Research Project Proposal - 9/28/16

Research Question: Are female characters in Japanese anime and manga representational of realistic women or reflections of Japan’s enduring establishment of gender roles?

Introduction:

Since the beginning of animation, cartoons have entertained their audiences with both realistic and fantastical characters, including Japanese anime and its book format, manga. However, the issue of sexism is present in many of these series, where female characters behave coquettishly or are depicted as helpless in an effort to seem desirable. Traits in these characters, such as unrealistically small waists, large eyes and demure composures, captivate viewers to continue watching. These attributes are brought to life with cosplay, when fans of anime dress as their favorite characters and attend comic conventions, which is an area that I am familiar with. Attendees may be harassed or falsely associated with the behavior of the character they are dressed as, which is an issue that many organizations are attempting to resolve. However, fanatics of anime may decide to take cosplay in the opposite direction and modify their bodies to emulate a character who is perceived as attractive. Sexism in anime and manga will continue to be present if its female characters remain overtly seductive or coy, instead of realistic or heroic. Unfortunately, the sexualized image of certain characters may inspire young women to undergo detrimental medical procedures to achieve a similar appearance. Overall, the goal of my paper is to discuss how females are represented in anime and manga and how these seemingly innocent cartoons contribute to sexism in society.

Preliminary Research That I Have Explored:

Through the preliminary research that I have conducted, I discovered that it is customary that Japanese women assume a submissive attitude to men and their elders, contributing to a domestic lifestyle. The use of gendered language segregates the sexes at a greater level because women are instructed to use non-assertive words, which are opposite to the domineering way that men communicate with them. Similarly, the consequence of women acting confidently is shown in vintage Japanese cartoons, such as “Chikara to Onna no Yo no Naka” (Within the World of Power and Women). Created in 1933 by Kenzo Masaoka, the story follows a man who becomes exasperated with his demanding wife and has an affair with an attractive secretary. Several anime series also represent unattractive female characters in obvious ways, such as smaller eyes and hair colors that are not as bright as others who are deemed more popular or appealing. I plan to re-watch several series of anime where a range of female characters are present to illustrate this. In my paper, I will discuss how the characters are viewed by fans of the anime and if their behavior changes to become more demure. This research will be collected from online discourse communities, such as forums and videos, as well as the people I know who can identify the characters I am referencing. Another area of research that I developed knowledge about is organizations combating sexual assault and harassment at comic conventions. “Geeks for CONsent” and “Cosplay is not Consent” raise awareness of these issues by posting videos about mandating respect at conventions. Additionally, I have discovered that anime characters influence certain young women so much that they have drastically changed their own appearances in order to look like them. Anastasiya Shpagina, a Ukrainian-born 19-year-old, developed a YouTube channel about the makeup process she uses to transform into a “living doll.” At 85 pounds and five feet two inches tall, Shpagina aspires to continue her fascination with anime by having surgery to make her eyes larger. I plan to research many of these young women who have decided to alter their appearances and if they believe that there are any downsides to it.

Further Investigation and What I Aim to Learn:

Through the research I will conduct, I aim to learn more about the lexis associated with how females are viewed in the Japanese language. An example of this would be the word, “kawaii,” which describes an entity, living or inanimate, that possesses large eyes and childlike characteristics. I plan to also investigate what makes anime appealing to adults and how certain characters and settings provide a safe escape from reality. My initial reaction to this is to research which language people prefer to watch their anime in, Japanese or English, and if this difference in dialogue contributes to the characters possessing altered personalities. Furthermore, the issue of sexism in anime is rampant and I look to research if female authors depict the women in their series as more heroic and less helpless in an effort to reduce the amount of sexualized characters. Another issue that I plan on exploring is if there are differences between female characters portrayed in anime, where there are spoken words, and manga, which is the graphic novel format.

Preliminary Sources That I Have Explored:

Cooper, Lisa Marie. “The History of Anime.” Global History of Anime. RightStuf, n.d. Web. 27 September 2016.

Izawa, Eri. “Gender and Gender Relations in Manga and Anime.” Rei’s Anime and Manga Page: General Essays and Analysis. Rei’s Homepage, 2000. Web. 27 September 2016.

Nerd Caliber. “Cosplayers Speak Out Against Harassment at Otakon 2015.” YouTube, 23 August 2015. Web. 27 September 2016.

Placko, Meredith. “Costumes Are Not Consent: Combating Cosplayer Harassment." Blogging: Cosplay. Geeks Are Sexy, 4 April 2013. Web. 27 September 2016.

Spooky. “Anastasiya Shpagina (Fukkacumi) – Ukraine’s Real-Life Anime Girl.” News. Oddity Central, 10 September 2012. Web. 27 September 2016.