TEACHER'S COLUMN

What image does ‘hot springs poster’ bring to mind? For many people, it is likely the figure of a young woman. Gender studies is deeply connected to these stereotyped images of hot springs. This poster fits into the theory of the male gaze, in which men are treated as subjects to do the viewing and women as objects to be viewed. Images of gender are unknowingly pervasive; for example, many detergent commercials depict women doing housework. Recently, we also see commercials that specifically show men doing housework, but in both cases, gender-specific roles exist as a common perception.

From the perspective of hot springs, various examples related to gender studies can be brought to light. In the first place, gender norms vary by country, era, and social structure. While Japanese people are considered to have little resistance to openly displaying their bodies, in Europe, private parts are not shown, even to members of the same sex or family members. In addition, while today it is common for men's and women's baths to be separated, in the Edo period (1603-1868), many hot springs were mixed bathing facilities.

Hot springs from a gender perspective is an interesting topic, but it is still in its nascent stage as a research field. On the other hand, I feel that student interest in LGBT and gender issues has been increasing. This is especially true at APU, where students come from many different countries, with very different experiences and cultural backgrounds. Gender is not simply armchair theory; it is connected to our daily lives. I believe that first questioning images of men and women that are taken for granted will lead to a better understanding of gender.