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Rainbows and closets : A study on sexual minorities’ experiences in a changing Japanese society

Walldén, Klara (2018) ACET35
Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University
Abstract
Sexual minorities have been largely ignored in Japanese politics until very recently. The past couple of years have seen a change where LGBT issues have been brought to attention in both politics and in media. This thesis explored what impact these changes have on the lives of individuals, and the research was a qualitative study based on fieldwork in Japan and secondary sources. The study drew on Butler’s Performativity theory, Fraser’s theory of Recognition and Foucault’s theory of Power. The study found that the local changes in policies contributes to greater awareness, and encourages continued discussion. They do not, however, impact the social expectation and pressure that sexual minorities experience to any significant degree. The... (More)
Sexual minorities have been largely ignored in Japanese politics until very recently. The past couple of years have seen a change where LGBT issues have been brought to attention in both politics and in media. This thesis explored what impact these changes have on the lives of individuals, and the research was a qualitative study based on fieldwork in Japan and secondary sources. The study drew on Butler’s Performativity theory, Fraser’s theory of Recognition and Foucault’s theory of Power. The study found that the local changes in policies contributes to greater awareness, and encourages continued discussion. They do not, however, impact the social expectation and pressure that sexual minorities experience to any significant degree. The study also showed that media influence regarding stereotyping is strong, thus affecting sexual minorities negatively, although later years have seen a progress towards fairer representations with underlying educational and sympathy seeking intentions. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Walldén, Klara
supervisor
organization
course
ACET35
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
LGBT, sexuality, gender norms, Japan
language
English
id
8962180
date added to LUP
2018-10-22 16:18:53
date last changed
2018-10-22 16:18:53
@misc{8962180,
  abstract     = {{Sexual minorities have been largely ignored in Japanese politics until very recently. The past couple of years have seen a change where LGBT issues have been brought to attention in both politics and in media. This thesis explored what impact these changes have on the lives of individuals, and the research was a qualitative study based on fieldwork in Japan and secondary sources. The study drew on Butler’s Performativity theory, Fraser’s theory of Recognition and Foucault’s theory of Power. The study found that the local changes in policies contributes to greater awareness, and encourages continued discussion. They do not, however, impact the social expectation and pressure that sexual minorities experience to any significant degree. The study also showed that media influence regarding stereotyping is strong, thus affecting sexual minorities negatively, although later years have seen a progress towards fairer representations with underlying educational and sympathy seeking intentions.}},
  author       = {{Walldén, Klara}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Rainbows and closets : A study on sexual minorities’ experiences in a changing Japanese society}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}