December 2005
Mela is more than informative. The constant thread that continually surfaces is that women share the same burdens in all cultures and countries. Some are shrouded more cleverly and others are more acutely oppressive. The Nigerian article (on the women who faced stoning) is particularly important. If we are not careful, we in the United States are not too far from these situations, especially in regards to the question of rape and adultery. Male dominance is being exerted and pushed nowadays from what I can see. The conservatism that is spreading and invading the U.S. is of much concern. This conservatism or returning to a “more traditional” pattern of culture is not restricted however to the U.S. alone. Traditionally tightly controlled countries, which have recently allowed women more freedom in the last half of the previous century, are trying to regain a male dominated lifestyle. One such country is Japan.
Domestic violence, the abuse of women, is one of the hidden secrets of Japanese life. The government, schools and societal life in Japan still limit women in everyday life, fail to protect women and keep laws from being changed. This situation is a common problem all over the world, but not one usually associated with the apparently orderly life of Japan. Japanese women have some safety measures in force nowadays through laws, and domestic violence is now openly talked about and “DV” is a popular term on television, but only as it applies to Japanese women.
Other women of foreign origin who are married to Japanese men, immigrants to Japan, refugees and other non-native Japanese women, have no help. These women are considered "non-existent," and in the hierarchy of Japanese society they have no recourse or safety nets. If they are abused they have nowhere to go. If they divorce, the law says the children stay with the Japanese father. If he doesn't want them, they go to the mother. Often, these children are considered "polluted," half-Japanese children and are unwanted.
Concerned women are trying to create safe houses to offer protection from attack by the husbands and to provide telephone crisis lifelines staffed with volunteers who can speak the languages of women needing help. Not all women in Japan speak Japanese or English.
At one point, the largest population that urgently needed help was the Brazilian population of Japanese descent. These families used their savings to get to Japan to work and to achieve their dreams during Japan's economic boom. The Japanese government encouraged them to come, promising them a better life among ethnically similar people. Believing the government, they came in large numbers, bringing their Brazilian language, religion and customs.
They may have distant relatives in Japan, but they are not accepted. During the 1990s when the Japanese economy was strong, life was fine. When the bubble broke, these immigrants were the first to lose their jobs and dreams. They're caught in a terrible situation of ostracism, no jobs, lack of skills, a language/cultural barrier and stress. Domestic violence increases. Since the government is ignoring the situation it is the work of a few aware Japanese and foreign women, who are now working to find homes where these women can go in times of crisis.
Another problem rarely acknowledged here is pornography. Magazines and comics which are sold openly in book stores, train stations and convenience stores, are full of various forms of pornography. They may be in glass cases, but they are easy to buy. Weekly/monthly magazines show women in sexual subservience. These are openly sold to anyone. The sex trade has many consequences for women. Among these consequences is the situation faced by some women emigrating from the Philippines. Often, when they are brought to Japan to "work," their passports are taken from them. They are then forced into prostitution to pay off their fare to Japan. The sex trade in hot springs and other resort areas use these women. Currently these women are in crisis. Forced prostitution has created many health problems, along with issues of national identity, especially when children are born to these women.
There are so few avenues of communication open to foreign women it's hard for them to be able to find or receive help, or even learn that there might be help available. There are only a few safe houses for foreign women in danger in Japan. Osaka and Nagoya each have one, and I believe Tokyo has three (although it's one of the largest cities in the world). Women in Hiroshima are currently working on a project to provide aid to women in crisis. We can only hope that more awareness of the plight of many foreign women will bring changes. There are Japanese people who are slowly becoming more aware and therefore a solution can be discussed and changes can be made.
[Continued in later blog.]
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