From a condition to a choice: gender and motherhood in adaptations of Torikaebaya

In this paper, I explore multiple versions of the Heian Period prose known as Torikaebaya with a principal focus on the two most recent manga adaptations, The Change published in 1987 and Torikae Baya published in 2013. I examine social and cultural changes in regard to gender and motherhood from the 1980s to the 2010’s by studying the different choices authors made when creating the adaptation and contextualizing those choices within their contemporary time periods. I further argue that even though it is often stated that Japan lags behind the European and North American societies regarding gender rights due to its rigid gender roles and expectations, Japan in some ways, in its popular culture and especially literature, may be equal or even more progressive than those societies. Torikea Baya as well as other manga and literature are subversive and critical of contemporary Japanese society and law in connection with gender and offer not only critiques of current societal norms but an exploration of gender and sexuality outside social norms.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

East Asian Studies

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2020

Author dc:creator

• Tyger, Suzie N

Contributors dc:contributor

• Tierney, Robert

• Gender
• Japan
• Torikaebaya
• Pop Culture
• Motherhood

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2020 Suzie Tyger

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/108535

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/108535