tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047592645785906566.post1143326893803342548..comments2023-05-16T18:45:04.502+09:00Comments on Gwynnie's Adventures in Japan: Being Gay in JapanUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047592645785906566.post-38312440453862822262014-06-24T04:11:52.957+09:002014-06-24T04:11:52.957+09:00Yaoi and Yuri are not good examples of homosexuali...Yaoi and Yuri are not good examples of homosexuality. These manga genres have nothing to do with homosexuality. These genres are the representation of heterosexual fetiches/fantasies portrayed on same sex couples. For example, in yaoi there is always a man and a woman (male character who behaves like a little delicate girl). Real male homosexual couples don't follow heteronormativity, this means, there is not a man and a woman in the relationship; both are the man. The same happens with lesbian couples, they both are the woman.<br /><br />Homosexual men are men who feel like men, think like men, etc. Same with lesbians, they are women who feel like women, think like women, etc.<br /><br />In order to understand this you need to stop seeing homosexuals and homosexuality through the eyes of heteronirmativity. Heteronormativity doesn't work with homosexuality.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047592645785906566.post-61596565351046675372013-08-19T14:27:51.044+09:002013-08-19T14:27:51.044+09:00This article is great. Insightful and pretty strai...This article is great. Insightful and pretty straight-forward. I am a gay JET, lived in Ibaraki and I think it's really about who you surround yourself with and the way you advocate for yourself. I do know the experience is also different based on where you're placed in Japan. For me I don't believe in "coming out" but due to the language/cultural barriers I have sat most of close Japanese friends down early on and explained to them, I am gay and exactly that means and how it does not change our friendship. As most Japanese are, many of my friends have been very straight-forward in the questions they ask me and we have some laughs as this breaks the ice a little bit. Yes I have had some back off a bit when they figured out I was gay but that's not someone you want in your circle anyways, who doesn't try to accept you. From now I would say there is just such a joy in seeing my close friends here become more open-minded and outgoing because of their care for me and I think that's what matters the most. As a foreigner and gay here we really are the diversity so it's finding ways to promote acceptance and connect with people in a way that eliminates the "differences" between you and them is the way to clear a nice path for yourself here. Chazhttp://iammylife.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047592645785906566.post-85040007243681605192012-03-19T07:00:19.053+09:002012-03-19T07:00:19.053+09:00Hey! As for being in rural areas, it would definit...Hey! As for being in rural areas, it would definitely be harder. Socialising in general is tricky when you don't speak Japanese, so I'd get studying ASAP! I guess you'd just have to be subtle about it and ask people who you think would be open minded and informative... or save up your money and make trips to the nearest big cities every few weekends!Gwyneth Hamannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07061967676436276862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047592645785906566.post-72493251595494088182012-03-16T17:03:32.874+09:002012-03-16T17:03:32.874+09:00Awesome article! Tons of information, I love it :)...Awesome article! Tons of information, I love it :) Just curious, if one is interested in teaching English in Japan through JET and they are gay, what happens if they are situated far from the large, urban areas where it's more open/the gay scene is found? I heard some people can be sent to very isolated areas, even disregarding the whole gay scene as opposed to just things to do in general :/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047592645785906566.post-54253015525287081482011-07-27T08:16:52.885+09:002011-07-27T08:16:52.885+09:00I was wondering about this a couple weeks ago. A g...I was wondering about this a couple weeks ago. A group of my students motioned me over to talk to them (all girls) and they were asking me what my plans for the weekend were. Then one student told me she was going on a date with a boy from another school. I gave her pat on the shoulder and wished her luck.<br /><br />I asked the other girls if they had boyfriends, they said no, and I told them I was surprised because they were all very nice, smart and funny. One girl told me "I don't have a boy friend because I like girls." I was surprised to hear that out loud in a very busy hall. It caught me off gaurd because when I was in HS and taught back in the states, nobody would ever say that in busy halls even if it was public knowledge that a person was gay.<br /><br />Great post as always Gwyn! Sorry you and Jeff are gone :(.Prestonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047592645785906566.post-65861926732473728502011-07-08T16:29:06.616+09:002011-07-08T16:29:06.616+09:00Thank you for this post! I often watch my students...Thank you for this post! I often watch my students and think about things like this.Tochigi Whitneynoreply@blogger.com