3rd Quarterly, 2005 No.137
2004 Nabari City Survey Concerning Human Rights <Part II>
Factors that Reduce Avoidance Attitudes
Here, we examine the survey to identify factors that contribute to a reduction in avoidance attitudes. We believe an understanding of these factors will contribute to further reduction. The survey shows the importance of interaction with minority groups and human rights education in the workplace.
Interaction
People who have relationships with members of the minority groups mentioned in the survey are less likely to display avoidance attitudes.
Figure 7, for example, compares attitudes to marriages involving people from Buraku communities with relationships with Buraku community residents. Amongst the group of residents who have close relationships with people from Buraku communities, those who answered they would not oppose marriage, or they might hesitate but would not oppose marriage account for nearly 60% of all respondents. However, only 30% of the group of residents who do not have relationships with people from Buraku communities selected from the two above-mentioned responses. This trend can also be seen with regard to other minority groups in the survey and indicates that the promotion of mutual understanding and interaction with minority groups may lead to a reduction in avoidance attitudes. Opportunities should therefore be created in the form of events and relationship building to facilitate interaction and mutual respect.
Workplace Education
The importance of human rights training and education has been emphasized in the past. This survey clearly indicates that workplace-based education is particularly effective. Figure 8 in page 9 shows the correlation between residents' attitudes regarding marriage with people from Buraku communities and human rights education in theworkplace. In the group of residents who learned about the Buraku issue in their workplaces, those who answered they would not oppose marriage, or they may hesitate but they would not oppose marriage, account for nearly 50% of all respondents. However, less than 30% of the group of residents who have not learned about the Buraku issue or do not recall learning about it selected from the two above-mentioned responses.
The findings of the survey tell us that workplaces play a tremendously important role. Creating workplaces where people will respect human rights and will not tolerate discrimination may result in an increase in the number of people who do not discriminate against others.
Marriage Discrimination and Opinions Regarding Gender Roles
Marital Avoidance and Gender Roles
Marital avoidance attitudes are more pervasive amongst those who hold to traditional gender roles. Figure 9 in page 10 shows the relationship between residents' feelings towards traditional gender roles and avoidance attitudes regarding marriage with people from Buraku communities. Those who do not identify with traditional gender roles are more likely to answer they would not oppose marriage or may hesitate but would not oppose it in the end. Significantly, more than 60% of residents who oppose traditional gender roles would not oppose a marriage between their children and a person from a Buraku community.
This implies that overcoming traditional gender roles will contribute to the elimination of marital avoidance attitudes.
Marriage Partner Issues
Furthermore, people who would place more conditions upon their child's selection of partner are more likely to have avoidance attitudes. Figure 10 in page 10 shows the relationship between respondents' requirements for the marriage of their children (academic background, occupation, wealth, personality, appearance, housework ability, hobbies, religion, family lineage, etc.) and avoidance attitudes regarding marriage with people from Buraku communities. Regardless of the sex of the marriage partner, the percentage of respondents who would oppose marriage is high amongst the group with more requirements, while the percentage of those who would not oppose the marriage is high amongst the group with fewer requirements. This trend can also be seen in marital avoidance attitudes towards other minority groups.
In fact, marriage discrimination in the recent past has not occurred between marriage partners, but in interventions by the parents of non-Buraku partners. The Japanese Constitution stipulates that marriage shall be based only on the mutual consent of both partners. It seems there is a need to reaffirm this principle: that the decision to marry is up to the two people involved. (to be continued)