Sex and the Japanese City

Major cities in Japan, such as Tokyo, are so technologically advanced but still seem to be unable to overcome rather old fashioned gender stereotypes. Women are expected to be homemakers and raise children as their doting husband goes off to work. That is all well and good in a sort of fairytale way but it does not take into account the changing gender roles throughout the world. Although women are sorely underrepresented in business, the dream of marrying a rich husband has been overtaken by another, more practical dream, of self sufficiency. There really is very little wonder that, particularly with exposure to the western world, both genders in Japan are choosing not to follow the ‘acceptable’ path that is already established. 

Thing is, Japan seems to be in a weird limbo. It is as technologically advanced as anywhere, more so than a lot of places. But, until attitudes change and it, as a country, learns to adapt at the rate of other forms of progress, the younger, ‘child bearing’ generation of Japan will find fulfillment elsewhere, without sex and without marriage.

Misusing Misogyny

Arguably, there is little more damaging to the plight of Feminism than a woman screaming about the evils of misogyny without even knowing how to spell it. Yes, women still are fighting against a perception of equality, trying to show that, although we have the vote, we do not have sufficient respect. Women are shockingly underrepresented in businesses and in politics, not to mention the poisonous attitudes of men who think it is acceptable to confine a woman to the kitchen whilst he plays the newest C.O.D or G.T.A (so that he can be kept in sandwiches for the next twelve hours).

Of course, I am not generalising. Many men respect women and there are some women who cannot give men the respect they so heartily demand for themselves. But, my problem lies where educated, middle class public figures (who may or may not be able to bake) cite an imagined misogyny as the root of all their problems. We have come a long way since the idea of an ugly, haggard spinster feminist. There is no need to replace it with another way of shouting ‘down with patriarchy and misogyny’ via twitter and social platforms. We have heard it. Men have heard it. Feminism will get nowhere by being a cliche. This is where women such as Caitlin Moran come in. Moran is a feminist but a modern feminist, with new takes on inequality. I could be speaking for myself, if Twitter followers and popularity of her books were not on my side, in saying that we want to read her – not toss aside because it had been fed to us decades previous. Caitlin Moran is successful because people want to listen to her, not look away or try to find a way of turning her off. She rails against misogyny without becoming a broken record.

Women can, have and continue to be able to, form coherent and persuasive arguments based on facts, emotions and morals. Look at A Room of One’s Own. Woolf’s most famous essay continues to be influential because she cleverly paints a portrait, highlighting the evils of patriarchy and misogyny intelligently and creatively. The problem starts when women blame ‘misogyny’ for their faults rather than taking a stock of their problems. It is in this that we start to lose the argument!

Sometimes, girls, we are in the wrong. We do things that women would be just as ready to condemn you for. It’s not an issue of fitting in with a male dominated society, it’s sometimes just a personality problem that begins and ends with yourself – don’t be so quick to blame mankind.

For A Favourite Granddaughter – Dorothy Parker

Never love a simple lad,
Guard against a wise,
Shun a timid youth and sad,
Hide from haunted eyes.

Never hold your heart in pain
For an evil-doer;
Never flip it down the lane
To a gifted wooer.

Never love a loving son,
Nor a sheep astray;
Gather up your skirts and run
From a tender way.

Never give away a tear,
Never toss a pine;
Should you heed my words, my dear,
You’re no blood of mine! 

 

Caroline Anne, Composer

Caroline Anne, Composer

A Lincolnshire based composer of period pieces, Caroline Anne’s music is magical. On the website is a sample of her compositions and, on a Sunday afternoon (or any day of the week, really) it is brilliant to just put on the album and let yourself float away into a completely different time.

Inspired largely by the Brontes, their life and their writing, this is an emotional collection written by a woman with as much passion as Cathy Linton at her finest. Caroline is hoping to wow organisers of the Jane Austen Festival and play next year, as she has already had some interest from the organisers. As well as this, frequent visits to Howarth Parsonage, where the Bronte’s grew up, continue to inspire her writing and her music.

Even if you are not a fan of classical music, this is worth a listen. It’s beautiful and well thought out without being pretentious. It is both intricate and simple and, as cliche as it sounds, you are transported to somewhere that doesn’t depend on your money, your car and your commitments. For the duration of this album, you are truly free.

Anna being raped in Downton Abbey

Understandably controversial and heart wrenching to watch, Downton Abbey was criticised for being too ‘soap opera-y’ when Anna was raped by the visiting valet. Thing is though, is that, although violent and very hard to watch, that was a damn good bit of acting on the part of Joanne Froggatt.

Of course, we all fell in love with Anna when she was fighting for the release of Mr Bates – her tenacity and fire being both unexpected and admirable in a housemaid. Because of this, we all felt personally affected by her plight. But, to dismiss Downton and say that it lowered itself to being like a soap opera was unfair. 

We all knew what happened, but nothing was shown beyond the initial attack and the devastating sobs of Anna. In this way, it stopped quite a way short of being gratuitous and did not let the program become seedy – in other words, creators were not ‘cashing in’ on the violence.

Rape is subject no one wants to talk about but it happens – it happened then and it continues to happen now. Hopefully what will come out of this story line will be Anna’s strength and she will become a role model for women affected by similar attacks. We have already seen that she will not be a victim. Although visibly shaken and affected, we can see Anna sticking to her resolution and ensuring that – however misguided – she does not put her husband in danger. This selflessness and strength of mind is something that should be admired and, although the character was in one of the worst situations a woman could be in, I imagine we will see a strength develop that will be nothing less than admirable. 

Bridget Jones – Mad About The Boy

The new Bridget Jones has put Helen Fielding under an awful lot of scrutiny. Bridget Jones came back, without Mr Darcy, much to the horror of most of the female – and some of the male population – of most of the English speaking world. Of course, because of the untimely death of Mr Darcy which, let’s face it, is not much of a secret, I was in mourning for a week or so. However, we are missing the point if we allow this to overrule the magic which is the creation of Bridget Jones. 

Bridget has been an icon for generations of women. Yes, we followed her romantic endeavours for years in both the books and films but Bridget lets us know that we are doing okay with or without the added burden of a man. She shows us that we can move away from what is expected of us and just ride it out and make the best of any situation – ‘Keep Buggering On’ as it were.

A problem usually brought up is that she has help for her children and they are sent to a private school – something which is said to alienate readers as people will not be able to ‘connect’ with her.  This is hardly the point. She married well and he died and she wasn’t left to flounder. And besides, where children are sent to school shouldn’t put a whole readership off! If she hasn’t got herself together, at least her children were given the best start possible.

She also has help. But, this is because she is a professional, single mother with two children under ten. Of course she needs help! She had the rug pulled out from under her feet with the death of her husband – give Fielding some slack in not leaving Bridget without any sort of support network. People see this as Bridget giving in, and not being able to keep going without Mark but having help doesn’t make a woman weak! It makes her practical, resourceful, making the most of what was left to her. 

Mark Darcy is dead. That, my dear readers, is a fact that is unavoidable. But, Bridget still lives! Our Bridget. The Bridget that picks us up when we’ve had enough, the Bridget that convinces us that we are sane really. Bridget might be back with a nanny, privately educated children, twitter and a nice house in an affluent area in London but by God! Bridget is back. Give her a chance, even if the film makers do not.