial behaviors are not welcome in society. Idealization means that characters live a complete and intense life as compared to real characters.

Real characters might be leading a miserable life. In the film, characters are awesome because they are given good qualities. This paper compares the lives of Noriko and that of his father. It is observed that Noriko is modern while her father is traditional. Noriko represents modernity while her father is the figure representing conservatism.

From the film, it is evident that women have never enjoyed their freedoms in the Japanese society due to barriers put in place by men. Noriko’s behavior show some ways in physical differences between men and women are used to show that women should be allocated inferior and degrading activities such as motherhood and secretary.

Moreover, the film shows that women are subjected to stereotypes, which portray them as weak. In the film, women are often excluded from public activities and are relegated to the private domain of the home. Women are ascribed feminine qualities and identities through the process of socialization.

In this regard, the director of the movie shows that women grow up in the traditional Japanese society knowing that their existence in society depends on the decisions made by men (Scott and Lyonette 24). This feature is evident in Noriko’s father. Therefore, Noriko’s is almost forced to live in a state of false consciousness.

As a traditionalist, Noriko’s father believes that oppression of women is inevitable in all male dominated societies. This means that political and economic power should be concentrated in the hands of men. There is a substantial social differentiation between sexes implying that women cannot perform the activities that are traditionally reserved for men.

In this case, it is impossible to change gender roles in society without revising the social structure. In this regard, the main aim Noriko is to revise the social structure. The main concern of Noriko is to ensure that women are incorporate into the economy. For her father, if change in the social structure is enhanced, social disorder will be inevitable.

Therefore, gender equality should be approached cautiously. Noriko’s behavior shows that no social structure is safe if it is maintained by oppressing a majority of its citizens (Manning and Robinson 168). For her, women should be allowed to participate in societal activities without discrimination.

In this case, women must be allowed to own land, participate in political processes such as voting for their preferred candidate, and present their candidature during elections. In Japanese society, women are never allowed to engage in activities that are perceived to belong to men.

From the pre-industrial period, men were powerful because of their physical strength and freedom from childbearing duties. Feminists, such as Noriko, observe that these factors allowed men to dominate women physically. In this regard, the aim of Noriko is to ensure that physical differences are not used to assign responsibilities to individuals in society.

The movie shows that cultural beliefs in society support a social structure that puts men in dominant positions (Oaxaca 10). From early childhood, children in the Japanese society are socialized to accept traditional gender roles as natural and just.

Noriko is against this perception because capability is not dictated by gender. In Noriko’s society, some academic courses were reserved for boys while girls were advised to take inferior courses.

The prestigious courses were believed to be pursued by men while women pursue the less prestigious ones. Noriko demanded that the society must appreciate the fact that women have the same capabilities as those of men. In the film, men control most of society’s wealth, prestige, and power.

Women are compared to the proletariat because they are like the workers who work under the directives of the bourgeoisie. Women are exploited and their culture is always devalued while the culture of men is valued. Most of the women’s work is devalued, particularly that of the home.

As a modernist, Noriko notes that subordination of women to men is a result of socio-economic factors, but not biological factors. Women are present in most social situations, but their presence is not appreciated.

Where they are not present, it is not because of inequality or lack of interest, but because there have been deliberate efforts to exclude them (Williams 17). Noriko supports historical developments that would present enormous opportunities to women. Developments in the law are one of the developments that would present chances to women.

Works Cited

Manning, Alan and Robinson, Helen. “Something in the Way She Moves: A Fresh Look at an Old Gap.” Oxford Economic Papers 53.3 (2004): 169-188. Print.

Oaxaca, Ronald. “Discrimination and the Decomposition of Wage Differentials.” Journal of Econometrics 6.3 (2004): 5-24. Print.

Scott, Jacqueline and Lyonette, Clare. Gender Inequalities in the 21st Century: New Barriers and Continuing Constraints. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 2010. Print.

Williams, Jim. Unbending Gender: Why Family and Work Conflict and What to Do about It. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000. Print.

Wood, Robin. Sexual Politics and Narrative Film: Hollywood and Beyond. New York: Columbia University Press, 1998. Print.

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Position of Women in the Traditional Japanese Society

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