Lately, I`ve been feeling the categorically insatiable urge to strangle the female heroine of the girlie anime series I`ve been translating.
Despite having reached the ripe old age of 17, she has not yet learned how to talk. Our heroine doesn`t have a speech impediment, per se, but instead she becomes curiously unable to express herself whenever the boy she likes enters a room, whenever she receives a compliment, and whenever she has to express an opinion or is otherwise expected to think. One becomes particularly aware of this fact when having to translate then transcribe her c... c... constant stu... stu... stuttering.
I have to admit that she is a highly likable character. And yet, this only makes her refusal to get a grip all the more irritating here. Despite all her best efforts, she is irreparably clumsy and stupid. But to make matters more interesting, she is unyielding in her love for Japan`s number-one-top-ranked-genius-cuteboy. Cuteboy, as it happens, detests stupid girls.
As a cultural outsider who had always assumed that feminine beauty was synonymous with retardation within Japanese society, that last bit came as a real shock to me. I mean, why should cutegirl even have to try to be smart in order to impress cuteboy? Especially when she is so obviously incapable? And why isn`t her stupidity as endearing to him as it is to the audience??
After discussing her dilemma with Japanese friends over the past few months, I may have finally discovered something interesting from all this. That is to say, I no longer believe that the "ideal" japanese woman need be dumb and submissive. No, no, it`s more difficult than that. Instead, she has to be naturally capable of great things, yet filial enough to sacrifice every ounce of her potential for the sake of her husband and family. For more proof of this, just look at Japan`s crown princess Masako.
Hey there Lea!
Please check out my latest post and feel very welcome to join!
Posted by: Mr. Salaryman | August 30, 2008 at 04:25 PM
There are actually quite a lot of female stereotypes in manga who are not daft, yet irresistably cute. Some are quite belligerent, like Chichi (Dragonball), Ranmas 1/2 Akane, Anna from Shaman King - but somehow these girls are liked despite being headstrong and smart.
I completely agree about the perfect Yamato Nadeshiko having to sacrifice everything including her personality.
Concerning gender roles in Japan, I've found watching "Kimi wa petto" quite interesting. And weird.
Posted by: Daruma | August 31, 2008 at 07:54 PM
About Yamato Nadeshiko, didnt anyone consider that if she really cared about being an "indivisual," and her "personality" maybe she wouldn't have married someone who would ask her to sacrifice it? All I am saying is this is 2008 and if all these women are worried about falling into the fold of Japanese stereotypes then that is a personal choice to not get married. I mean if someone was getting beat up by their boyfriend/husband/girlfriend we would say leave him/her so why can't Japanese women remove themselves from people who don't respect them?
Thinking about my own personal feminist path and what helps me sleep at night is: while I may not be able to change the way my culture as a whole views women, the only thing I can change is the people and relationship I come into personal contact with.
Posted by: Veronica | September 01, 2008 at 06:30 AM
That type of cartoon is very popular among those with Asperger's Syndrome. Easy to read facial expression, so I gather. Probably more to it and this heroine sounds wonderful and I would hope gets what ever she needs to get done. If she doesn't, then shame on them. Way to much negativity as it now stands.
The rate of Asperger's in Japan is very very low. It's interesting how the culture supposedly deals with this non-existing condition. It does make me wonder if the makers of this cartoon are hip to some of the reasons that it is popular. Interesting you would throw a stereotype on it. Is she really stupid? I know some that were considered to be such when young and now blow the IQ test off the scale. They want to study them and again, welcome to the world of labels. It's not fun when you come pre-wired for it. Very misunderstood.
Posted by: postpaleo | September 03, 2008 at 12:03 PM
Hmm. This character sounds a bit like me as a teenager. Is her mother overbearing by any chance?
My god, the idea that men want their women smart, capable of great things, but want them to sacrifice it all to be beneath them is so depressing. I like what Veronica wrote. It makes the whole problem seem at least slightly more manageable.
Posted by: VicariousRising | September 06, 2008 at 12:30 AM
"That is to say, I no longer believe that the "ideal" japanese woman need be dumb and submissive. No, no, it`s more difficult than that. Instead, she has to be naturally capable of great things, yet filial enough to sacrifice every ounce of her potential for the sake of her husband and family."
A++
Posted by: K | September 25, 2008 at 03:50 PM