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Job Discrimination
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bluetortilla



Joined: 18 Apr 2006
Posts: 815
Location: Henan
PostPosted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 11:34 am    Post subject: Job Discrimination Reply with quote
Does anyone know of a source (in Japanese) that details the obstacles Western English teachers face here when trying to pursue a career in Japan? Also should be included the fact, with the exception of a few talented entrepreneurs, that pursuing a career in a Japanese company is equally difficult. I am trying to get a Master's Degree in TESOL now and move my family out of here. However, none of my Japanese in-laws are sympathetic with my plans and seem to think that if I just worked harder (earning wages cheaper than when I came here nearly 20 years ago), everything will be fine. I'd like to give them some literature that shows otherwise.

Thanks,

Philip
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Chris21



Joined: 30 Apr 2006
Posts: 366
Location: Japan
PostPosted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 12:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Do you speak perfect Japanese? If you don't, the obstacles you face should be pretty obvious.
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markle



Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Posts: 1316
Location: Out of Japan
PostPosted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 12:39 pm    Post subject: Re: Job Discrimination Reply with quote
bluetortilla wrote:
However, none of my Japanese in-laws are sympathetic with my plans and seem to think that if I just worked harder (earning wages cheaper than when I came here nearly 20 years ago), everything will be fine.


Why do you care?

Just show them how much more you'll make elsewhere (if that is the case).

Don't think you'll find much literature you are looking for, but there might be plenty to show the opposite. I take it that your in-laws are from that class of Japanese that think all gaijin (Western ones anyway) make a heap of money doing practically nothing.
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bluetortilla



Joined: 18 Apr 2006
Posts: 815
Location: Henan
PostPosted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 2:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Wow. Sensitive responses. Well, I've passed the 日本語能力試験一球(does that read in your browser?) so I must know something of the language. Been here nearly 20 years to boot...

I don't think it's a matter of assumption that just because you're a Westerner you're rich. I think they just DON'T GET IT. Japanese can be myopic in that way: 'hatarakerba ii,' 'daijoubu,daijoubu,' 'ganbareba ii,' 'bochi bochi yatte ikou,' 'nantoka naru sa.' Well, I got jack, no savings, no pension, no future, two children who I want to take back to America, and a wife who's irate day and night cause there's no money!

And you're wrong: I've seen anit-discriminatory literature out there before. Mostly to discourage racism towards Asian workers. I'm just as ignorant as you guys. Maybe some gaijin or sympathetic wife of a gaijin has posted something in Japanese on the net. It was at least worth asking. If you don't know, why reply?

I'll try to find something.

Philip
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Chris21



Joined: 30 Apr 2006
Posts: 366
Location: Japan
PostPosted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 3:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Not to sound unsympathetic, but with level 1 Japanese, you should have more options than many foreigners in Japan. Perhaps you should consider moving to a place that has more jobs for fluent foreigners, like Tokyo or Osaka? If it's teaching that you're interested in, you're going to need at least a MA to get something good. But if you're interested in a Japanese company, I've known people working in Tokyo IT and Finance companies, with only their Japanese ability as a decent qualification.
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bluetortilla



Joined: 18 Apr 2006
Posts: 815
Location: Henan
PostPosted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 3:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Chris, you're a wonder.

Yes, my best friend is an IT guy and a millionaire here in Japan. We went to school together in Tokyo. Only problem is that I'm inept at business, a scholar who just wants to ponder languages in a small city like Chiang Mai or even smaller like Udonthani. Lol.

What I mean is that some people just aren't cut out for that sort of thing, you know? God knows I love my friend but I could never do what he does. I have a hard enough time negotiating a translation! Smile

Teaching and studying is what I love.

Philip
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Apsara



Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 2142
Location: Tokyo, Japan
PostPosted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 11:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Never mind, seems like I still can't get kanji into my posts...

Last edited by Apsara on Sat Jul 28, 2007 3:21 am; edited 1 time in total
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Glenski



Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 12:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Quote:
Well, I got jack, no savings, no pension, no future, two children who I want to take back to America, and a wife who's irate day and night cause there's no money!
And you have been here 20 years, you said. What exactly have you been doing all that time?

You should be 5 years away from being able to collect a pension. Have you been putting into the pension plan?

Your Japanese language skill sounds good, of course, but even 1-kyu is not perfect. However, being here that long should have sharpened it up pretty well, so I'll assume you have better language ability than just what the test measures. Let us know if the case is otherwise, whether for spoken, written, or reading ability.

Give Arudou Debito a call. He's the leading proponent against discrimination in Japan, so if anyone has some leads on what you want, he'll likely have it. www.debito.org

I don't have a head for business, either, but my background is different than yours, so you and I would pursue different things here. How old are you? Being here 20 long years should have given you a sense of how to earn more money far sooner than today, I would think, so the question is, what have you been doing all this time? Many foreigners take on second or third jobs to supplement the family income. Have you? Second jobs can be anything from teaching private students to proofreading to conducting weddings as a fake minister. Their spouses sometimes work, too (is this your case?). Mine doesn't.
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J.



Joined: 03 May 2003
Posts: 327
PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 12:35 am    Post subject: Does your wife have a job? Reply with quote
If you're wife isn't presently working outside your home, then one way to (almost) double your income is to ask her to take a job. That might improve her sense of happiness as she will be directly contributing to the family finances.

I doubt that the in-laws will be swayed by literature about discrimination in jobs here, and probably they don't care. Likely they are just concerned to keep you and their daughter ( and grandchildren if any) close by, so no matter what you say to them they won't give you a reasoned response.

You would probably do better to talk with your wife about moving countries, and get her agreement to that. If she agrees you can go ahead no matter what the in-laws say. Alternatively you could all stay here and she could get a job.

If she already has work, then ask her to get a better job with more pay. The difficulties facing most women here in advancing in employment are similar to those faced by "foreign" employees. She might be able to understand the problem based on such an analogy, and actually feel the problem based on experience in the work culture.