EY Y04 L22 Gender Roles

  1. There are many jobs, both in Japan and around the world, that are dominated by men. Name one. Why do you think this is a "man's job"? Could a woman do this job as well as a man?
  2. There are many jobs, both in Japan and around the world, that are dominated by women. Name one. Why do you think this is a "woman's job"? Could a man do this job as well as a woman?
  3. Can you think of any jobs that should only be done by either men or women? Or do you believe that anyone can do any job, regardless of their gender? Why?
  4. Have attitudes towards gender roles in Japan changed much in the past 20 years? Are men and women becoming more equal? Why?
  5. As a person living in Japan, do you think life is easier for men or women?
  6. Are you glad you were born the gender that you are? Why?

Question 1

One "man's job" that comes to mind is truck driver. My grandfather was a truck driver when he was young. It sounds like a very difficult job because you have to stay focused all the time to ensure a safe trip. You also have to be gone for long periods of time while getting little rest. A women can also do this job, but not many would probably want to. I know one woman who did and it seems that she was pretty good at it. She told me that you have to be really tough in that line of work and she did quit to go into teaching later on.

Question 2

I think the most female dominated occupation in Japan is kindergarten teacher. I believe this is a "woman's job" because women have more of an inclination to take care of young children. A man can also do this job, but he would have to have a nurturing and sensitive personality, not to mention a lot of patience.

Question 3

I don't believe there are any jobs that can only be done by a man or woman specifically, though some jobs could be better suited for one or the other. Humans have the ability to adapt to different situations and environments, so I believe that it really just depends on the person and what they are driven to do.

Question 4

Japan is seeing a change, though it seems to be happening at a slower pace than some other countries. More women are joining the workforce even after becoming mothers, though I think that has more to do with the economy. I hope we will achieve a good balance soon despite the state of the economy.

Question 5

It's hard to say who has it "easier" because both men and women have a lot to take care of in life. Everyone experiences life differently and we all have both difficult and easy periods. It's not really fair to make general statements like "men/women have it easier".

Question 6

I haven't really thought about it much, but biologically I feel like being a man might be easier because they don't experience periods, childbirth, and menopause.

Tough Vocabulary