A new report from the United Nations has claimed that manga, anime, and video games produced in Japan promote gender stereotypes and violence against women and children.
The report was published following an in-person review of Japan’s progress on implementing the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
The report pointed out that stereotyped gender roles continued to be a root cause of violence against women based on gender or sexual orientation.
It then expressed concern that forms of media, including manga, anime and video games “could potentially encourage gender-based or sexual orientation-based violence against women and girls.”
It recommends that Japan implement “effective legal measures and monitoring programs” to address the production and distribution of such content.
This has drawn criticism from Japanese politician Taro Yamada, who argued that the report’s claims are unfounded and infringes on freedom of expression.
Yamada stated on social media that no questions regarding manga, anime, or games were raised during the in-person review, despite their explicit mention in the final report.
He has called for the CEDAW to disclose the sources and evidence behind their concerns and is considering requesting a retraction if this information is not provided.
The CEDAW report acknowledges Japan’s Fifth Basic Plan for Gender Equality, which aims to challenge unconscious gender bias.
Interestingly, the latest report is similar to the one published in 2016. At that time, the committee had noted that the manga, anime and games promoted sexual violence against women and children. The part about gender stereotyping was missing from it.
However, the committee remains concerned about the persistence of gender stereotypes in Japanese society, particularly in media and entertainment.
The report highlights the prevalence of stereotypical representations of women and girls in various forms of media, including television, the internet, and social media, which it argues contributes to violence against women.
The committee recommends that Japan develop comprehensive strategies to dismantle gender stereotypes, promote positive portrayals of women in media, and effectively implement existing legal measures to address the production and distribution of media that reinforces harmful stereotypes.
The report also emphasizes the need to address gender stereotypes towards minority groups in Japan, including Ainu, Burakumin, and Zainichi Korean women and girls.
It calls for effective measures to counter these stereotypes within relevant government sectors.
Adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1979, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is regarded as an international bill of rights for women. Comprising a preamble and 30 articles, it defines discrimination against women and provides a framework for national actions to eliminate it.
Source: Taro Yamada on X
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using a sanji picture for this serious topic is odd
The UN should mind their business.
Right! They show the bad stuff that happens in life represented in the events of the stories, but that doesn’t mean they condone it… They can’t ignore the bad problems and try to blame something else..
Why you use Sanji Picture?
Because the article is written by toei
The UN should mind their business.
Right! They show the bad stuff that happens in life represented in the events of the stories, but that doesn’t mean they condone it… They can’t ignore the bad problems and try to blame something else..
Why you use Sanji Picture?
Because the article is written by toei
using a sanji picture for this serious topic is odd
Sanji is a chivalrous character to put it simply. He is surprised that anime and manga are being accused of these things, especially violence against women and children. That was the whole thought process here
are you the one who wrote the article?
We have studies and research already proving sexist representation and sexualization further promotes sexism and danger to us. Japanese women and children are very marginalized in their country. Shonen manga and anime WILL have to stop doing this.
Not being violent towards women is kind of sanji’s entire thing, you should probably change that thumbnail image.
Anime and manga DO promote violence and mistreatment of women and children so it’s good they’re being held accountable. Every media industry should.
No, it doesn’t,dumbass, middle east has gruesome treatment towards woman and children
Any moron who believes Anime incites violence against women, must have never watched Anime, because it’s the exact f-ing opposite as it’s the women who abuse men 90% of the time.
Ever heard of Sakura Haruno, Taiga Aisaka, Rukia Kuchiki, Winry Rockbell or Nami from One Piece?
Well, there are hundreds of female characters like them in other series.
Just say you want female superiority and you are a misandrist.
We have studies and research already proving sexist representation and sexualization further promotes sexism and danger to us. Japanese women and children are very marginalized in their country. Shonen manga and anime WILL have to stop doing this.
Not being violent towards women is kind of sanji’s entire thing, you should probably change that thumbnail image.
Anime and manga DO promote violence and mistreatment of women and children so it’s good they’re being held accountable. Every media industry should.
No, it doesn’t,dumbass, middle east has gruesome treatment towards woman and children
Sanji is a chivalrous character to put it simply. He is surprised that anime and manga are being accused of these things, especially violence against women and children. That was the whole thought process here
are you the one who wrote the article?
Any moron who believes Anime incites violence against women, must have never watched Anime, because it’s the exact f-ing opposite as it’s the women who abuse men 90% of the time.
Ever heard of Sakura Haruno, Taiga Aisaka, Rukia Kuchiki, Winry Rockbell or Nami from One Piece?
Well, there are hundreds of female characters like them in other series.
Just say you want female superiority and you are a misandrist.
Gtfo you scuuum using Sanji picture for your horrid useless article. Sanji is a Hero, he saves women and kids. He’s the kindest straw hat. You don’t know one piece, we are sick and tired of lame creepy haters like you coming from other lame deceased manga. You suck so much
That was the whole point of using Sanji’s pic. As I mentioned before, Sanji is a chivalrous character; he’s genuinely shocked by accusations that anime and manga promote things like violence against women and children. That was the entire thought process.
Gtfo you scuuum using Sanji picture for your horrid useless article. Sanji is a Hero, he saves women and kids. He’s the kindest straw hat. You don’t know one piece, we are sick and tired of lame creepy haters like you coming from other lame deceased manga. You suck so much
That was the whole point of using Sanji’s pic. As I mentioned before, Sanji is a chivalrous character; he’s genuinely shocked by accusations that anime and manga promote things like violence against women and children. That was the entire thought process.
“There are some things money can’t buy; for everything else, there’s Mastercard” God bless Anime & Manga
“There are some things money can’t buy; for everything else, there’s Mastercard” God bless Anime & Manga
the UN peacekeepers raped a lot of people so im not sure what theyre on about
You are the first here to state the little known truth. The UN is a r aping and massacring machine. It is not just women, but children too that are affected. UN whistleblowers have admitted this. They are never prosecuted as they have the equivalent of diplomatic immunity, and are thus untouchable. Sites like globalresearch dot ca document these heinous deeds. Also look up the Rwandan genocide and UN connection. If the UN ever shows up in your town/city, hide your women & children. Anime & manga could never properly capture the hyper-villainy of the subversive UN.
the UN peacekeepers raped a lot of people so im not sure what theyre on about
You are the first here to state the little known truth. The UN is a r aping and massacring machine. It is not just women, but children too that are affected. UN whistleblowers have admitted this. They are never prosecuted as they have the equivalent of diplomatic immunity, and are thus untouchable. Sites like globalresearch dot ca document these heinous deeds. Also look up the Rwandan genocide and UN connection. If the UN ever shows up in your town/city, hide your women & children. Anime & manga could never properly capture the hyper-villainy of the subversive UN.
I honestly do not understand what they mean when they say anime and manga promote violence and harm towards women and children. As a lady myself and a huge fan of anime and manga culture, I can say that the medium has some quite um…………………………………interesting aspects, but those aren’t the main point of stories told in it. Alot of anime and manga cover deep and personal topics that the authors themselves were either concerned about, or had experienced in the past. Some even cover social and economic problems in the world, some serve as a good way for people to learn more about different topics like Japanese history, or even subjects like math or science. Honestly, I think the UN should focus on the problems they should actually be stopping instead of trying to ruin an originally niche and treasured medium of expression.