TY - JOUR
T1 - Gender construction in five Japanese serial dramas
T2 - Fantasy and the real lives of Japanese youth
AU - Poerwandari, Elizabeth Kristi
AU - De Thouars, Tara
AU - Hirano, Keiko
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 Asian Center for Women's Studies.
PY - 2014/1/1
Y1 - 2014/1/1
N2 - This study aims to capture how gender is constructed in Japanese serial dramas and to see whether they provide new or different roles and values. This study looks at five Japanese serial dramas which include: "Anego," "Jotei," "Magerarenai Onna," "Ohitorisama" and "Freeter Ie O Kau." The research results can be grouped under a few dominant themes. It was observed that the majority of women in these dramas are still trapped in stereotypical feminine roles who may try to struggle for independence but still face several obstacles and misery. However, a small number of women (the main protagonists of these dramas) fight to embrace different female identities. These serials also suggest a new construction of gender ideology and relations, whereby women and men can develop more equal partnerships and more liberated non-stereotypical sexual relations. The dramas selected in this study reflect the complex lives of people in contemporary Japan, the challenges they face in the context of economic hardship, and the dreams or fantasies about different and possible new lives. Essentially, media plays quite a significant role in influencing people and in the construction of new ways of life. With changing gender ideology and relations, serial dramas are gradually constructing new norms in real lives for the young generation in contemporary Japan. Because these dramas are also popular in Indonesia, we present some data on their influence in the lives of Indonesian youth as well.
AB - This study aims to capture how gender is constructed in Japanese serial dramas and to see whether they provide new or different roles and values. This study looks at five Japanese serial dramas which include: "Anego," "Jotei," "Magerarenai Onna," "Ohitorisama" and "Freeter Ie O Kau." The research results can be grouped under a few dominant themes. It was observed that the majority of women in these dramas are still trapped in stereotypical feminine roles who may try to struggle for independence but still face several obstacles and misery. However, a small number of women (the main protagonists of these dramas) fight to embrace different female identities. These serials also suggest a new construction of gender ideology and relations, whereby women and men can develop more equal partnerships and more liberated non-stereotypical sexual relations. The dramas selected in this study reflect the complex lives of people in contemporary Japan, the challenges they face in the context of economic hardship, and the dreams or fantasies about different and possible new lives. Essentially, media plays quite a significant role in influencing people and in the construction of new ways of life. With changing gender ideology and relations, serial dramas are gradually constructing new norms in real lives for the young generation in contemporary Japan. Because these dramas are also popular in Indonesia, we present some data on their influence in the lives of Indonesian youth as well.
KW - Cultural studies
KW - Gender construction
KW - Gender relations
KW - Japan
KW - Japanese serial dramas
KW - Sexuality
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84964539480&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/12259276.2014.11666183
DO - 10.1080/12259276.2014.11666183
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:84964539480
SN - 1225-9276
VL - 20
SP - 97
EP - 132
JO - Asian Journal of Women's Studies
JF - Asian Journal of Women's Studies
IS - 2
ER -