"Gender free" has become a target term for bashing in political and educational fields in Japanese society. The term is a Japanese coined one for the idea of "setting oneself free of socially imposed gender structure". The term attracted controversy in sex education discourse. In classroom activities, "gender free" is widely used, but the opposition group has raised the argument that education based on the discourse of "gender free" is too radical and destructive of traditional values. In 2005, senior political figures such as Ms Eriko Yamatani, LDP Upper House Member, and Mr Hosoda, the then chief Cabinet secretary and the Minister for gender equality made comments: Mr Hosoda stated that "the government does not use" nor "term its social significance" of "gender free" in the context of "reforming" the social implementation of gendered views, and the use of "gender free" is "undesirable in this context". Interestingly, the limited nature of Mr Hosoda's disapproval is ignored by the opposition group. This is the general context for the present pressure on the use of "gender free" and its retrospective influence on the argument surrounding the Basic Act for Gender Equality.
With the appointment of Ms Kuniko Inoguchi as the Cabinet Minister in charge of low birthrate and gender equality issues, the atmosphere within the Cabinet has seen some modification. A further move has been anticipated after Ms Inoguchi's joint statement with Ms Yukari Sato and Ms Satsuki Katayama, both House Members, for their clear stance against the back lash side at the foreign correspondent club. On the other hand, the appointment of Ms Yamatani as a ministerial aid for Ms Inoguchi leaves the possibility for future conflict within the Cabinet. For the time being, the discussion is savouring Ms Inoguchi, but speculation for a heated debate on the issue of reflecting "gender free" in the Basic Proposal for the Basic Act for Gender Equality remains.
"Gender free" has been focus of the debate in relation to the act for gender equality and the sex education. On 22 December 2005, the Cabinet has issued a carefully balanced statement, that "gender" is a "difference based on the socially and culturally constructed ideas for "manhood" and "womanhood" which sometimes causes "gendered prejudice", but "neutralizing gender relations" or deny "traditional culture" is against "the gender equality the people aspire". It is our task to monitor the outcome of this present political stand-still.
ICU Graduated School : Ryo HIRANO