Names as Symbols of Dominance

Mai Yamaguichi, OCU

If you think about the power of a name, you must also think about the power of a society that gives names to things. Japan is an interesting place in which to examine the meaning behind a name. In Japan, the ways in which careers, for example, are named in the news are quite different between men and women, it seems, but quite unnoticeable. Female doctors are called “Joi” (女医), which means “female doctor” while male doctors are called “Ishi” (医師), which means simply, “doctors.” Another example is that female writers are called “Josei-sakka” (女性作家), which means “female writers” whereas male writers are called “Sakka” (作家), which means “writers.”

From this practice of naming, I think many people imagine that doctors are automatically males. Therefore, the word “female” is attached as an adjective for the woman who has this career. This kind of naming says something about Japanese society where “normal” thinking has men primarily at work and where it is rare that women also work. This kind of naming doesn’t represent reality. This article discusses how names for careers have an affect on people.

In Japan, the way to name a career is different depending on gender. This practice creates an obvious question: why do people ignore “male” as an adjective for careers that men have but use “female” as an adjective for women with careers? Many may people think that working people are men. Many people come up a "male" doctor when they hear the word "doctor". Therefore, people think that people who work are male because of that. However, many women work recently. For that reason, the thought, which says working women are strange, has to be reversed. If many people think that doctors have to be men, women doctors might be uncomfortable to work as doctors and it might be hard for them to success.

Isn’t it best to treat working men and working women equally? As mass media help reinforce this unfair idea of difference, unequal salaries that women and men receive can be legitimized. The number of working women is increasing; however, it is harder for them to earn the kind of money that men traditionally earn. Changing attitudes begins with the media, such as television, newspaper, and magazines. The mass media can begin a new practice and drop the gender-specific naming of careers so that differences can fade away. If this can happen, Japanese people can begin to change their thoughts that only men are doctors (or writers). Media have great power to improve Japanese people’s thoughts about the roles we take up. Media should be used more responsibly to create a sense of mutual respect across the sexes so that we can make a fairer world for all people.

In recent years in Japan, many women want to work just as men have done traditionally. The truth is that many men today also do house work and help raise children even more than their wives do. This why, I think, mass media should deal with men and women equally to recreate a society in which all people can live happily and with dignity. 

The Necessity of National Scholastic Tests

Matsuda, Natsuki, OCJC

In Japan nowadays, various topics on education are being debated in the government quite regularly. Adding English education to the elementary curriculum is one topic that may still be fresh in our minds. There are so many competing arguments about education. One topic that I would like to introduce is the National Scholastic Test. This test takes place every year in every school throughout Japan. It is meant to measure students’ ability in their core academic skills, to measure schools’ environment, and the kinds of skills teacher bring to classroom teaching. In Japanese we call this test, 全国学力テスト.

The national government and the schools are now debating whether the National Scholastic Test should take place or not. The government points out that the National Scholastic Test helps students and schools to raise their academic skills by competing against other schools. Schools argue, however, that the results from the National Scholastic Test do not necessarily show the real academic level of schools. Because of this, schools argue that the test is unnecessary and should come to an end. I believe that National Scholastic Test is necessary in understanding academic levels in Japan.

By taking this test, students will be more motivated to receive a clear result of their growing knowledge each year. From this result, students can also create a new goal in their school life. At last, the test will also benefit teachers and the school itself by seeing what kind of work and environment the school had provided or isn’t providing.

To support this evidence, I also have a personal story. During my student life, I had to take a test called SAT, short for Stanford Achievement Test, which had the same purpose as the National Scholastic Test. Throughout elementary to middle school, my average grade was 60~70%. I was an average student or even below average some years. However, during my freshmen year in high school, my teacher called me in during lunchtime. In her hand, she held my SAT score and said, “Take a look at this.” To be honest, I thought I was in big trouble for something I didn’t remember. However, my teacher was smiling and said, “Do you understand it’s very rare to have students jump up 20%?” My SAT score showed that my average rose from 70% to 92%.

From this experience, I became even more motivated to study. This clear result that I was given each year showed me how much effort I had put into learning, or even how much I had slacked off. Teachers enjoyed the same effect too. When I had a great teacher for a subject that I wasn’t strong in, my SAT scores rose; however, even in my strong subjects, there were times when my scores dropped when I disliked a particular teacher. Overall, the SAT became my goal to show how much studying I did in a year.

From these experiences and results, one could argue that the National Scholastic Test will produce the same sort of results for students. The test is necessary because it motivates students who want to see clear results. It will create a new goal, and will show each school’s academic levels. Just like it has changed my perspective on studying, other students can change theirs also. By keeping the test, Japan can see a positive change in public education.