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Faculty of Economics Department of Co-existing Society Studies

Recruitment stopped in April 2023

For all students enrolled in faculties and departments that will cease accepting new students, we will ensure that they maintain their affiliation with their chosen department and the educational environment there until graduation. We, the faculty and staff, will also fulfill our responsibility to provide support for their student life, career paths, and job placement.

Episode 15: "Can a man change?"

Held on June 30, 2018

Mr. Kai Nishii

Lecturer: Kai Nishii​

After working as a salaried employee, an NPO staff member, and a NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training), he is currently researching issues inherent in masculinity at Ritsumeikan Graduate Schools. He is the representative of "Re-Design for Men," a civic group that creates a forum for men, by men, and for men to talk about their issues.

Student impressions
  • Listening to this lecture, I thought about what "masculinity" truly means for the first time. I think there's an atmosphere in society where fixed notions of "masculinity" and "femininity" are taken for granted. Living in that society, I too have unconsciously come to accept them as normal. Listening to Mr. Nishii's lecture allowed me to pause and consider "masculinity" from a different perspective, something I don't usually think about in my daily life.
  • At the lecture, I learned about phenomena that arise from being trapped by traditional notions of masculinity. One such phenomenon is the act of leading, and I learned that leading can solidify gender roles, hindering men's participation in housework and women's advancement in society.
  • After listening to Mr. Nishii's lecture, I felt that the term "masculinity" makes life somewhat more difficult for us men. Furthermore, I felt that many young men today are not comfortable expressing that kind of "masculinity."
  • Hearing about the hierarchy of "having a girlfriend" among men reminded me of something that happened to me. It was the idea that when a woman says "I want a boyfriend," she's directing it to a specific person, while when a man says "I want a girlfriend," he's directing it to a large, unspecified group. I don't have proof, but I've always thought that was true, so after hearing what was said at the lecture, I thought it might be quite relevant to the hierarchy among men.
  • Through the lecture, I realized that men tend to be less articulate when it comes to expressing their inner feelings. I learned that this is related to the high suicide rates and social withdrawal rates among men. What stuck with me was the statement, "It's hard to change your thoughts, but you can change your actions." I want to create an environment where men feel comfortable talking to me.

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