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https://theconversation.com/what-sanae-takaichis-popularity-among-women-says-about-gender-equality-in-japan-288599>
"Politicians don’t often find themselves on packages of cookies. Nor do their
bags tend to go viral, sparking a fashion craze.
But few politicians are quite like Japan’s first female prime minister, Sanae
Takaichi.
Since she took office in October, Takaichi has developed somewhat of a cult
following, particularly among some younger voters and women. They’ve sparked a
phenomenon known as
Sanakatsu (Sana-mania), consuming all things related to
Takaichi.
Make no mistake: Takaichi is no progressive. In fact, she has pushed
conservative positions on issues many feminists have fought to change, such as
allowing married couples to keep separate surnames and permitting women to
inherit the imperial throne.
Takaichi has also built her political identity around relentless work. In a
recent social media post, she described surviving on very little sleep while
reading cabinet papers, ironing handkerchiefs and sewing loose buttons.
Though her popularity has declined recently, many analysts have tried to
explain her popularity and what it says about women and politics in Japan.
Some have observed young people and women support Takaichi not because she is a
woman, but because they prioritise policies aimed at improving their financial
lives over abstract questions of gender equality.
Others argue her gender is precisely the point: after decades of male
leadership, many voters simply wanted to see a woman at the top.
As an anthropologist who has spent more than a decade researching Japanese
women, however, I think these explanations tell only part of the story."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
