Submitted by: Zach Smith, zsmith@uca.edu on 03/04/2025
March 11 @ 6:00-7:30pm in McAlister Hall Rm 102
“Redefining Consent: Sexual Violence, Justice, and Women’s Emotional Labor in Japan”
Dr. Akiko Takeyama (Professor of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Director of the Center for East Asian Studies, University of Kansas)
The #MeToo movement ignited global discussions on sexual violence, consent, and accountability, including in Japan, where survivors spoke out. Cases like Kaori’s accusations against Nobuyoshi Araki and Shiori Ito’s revelations about an uncharged rape case exposed systemic issues in Japan’s legal and cultural response to sexual violence. In 2023, Japan amended its Penal Code to redefine rape as nonconsensual sex and raise the age of consent. This talk examines how rape myths, cultural attitudes, and legal history normalize sexual violence. Using NHK’s survey of 38,000 people, it explores how women’s emotional labor complicates perceptions of consent and justice.
