Embodying Japan: Cultures of Sport, Beauty, and Medicine 2017

Feminine Desire in Japan as an Agent of Social Change

Heterosexual women in Japan are increasingly seeking husbands that do not fit the traditional (stereotypical) ideal of the strong, stoic, and strict Japanese male that has been the traditionally preferred mate and instead seeking a man who is more "effeminate", sensitive, and kind. This has driven a change in men's fashion as well as a shift in men's working habits. One example of this is seen in the rise of Host Clubs where women are able to spend their disposable income acquired in jobs outside the home in an effort to woo and be wooed by this new desirable male. The video below shows the interactions of these new women and men, while pointing out that the traditional patriarchal machinations still hold tight on the psyche and behaviors of heterosexual Japanese relationships. While it's long, it gives a very interesting look into the practice of host clubs and how feminine desire is driving styles and behavior.



Despite the hype, these host clubs have a negative effect on the men that get involved with them. While the toll on women who are preyed upon is arguably worse, it is important to note that no one wins with this model.


While this is not meant to be critical of women gaining agency over their sexual desire, it is the most readily accessible aspect of the topic and displays the ways in which feminine desire can manipulate the commodification of sexuality in both men and women.

This page has paths:

  1. Gender and Identity in Modern Japan Shannon Brooks

This page has tags:

  1. Gender and Identity in Modern Japan Shannon Brooks
  2. Commodification of Identity Shannon Brooks
  3. Capitalizing on Japanese Youth Culture Shannon Brooks
  4. Biopower vwik
  5. Foucault marisa davis
  6. Masculinity Shannon Brooks
  7. Identity Shannon Brooks
  8. Nationalism Shannon Brooks
  9. sexuality Laydon Hutchins
  10. Pop Culture Shannon Brooks
  11. Gender Shannon Brooks
  12. Beauty Ideals Courtney Cho
  13. Shannon Brooks Shannon Brooks
  14. Japanese Popular Culture Laydon Hutchins
  15. Fashion Shannon Brooks
  16. The Great Happiness Space Shannon Brooks
  17. Confessions of a Host Shannon Brooks

Contents of this tag:

  1. Sexuality & The State
  2. Sex & Sexuality
  3. Sexuality & The Self
  4. Commodification of Desire
  5. The Salaryman, Hikikomori, and Hostesses
  6. Hostessing: A Role in Maintaining Corporate Relationships
  7. Gendered Dynamics of Sexuality
  8. Hostess Clubs
  9. Prevalence, Perception, and effect of Herbivore Masculinity
  10. Rejecting Japanese Nationalist Gender Identities
  11. Han 1 - Gender
  12. Sex Work and Venereal Disease in Occupied Japan
  13. Prefer favorite drink rather than beer when going out
  14. Japanese Popular Culture
  15. Tying It All Together: Enforced Identities and the interactions between them

This page references: