Faculty Introduction
KOMIYA, Tomone professor
Specialized fields
Sociology, Gender Studies
Subjects Taught
Gender and policy, Gender in daily life, Policy design practice
Learning in Department of Policy Design × My Area of Expertise
The ability to think of "policy" not as something for politicians, but as something that each of us considers, ponders, and acts upon as a means to improve our own lives, is what we cultivate in Department of Policy Design.
Our lives are greatly influenced by the distinction of "gender," whether we like it or not. Clothing and hairstyles, the types and colors of toys we are given as children, school uniforms, career choices, occupational choices, career development, family formation, the burden of housework and childcare... at every point in our lives, the choices we make are directed by our gender. Gender studies delve deeply into the workings of these social forces that restrict our lives and the resulting constraints and inequalities. How can we create a society where the life choices available to us are not different depending on whether we are male or female, whether we are attracted to the same sex or the opposite sex, or how we perceive our own gender?
Our society is built on communication between people. Therefore, changing the communication around us literally means changing society.
Casual conversations with friends and family, shopping at stores, school lessons, interactions on social media, political debates, watching mass media—all of these are forms of "communication" in a broad sense. My research involves recording, reflecting on, and analyzing the mechanisms of various forms of communication. Through this research, why not join me in thinking about "policies" to "design" better communication?
Introduction to Exercises I and II
Theme: Communication and Gender
- Both "gender" and "sexism" are social phenomena that arise from "communication"!
- You will acquire the ability to study everyday communication (anything!) from a gender perspective, using sociological and philosophical methods.
- You will acquire the ability to design communication for an equal society.