CMLT 201 3 - Bad Girls of Japan

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The common stereotype of Japanese women is that they are demure and walk two steps behind their men. When women step out of this image, they are often labeled as “bad” or “divas.” In this course, we will examine the various iterations of “bad women” in Japanese literature, film, and culture both past and present. Questions we will consider are how does “bad” get defined over time and by gender? Why is there even a need by society to have such a pejorative label used for women and not men? When men are “bad,” are the standards different? How does the notion of the “bad” Japanese woman compare with such a notion in other cultures? By examining works that portray such women by both male and female writers and artists from Japan’s past and present, we will try to discern if there are any universals about the definition of “bad” and how this label reflects broader ideas about gender in Japanese culture as well as in other societies. Group III Humanities/Literature. Diversity and writing course.