The meaning of male in public space from viewpoint of sexuality

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to clarify the meaning of sex recognized as male in public space from viewpoint of sexuality. This study newly introduces the concept of ‘sex of appearance’ to elucidate spatial aspect of gender. On the basis of some texts of sexual minority in Japan, it is made clear that male sex in public space is the condition in which one’s ‘sex of appearance’ is male. This finding specifies the meanings of male in spatial measures that create ‘women-only car’ in contemporary Japan.