Social Structure, Identity and Social Action in Contemporary Japan - Einzelansicht

First part of the advanced module on developments in Japanese society focusing on social stratification and mobility, education and work life in present Japan. The seminar starts with an introduction to the recent discourse of Japan as a "gap society" (kakusa shakai) and highlights the fundamental role of education for social stratification and mobility in the "schooled society" (or rather "degreeocracy": gakureki shakai) Japan. In summary, the seminar provides an introduction to social stratification research on Japan with special emphasis on the role of education for status attainment and social inequalities; the interplay of agency and structure in the formation of inequalities; school-to-work transitions; and inequalities in adult and, in particular, work-life. By taking a life course and in part comparative perspective, students ought to better understand the far-reaching outcomes of individual decisions (agency) under given constraints (structure) within the Japanese context (and in international comparison). Thereby, students will develop advanced knowledge of national identity formulation, social inequalities, family and gender relations and the effects of educational and community‐based institutions in contemporary Japanese society.