Job Discussion Forums

[Petitioner]

I have a couple of years of teaching experience. However, I ran into some uncomfortable situations in Taiwan because I'm visibly *beep*. I was spotted well outside of work, during non work hours, catching a taxi to go bowling with some friends, wearing clothing deemed gender inappropriate (a Japanese style layered gay looking boy shirt, women's jeans, and a colorful small scarf, along with very light makeup) and nearly lost my job as a result. Suffered constant harassment afterwards from my boss.

And I was nearly the victim of a hate crime a couple of times just hanging out in my little town outside Taipei city.

Even when I try to "butch it up" I still swish a little when I walk, I gesture and use speech patterns like a gay guy... something always makes it through somehow. Students will say "teacher is girl!" because of something I say or some way I walk even if I think I'm being pretty down the line masculine.

So I've got contracts on the table in central china, back in Taiwan, and in Indonesia. I already speak Chinese, but people tell me the central Chinese are very conservative and "have you considered Japan?" And Taiwan is cool, but I had problems there. My Taiwanese friends say, "have you considered moving to Japan?" I'd love to live in the back woods of Indonesia, but everyone says with the Muslim stuff around I won't fit in no matter what I do and "have you considered Japan?"

So what do you guys think... a guy who just doesn't fit the norms for masculinity.. I'm a good teacher, VERY popular with the students, but I just come across pretty femme, etc.

Will I have a chance to fit in in Japan?

--FemmeBoy

[Amarok]

Someone told you that Japan ISN'T homophobic? HAH!

Japan is just as bad as anywhere else is--they just have a different style of homophobia, and they're also HUGE on conformity. It's more about passive-aggressiveness and silently condemning you, but kids will definitely still be the same. And just like anywhere else, you'd probably be fine in a big city, but if you expect to be flamingly flamboyant in the middle of nowhere in Japan, it'll probably go as well for you as it did in small-town Taiwan.

I'd think it would be common sense to save your, shall we say, special getups/makeup for when you're not in sight of your employer or any potential customers/community members. Maybe back home nobody gives a shit, and you can be here/*beep*/notgoinganywhere, but the realities of working in Japan (and China/Taiwan) mean conforming to what they want/expect at least when they can see you.

[yangyoseop]

Japan is definitely one of the most homophobic countries in the world, although it's not as bad as most of Asia. I would venture to say it's probably much more homophobic than Taiwan, which has a pretty thriving gay scene in comparison. I wouldn't suggest going to Japan, to be honest. Stick to Thailand or Western Europe if you want an accepting area.

[ripslyme]

You can be as camp as can be. Don't worry about it. Compared to the local boys here in Japan, you're gonna seem downright rugged.

[Amarok]

ripslyme, don't give him the wrong impression... while it's true Japanese guys tend to be stupidly feminine/not very masculine at all, I can definitely say that foreigners are NOT held to the same standards, period.

I have people in Japan freak out on me just because I'm short, for example, because they have very firm preconceived notions of what WESTERN masculinity is and how Western men/women should look, so while it's a shitty double standard for sure, what passes as normal/fine for Japanese masculinity and appearances doesn't always go over well for foreigners. You'll be under an extreme eye of scrutiny to begin with just for being foreign.

[Shiggy]

I don't know. Just be smart and don't try to show off your sexuality. You're there to work, not party.

[OneJoelFifty]

[Pitarou]

What do you mean by "fit in"? It is an old truism that Japan is the nation where "the nail that stands out gets hammered down." If you don't fit in, it's your fault.

On the whole, you'll probably be fine if you can maintain a clean-cut, preppy image in the workplace, but if your employer has a problem with *beep* you'll be in for a very rough ride. Employee rights are strong on paper, but often unenforceable in practice.

You might need to take a reality check on the job market. A second major chain of language schools has just collapsed, so your timing couldn't be much worse.

[cormac]

To the OP, I'm just wondering if you have teaching experience in your home country? The thing is that most teaching outfits, will have some problem with "camp" teachers. Either from the view of the parents concerns, or even just the "traditional" mindset most school administrations have.

I know that in Ireland while Gay people are not discriminated legally, there are layers of politics which prevent them from access to most types of employment, with the exception of University teaching. Certainly openly camp individuals would receive even more scrutiny. [ I can't recall of any gay teachers (male or female) which were hired for primary or secondary teaching in my locale]

The thing is that if Ireland (which is a fairly modern and progressive society) is this way inclined towards gay and camp individuals, seems that Japan (and Asia for the most part) would be far more severe. (I'm guessing Thailand and Singapore have somewhat different views).

Everything I have read about Japan suggests that conformity is the rule here... Suits and formal dress. A fairly formal dress code so you don't stand out too much.

So I'm guessing wearing womens' jeans and make up would be a bit much for most school administrations especially anywhere near the school and the parents to see.

[ShioriEigoKyoushi]

--

[projectrook]

Anyone trying to tell you that Japan is this magical land of tolerance has obviously never been there. There is no such place, period.
There are certain professions that require a person to act in a certain way both inside and outside work. A teacher is one of them. Now that is not to say a person cannot be *beep* as you choose to call it, but there is the concept of dialing it down. I have some friends that are and I don't recall any of them at any time walking around in make-up.
This has nothing to do with your sexual preferences, but it does your maturity and choice not to grow up. If you want an adult job, then be an adult. If you want to play dress up and do whatever you want, Im sure fast food restaurants will gladly accept your application.

[Glenski]

[cormac]

[Mr_Monkey]

[Pitarou]

In may case it was the word q u e e r s that was blocked. I don't think this is prudery on the part of Dave Sperling. By blocking certain words this forum is kept accessible to teachers who have to contend with web-filters.