Women in the Language and Society of Japan: The Linguistic Roots of Bias - Paperback

by Naoko Takemaru (Author)

Feminist critics have long considered language a primary vehicle for the transmission of sexist values in a society. This much-needed sociolinguistic critique examines the representation of women in traditional Japanese language and society. Derogatory and highly-sexualized terms are placed in historical context, and the progress of nonsexist language reform is reviewed. Central to this work are the individual voices of Japanese women who took part in a survey, expressing their candid thoughts and concerns regarding biased gender representations. In their own words, they give voice to the reality of being female within the constraints of a traditional--and sometimes misogynistic--language.

Author Biography

The late Naoko Takemaru was an associate professor in the Department of World Languages and Cultures at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She was a faculty member for 20 years and taught numerous courses on Japanese culture, business, and language. She is also remembered as someone who had a passion for nature and animals, and especially loved cats. She was beloved by her colleagues and students, and known affectionately to them as "Takemura Sensei."