Job Discussion Forums

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

I thought it was illegal to post ads for specific genders when schools advertise for teachers. Yet, I just browsed www.jobsinjapan.com and saw several ads posted for females only. What gives?

Shonai Ben · Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 617

It looks like most of the ads are for pre-school age children or at the least very young children.
Maybe the advertiser feels that women are better with children than men,but it should still be illegal imho....

Iwantmyrightsnow · Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 202

It is illegal but like many things, it won't be changed unless someone makes an issue of it.

BradS · Joined: 05 Sep 2004 Posts: 173 Location: Tokyo, Japan

In Japan A LOT of female students only feel comfortable with female teachers so schools give them female teachers. It's utterly stupid especially when the student is 20-something. Most of the time it's children though. Personally I think they should face their fears! Rolling Eyes

Celeste · Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2004 5:40 am Post subject:

I have seen these ads too. A lot of the time they are looking for someone to wipe noses and bottoms, and there is a perception that men can't do this. (Though I'm sure some of you guys with kids are more expert at this sort of thing than most young women teachers!)

I once heard about a girls' high school that was looking for a teacher but didn't want any men, and especially not N.American men. They wouldn't say why they had this preference, but it certainly caused some speculation about the former teachers they'd employed.

There are fewer foreign women EFL instructors in Japan than there are men instructors. It is possible that the schools just want to hire a good balance of instructors according to gender. (not that I actually believe it, but we should give them the benefit of the doubt)

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

My first week in Japan my supervisor told me, "We Japanese don't understand 'Human Rights'. They just don't make sence." (He was speaking about general tendencies, not my job situation in particular!)

Jobs advertise specifically for women because the students prefer a female teacher (or the person doing the hiring prefers a female teacher). I was told by a Linguistics professor who was doing teacher training that whenever students are asked to describe the perfect English teacher they say the perfect teacher is a 20-30year old white female with blond hair, blue eyes and a movie-star body. There is never any mention of English language teacher training because many don't even know that it exists ("but you don't need to be taught how to teach your own language, it's your language") and even if they do, they may not seriously believe that it makes a difference. So if employers thought they could get away with it, they would probably have requirements that fit the above description.

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

Even though it may be illegal for a company to post in a job ad that they are specifically looking for women, it's probably not illegal to simply HAVE a preference. They could advertise for applications from both men and women ... But in the end they would still choose a female.

At least this way it saves potential male applicants from wasting their time applying.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I'm with azarashi here. I hate discrimination, especially when it applies to me. But I would rather hear it straight out and not waste my time, then take the time to apply.

I can see why they would want a woman with young kids. Lots of young J kids are scared of foreign men, many aren't used to even having their dads around.

lajzar · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 647 Location: Saitama-ken, Japan

ok, I'll back that up with a fact.

At teh school where I work, no child sees *either* parent for 5 days a week. A few of them only get to see them at the end of each term.

king kakipi · Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 353 Location: Australia

Is it any wonder that, IN THE MAIN, the Japanese continue to make slow progress in learning English, when the selection criteria for those applying for teaching jobs is focussed on age and gender, rather than teaching qualifications/experience ......................? Sad

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

This is news to you RPD? It is common knowledge.

Stop trolling

gt37 · Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 39 Location: Osaka

A litttle off topic.

If Gordon is a "fellow British Columbian", then why does he have an image of Moraine lake(Alberta) with his name?

Celeste · Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2004 10:12 pm Post subject:

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

gt37 · Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 39 Location: Osaka

I'm sure it's Moraine Lake! If I'm wrong, could you tell me the name of this lake near Cranbrook as I would love to visit?

Anyways, that pic is soo beautiful!