Japanese Sociological Review
Online ISSN : 1884-2755
Print ISSN : 0021-5414
ISSN-L : 0021-5414
Search
Advanced search
OR
Browse
Search
Volume 60, Issue 2
Displaying 1-20 of 20 articles from this issue
Show all abstracts
    • |<
    • <
    • 1
    • >
    • >|
Articles
  • The Description of Actions and Identities in Our Social Lives
    A Sociological Examination of Judith Butler's Concept of Gender Performativity
    Tomone KOMIYA
    2009 Volume 60 Issue 2 Pages 192-208
    Published: September 30, 2009
    Released on J-STAGE: March 01, 2012
    DOIhttps://doi.org/10.4057/jsr.60.192
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Show abstractHide abstract
    What implication does Judith Butler's theory of gender performativity have for sociology? In this paper, we will attempt to answer this question by examining the notion of "gender as performative."
    Initially, we will point out two problems regarding the concept of performativity, a concept that is underpinned by Jacques Derrida's notion of "iterability." One problem is that the idea of gender as constructed through actions remains unclear. Another problem lies with the normative proposition that "subversion" should be adopted as a feminist strategy, a proposition that lacks sufficient grounds.
    However, if we move away from Derrida's concept, and instead investigate why Butler criticized the notion of gender as "socially constructed difference between sexes," then we will be able to pose a more accurate interpretation of the concept of performativity.
    Butler, in her criticism of the notion of gender, stated that "between free will and determinism," our thought was limited by "linguistic restriction." Here, we interpret this "restriction" as the logical limit of a causal explanation of human actions; it cannot deal with the very distinctive features of human actions, which are inherently described by society members, using language.
    The kind of identity we have in social settings is logically dependant on the description that we use to understand our actions. We organize our social lives using the logical connections between various concepts we have regarding actions, identities, bodies, and so on. Taking the concept of performativity as an expression of such logical connections, we will be able to give empirical accounts of the idea of gender, as constructed through actions.
    View full abstract
    Download PDF (361K)
  • Interaction Theory of É. Durkheim
    A Comparison of the Social Order Theories of É. Durkheim, T. Parsons, and H. Garfinkel
    Shoko TAKAHASHI
    2009 Volume 60 Issue 2 Pages 209-224
    Published: September 30, 2009
    Released on J-STAGE: March 01, 2012
    DOIhttps://doi.org/10.4057/jsr.60.209
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Show abstractHide abstract
    Classical social theories have usually regarded É. Durkheim as an exponent of structuralism and objectivism and as a sociologist who argued that social orders consist of shared beliefs or values.
    However, H. Garfinkel, one of the most famous advocates of the interaction theory, recently presented an alternative interpretation of Durkheim's view on social order. According to Garfinkel, Durkheim proposed that social orders are formed by people's mutual participation in social practice, and that social orders are essentially formed spontaneously by nature.
    The question that is addressed here is "what are the aspects of Durkheim's view on social orders that attracted Garfinkel's attention and eventually led him to link Durkheim with the interaction theory?"
    The purpose of this study is to outline the connection between the interaction theory and Durkheim's claim about social orders, which has been regarded as the exponent of objectivism and structuralism.
    In The Division of Labor in Society, Durkheim considered social orders as associations formed by people's free mutual participation. J. -J. Rousseau was influential on Durkheim in terms of forming this viewpoint of social order.
    On the other hand, T. Parsons considered social order differently, in that he believed that stable social orders inevitably require shared beliefs or values. Since T. Parsons has had a major influence on social theory and the interpretation of Durkheim, Durkheim's own viewpoint about social order has unfortunately been neglected by almost all sociologists to date.
    In this study, Durkheim's viewpoint on social orders is compared with that of Parsons. In addition, it is argued that Durkheim's viewpoint, as inherited from Rousseau, has crucial similarities with Garfinkel's interaction theory.
    View full abstract
    Download PDF (363K)
  • The Impact of the Merit-Based Wage System on Morale and Productivity
    Is the System the "Carrot" or the "Stick"?
    Shingo TATSUMICHI
    2009 Volume 60 Issue 2 Pages 225-241
    Published: September 30, 2009
    Released on J-STAGE: March 01, 2012
    DOIhttps://doi.org/10.4057/jsr.60.225
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Show abstractHide abstract
    A survey was conducted among corporate human resource managers and employees on the introduction of a merit-based wage system. The results revealed that a perception gap exists between the two groups. In order to analyze the impact of this system on morale, four criteria were selected, based on the employees' perception of the system. It was found that morale increased among employees who were aware of the implementation of the system. However, when looking at the relationship between the system and productivity, increases in productivity occurred only in companies that had already introduced the system. This suggests that, in addition to morale, there is another factor that has an effect on productivity. As employees recognize the two variables of the system—gross wages and quick promotion/pay rise—it appears that the productivity of employees increases.
    View full abstract
    Download PDF (1457K)
  • Christian Reformism and Literature in Jogaku zasshi
    Akiko OKADA
    2009 Volume 60 Issue 2 Pages 242-258
    Published: September 30, 2009
    Released on J-STAGE: March 01, 2012
    DOIhttps://doi.org/10.4057/jsr.60.242
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Show abstractHide abstract
    In rethinking the meaning of women's involvement in the construction of champ littéraire (Bourdieu 1992), this paper focuses on the relationship between Christian reformism and women's writing in Jogaku Zasshi, the first women's magazine in Japan, published in 1885. Women's writing in Japan was influenced by the Christian culture presented in both American and British women's magazines, and was welcomed in the reformist context; this was particularly the case in the field of Japanese literature in the late 19th century. Some of the writers developed monological and colloquial styles, although the consistent use of Christian morality was challenged by the magazine Bungaku kai. One of the members of Bungaku Kai, Kitamura Toukoku, separated literature from religion, while Higuchi Ichiyo used a literary strategy to challenge the politics of gender and the moralistic literature that was prevalent in Jogaku Zasshi.
    The practice of constructing champ littéraire was both independent from and transcendenced society. Premised on the idea of "literature for society", it was also founded upon Christian morality. Moreover, the writers for Jogaku Zasshi encouraged their educated female readers to embrace literature, by allowing them to read novels, although most educators were against it because reading novels was traditionally considered as lowbrow culture in Japan. Therefore, Ichiyo, and women's involvement in literature, played a crucial role in the construction of champ littéraire, a role that has been ignored by former researchers.
    View full abstract
    Download PDF (511K)
  • Ageing Population and Increase in the Degree of Income Inequality, Re-considered
    Sawako SHIRAHASE, Toshiko TAKEUCHI
    2009 Volume 60 Issue 2 Pages 259-278
    Published: September 30, 2009
    Released on J-STAGE: March 01, 2012
    DOIhttps://doi.org/10.4057/jsr.60.259
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Show abstractHide abstract
    The main purpose of our study is to examine the relationship between the degree of income inequality and the ageing population by taking into consideration the macro-level economic climate since the mid-1980s. Our study consists of three parts. First. we explore whether the change in the degree of income inequality is large enough to support the claim that the degree of income inequality has increased. Second. we decompose the change in the degree of income inequality into the three main factors which are the one due to demographic transformation, ageing population, and the one within age groups, and the one between age groups, and see which factors are the most important to explain the change in the degree in income inequality. Third. we examine the determinants of household heads. attitudes toward their living conditions. The data used in this study are derived from the Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions of the People on Health and Welfare (Kokumin Seikatsu Kiso Chosa) conducted by the Ministry of Health. Labor and Welfare in 1986, 1995, and 2004.
    Through our analyses. we confirmed that the degree of income inequality has actually increased since the mid-1980s. The increase in the degree of income inequality can be mainly explained by the demographic transformation that has occurred since the mid-1980s. However. the extent of increase in the degree of income inequality has not largely changed since the 1990s. while household heads are more likely to claim hardship in their living condition. It appears that people are more sensitive to disparity these days than they had been before. particularly among households where the head is aged in his/her 40s and 50s.
    View full abstract
    Download PDF (949K)
  • The Effects of Social Networks on Job Hunting
    Status Attainment and Safety Net
    Mitsunori ISHIDA
    2009 Volume 60 Issue 2 Pages 279-296
    Published: September 30, 2009
    Released on J-STAGE: March 01, 2012
    DOIhttps://doi.org/10.4057/jsr.60.279
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Show abstractHide abstract
    Prior studies found that individuals' social networks provide opportunities for finding high-status jobs. However, people do not always look for new jobs only to attain a higher status. For example, in the case of people who need another job because they were laid off, social networks may play a role as a support resource when trying to escape unemployment. In this paper, I investigate the effects of social networks in providing such a safety net as well as networks that are instrumental in attaining higher-status jobs. I use data from "The Social Stratification and Social Mobility Survey in Japan, 2005"; moreover, in my analyses, I take into account the reasons for changing jobs.
    The results showed that social networks helped those who had involuntarily left their jobs to find new ones. These networks primarily consisted of family members rather than acquaintances. This suggests that at least in Japan, people's social networks are likely to serve as a safety net for escaping from unemployment rather than as an instrumental resource for finding high-status jobs.
    View full abstract
    Download PDF (951K)
Book Reviews
    • |<
    • <
    • 1
    • >
    • >|
feedback
 Top