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1. There are many jobs that women do more often than men in Japan. Name one. Would you like to have that job? Why?
2. There are many jobs that men do more often than women in Japan. Name one. Could a woman perform that task as well as a man? Why?
3. There are many women, both in Japan and around the world, who have been trailblazers in vocations traditionally dominated by men. Name one. What did she do?
4. Tell me about one time that you have witnessed or been the victim of chauvinism?
5. Do you have a father/son/brother/husband who would (i) change a diaper? (ii) make the dinner? (iii) clean the toilet? (iv) do the ironing? (v) care for the elderly in the family? (vi) make the tea when a guest visits? (vii) clean the dishes? Do you think that gender inequality in Japan is getting better or getting worse? Why?
6. Are you glad you were born the gender you were born? Why?

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Question 1

The few times I've been to hospitals in Japan, I don't think I've ever seen a male nurse. They are common enough in Australia and I think the same is true of most western countries. I wouldn't want to be a nurse. The hours are terrible and the work is very demanding.

Question 2

The ESL teaching industry seems to be dominated by men. In most places I've worked, the ratio of male teachers to female has been at best two-to-one and at worst it has been men only. Could a woman be as good at teaching English as a man? Sure. As good as teaching as me though? I don't know about that...

Question 3

Amelia Earhart. She was the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean and set many other records. She was also instrumental in the formation of an organisation for female pilots called "The Ninety-Nines".

Question 4

I've been out drinking with Japanese co-workers in the past. It seems there is an expectation for the women in the group to pour the drinks. This always makes me uncomfortable. I try to make a point of pouring their drinks whenever they need a refill.

Question 5

My father does the ironing and cleans the dishes. He'll also make the tea for a guest, unless they'd prefer a beer. I don't see him as the type to change a diaper though. As a foreign person, I have to say that I think gender inequality is pretty bad over here, and I haven't seen much of a change in the fifteen years I've been in Japan.

Question 6

Of course I am. I can pee standing up!

Tough Vocabulary

- English -	- Japanese -
terrible	ひどい
demanding	厳しい
dominated by	によって支配
aviator	飛行士
fly solo	単独で飛ぶ
instrumental	器用な
formation	形成
expectation	期待
make a point of	要点を述べる