Abstract
The “Yoseba” -laborers are a discriminated group, that is a minority group in Japan. Such a perspective on “Yoseba” -laborer has never been adopted in the preceding studies. In this paper I discuss three theoretical problems on “Yoseba” -laborer discrimination according to this perspective. And I aim to construct the working hypotheses on the structure of discrimination on “Yoseba” -laborers. First, I interpret the meanings which the difinition of “Yoseba” -laborer in the class theory might have for the discrimination theory. The “Yoseba” laborers are discriminated because of their lowest social status, and because of their district which is called as “Doya-Gai”. They are doubly discriminated. Thus we can define them as the minority group of minority group. Second, I pursue the logical process in which the “Yoseba” -laborers form themselves as a group. The minority group in the parent society are more. declined to become the “Yoseba” -laborers than the dominant groups. As soon as they enter the “Yoseba” -society, they are equally called as “Yoseba” -laborer regardless of their past categories. The “Yoseba” -society is the melting pot of diverse minority groups. Third, I construct the frame of reference in order to analyse the discrimination in the Yoseba-society. There the Burakumin, the Korean in Japan, the “handicapped”, and the Hibakusha aren't discriminated on the surface. But they are often discriminated in the concrete life situations. They are triply discriminated. We can define them as the minority group of minority group, and of minority group.
These hypothetical statements would give the theoretical direction to the future “Yoseba” studies. They must be tested with the abundant data.
