Chizuko Ueno is a Japanese sociologist and Japan's "best-known feminist".
Her research field includes feminist theory, family sociology, and women's history. She is best known for her contribution to gender studies in Japan. As a public intellectual, she played a central role in creating the field of gender studies in Japanese academia. At the same time, her radical tendency and strong character has invited criticism (she described herself as "critical, assertive, and disobedient").
Ueno is a trenchant critic of postwar revisionism and criticizes the whitewashing of Japanese history, which she claims attempts to justify its colonialism, wartime atrocities, and racism both before and after World War II. In particular, she has defended the compensation of Korean comfort women who were forced into prostitution by the Empire of Japan.
一开始的对话有些针锋相对,随着书信的交换对两人的了解更多,上野的语气柔和了不少。 关于母女关系的对话让我收获不少,感觉自己和家人的关系也是在探索“无条件的爱”的底线在哪里。随着自己离家、长大、自给自足,和家人的关系也有了变化。重要的决定会询问我的意见,有些决定也只是通知而不是征得同意。 “聪明的母亲”让我觉得被掌控、看透的感觉确实不适,如果这个对象是母亲会有些透不过气也不难理解。 有关女性主义,感觉自己还处于铃木母亲的处境,需要通过他人的对比,来收获自己的优越感。很期待有一天能做到不需要他人的对比、认可找到自己的定义。 翻书评发现有位书友的摘录“正视自己的伤痛吧。痛了就喊痛。人的尊严就从这里开始。” 读这本书时没多大感悟,但Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself读到详细内容却很触动我。书里的mantra我也会好好练习,希望早日接受我是“脆弱的”这一事实,和不够坚强的自己和解。
I wish there’s an English version for this. Highly recommend to all my female/male friends.
I bought this book during a business trip in China, and my interest on one of the authors (上野千鹤子)was originated from a short interview of her. The interview was between her and 2 young females (20-30?), covering a wide range of topics about life.
This book is a similar format, 12 letters back and forth between her and a female author who’s almost 40 years younger. Each round of letter was focused on one topic, ranging from love/sex, mother/daughter relationship, marriage, work, capabilities, man, feminism, etc.
I love the way she talks/writes: she’s full of wisdom, gentle on her choice of words, but sharp as knife. I feel the strong envy that the other writer gets such an opportunity to have these round of conversations with her, but I also feel extremely lucky to be able to read them. She talks about her views, but somehow it helps you realize what kind of person you are and more clear on what you want to be. I only wish to read more of her books.
I was inspired and encouraged by the letters and genuine conversations between Chizuko Ueno and Suzuki Suzumi in this book about life choices and the alternatives women could have. One of the most impressive ideas in this for me would be the concept of ‘恐弱’, which is the tendency for women to refuse the fact that they are victims. It kept me thinking about what is real feminism and that there is no single answer or standard for women. Admitting and facing vulnerability is not a weakness but a strong attitude. I am also aware of the problems of feminist fundamentalism and the reflection on this leads to an understanding that women should always have the freedom of making choices.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
My very first book of 2023. Right now served as my mouse mat in the office lol. I like this bright red cover a lot.
As for the contents, I am so happy to see Asian women of different generations sit down and talk about their experiences on different topics. Although I am not from Japan, I can still get the inspiration from this book a lot and definitely have me think deeply about some things I used to take for granted.
Please do read it if you are interested in feminism in the asian context!
The first a few chapters are great, however, it turns out to repeat itself a bit. Also the translation is not very good, can’t get the real meaning through this translation. Overall it’s a not bad book, it’s great to see women stand up and fighting for our rights, especially in a male dominated country like Japan.
12 Letters were exchanged between Japan's feminist pioneer and the most rebellious writer to explore the topics of love, sex, work, men, independence and freedom. I shared the same confusion as Suzumi Suzuki about the torn-apart experience of being a woman in modern society. Chizuko Ueno answered those questions with thoughtful advice and wishes for the generation of women to come.