IGWS Newsletter Vol. 47

  • Report and Students’ Feedback of the 36th IGWS Seminar
  • Report of the 2nd Performance Presentation,“Expression Exercise of Gender Diversity”
  • The 12th Annual Symposium on Graduation theses and Graduation projects about gender
  • Essay from Alumnus: “A perspective of ‘personal is political’ for interpersonal support”
  • Essay: “Gender in the work of students”
  • Announcement of the Lunchtime Sessions

Report of the 36th IGWS Seminar: “Diverse human resources and diverse working styles create a wonderful future for company and society!”

Speaker: Ms. Keiko Shimokata (Executive Officer of DENSO Corporation)

 On November 20, 2018, we invited Ms. Keiko Shimokata, who is an executive officer of DENSO corporation.

 According to Ms. Shimokata, DENSO's aim is "diversity & inclusion" to respect invisible differences such as values and experiences as well as visible differences such as gender and nationality.

 The first of the missions advocated by DENSO is to promote the activities of disabled people. DENSO established Denso Taiyo Corp. in Gamagori City with the enactment of the Act on Employment Promotion etc. of Persons with Disabilities in 1960, and began regular recruitment of disabled persons. Furthermore, in 2016, the company organized a special subsidiary Denso Blossom Corp. Many people with disabilities also work in DENSO, and they are responsible for the safety and ability to work comfortably in the company.

 The second mission is to promote women’s greater participation in the workplace. The female employment rate in Japan is at the lowest level among developed countries and is especially apparent in the Chubu region. In fact, the number of female managers of DENSO are few. Currently, we increase female employees in order to increase the number of candidates for managerial positions soon. We promote an initiative with the goal of “creating a company that can continue working for a long time.” Ms. Shimokata said that she will continue to work on the reform of women's greater gender awareness and to make more flexible work patterns.

Report of the 2nd Performance Presentation, “Expression Exercise of Gender Diversity”

 The common subject at ASU, “Expression Exercise of Gender Diversity I & II" is a distinctive subject that studies gender through theater. Ms. Atsuko Ishikawa, part-time lecturer at ASU, reported on the process of creating a play, including the assignments and workshops given in the class.

The 12th Annual Symposium on Graduation Theses and Projects about Gender

 The meeting was held on January 24, 2019. The names of the students and their theses are as follows:

AMAKUSA, Miki. Faculty of Human Services, Department of Social Services
“Comprehensive consideration of brain in young people”

KUKITA, Yumi. Faculty of Global Culture and Communication, Department of Global Culture and Communication
“What is the ‘genderless boy’ phenomenon”

MAEGAWA, Risa. Faculty of Media Theories and Production, Department of Media Theories and Production.
“The renovation of Adachi Obstetrics and Gynecology”

SAKASHITA, Karen. Faculty of Media Theories and Production, Department of Media Theories and Production.
“Gender and youth: the production of documentary films based on interviews”

TAMAYA, Yuka. Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Medical Sciences
“Gender differences in empathic communication” (※ poster session only)

Essay from Alumnus: “A perspective of ‘personal is political’ for interpersonal support”

Mr. Ryo Nakamura, who graduated the Faculty of Psychology from ASU in 2016, contributed an essay for us.

 I am studying clinical psychology in a master's program at graduate school. The role of psychologists is to support the process of self-determination independently, through activities such as counseling, so that they can adapt themselves to society and live as they are.

We need to always understand the social background of an object from the perspective of the “personal is political” in order for the individual to make self-directed decisions. Perhaps there is embedded gender that is not visible. Therefore, I feel that interpersonal support workers should have sensitivity about gender.

 Currently, in the master's thesis research, I examine “the impact of women’s sense of value and mental health from being seen as sexual objects under the theme of “the examination of the factors that form and maintain a culture where it is acceptable for women to be viewed as sexual objects. After obtaining my master’s degree, I will be involved in the field of interpersonal support as a school counselor. I will always think about the cases I encounter there from the perspective of “personal is political” and try to contribute to the happiness of many people.

Essay: “Gender in the work of students”

Prof. TOFF Mika, a professor at the Faculty of Global Culture and Communication at ASU, sent us an essay.

 I teach ‘life writing’ at my seminars. In the seminar, as a final project before graduation, students will summarize their life so far into a project of about 30 pages in English.

 Naturally, it takes more time and effort than in one’s native language. That’s why they have time to think more deeply and recognize themselves that they haven’t seen yet. As they work on this assignment, they make many new discoveries about themselves.

 Various works written by the students are on topics about gender. For example, some student write “I was expected a feminine hairstyle and dress from an early age” or “I was brought up to believe ‘you are supposed to use girl-like language’”, and “the choice is either to do well in business or marrying someone and having a home with children.

 While writing such stories, students will be able to decide on their own life by resisting expectations and fixed concepts about gender in Japanese society. By questioning the general thinking a little, you will be able to see different options. Then, you can cultivate the power to convey to others and build confidence by communicating.

 Students learn a lot while they finish writing this assignment. As I am proud of my students ever year, I always have mixed feelings because I really felt their graduation.


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