Prostitution is known as the worlds’ oldest profession and dates back to Sumerian times. “World wide an estimated 300 million women regularly have sex with 5 to 10 partners during a typical “working “ day (International Labour Organization, 1998, quoted in Rhawn,2004, 154). Throughout history men in positions of power, or those in the public eye have kept mistresses or have had dealings with prostitutes, from Presidents Carter, Jefferson, and Kennedy of the USA, to Mitterrand of France, Mussolini of Italy, and Prince Charles of Great Britain. Great writers such as Charles Dickens have also been guilty of keeping a mistress. So why should the phenomenon of enjo-kōsai in Japan be a matter for concern and public outcry? Enjo-kōsai has been translated as ‘schoolgirl prostitution’ and in this paper I intend to answer the above question and to illustrate that it does indeed warrant public outcry as it involves, in many cases, sex between adult males and adolescent girls, sometimes as young as 13.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1.
What Is Enjo-kōsai?
How Has Enjo-kōsai been translated into English?
When Did Enjo-kōsai become an Issue?
Is Enjo-kōsai a Social/Moral or a Health Issue?
1) Enjo-kōsai as a Social/Moral Issue
2) Enjo-kōsai as a Health Issue’
Prevalence of Enjo-kōsai
Data on Enjo-kōsai
Who Has Commented on Enjo-kōsai?
Policy Responses to Enjo-kōsai
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
Effects of Pornography
ADULTS
1. Addiction
2. Escalation
3. Desensitization
4. Acting Out Sexually
CHILDREN
CHAPTER FOUR
Women’s Role in Japanese Society
CHAPTER 5
The Role of the Internet and Mobile Telephones
THE MASS MEDIA
CONCLUSION
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Research Objectives & Key Themes
This dissertation examines the phenomenon of enjo-kōsai (compensated dating) in Japan, investigating the underlying causes, such as economic shifts and social pressures, and analyzing the complex interplay between media influence, education, and child exploitation.
- The impact of economic changes and consumerist culture on adolescent behavior.
- The role of the Internet and mobile telecommunications in facilitating exploitative encounters.
- The relationship between the prevalence of pornography and societal desensitization.
- The evaluation of government and public policy responses to juvenile prostitution.
- The influence of evolving gender roles and social inequalities in Japanese society.
Excerpt from the Book
What Is Enjo-kōsai?
Enjo-kōsai is the term used to describe a date between a schoolgirl of junior or senior high school age and more recently, even of elementary school age, with an adult, often middle-aged man. The schoolgirl receives a monetary payment for her time and anything else she happens to part with, for example: her underwear, socks and other such garments. In Japan there is a huge market value placed on such items; the more times the girl has spent wearing them, the greater the odour, and subsequently the greater the amount of money she can expect to receive.
Summary of Chapters
INTRODUCTION: Provides an overview of the phenomenon of enjo-kōsai as a form of teenage prostitution in Japan, setting the stage for an analysis of the societal factors that warrant public concern.
CHAPTER 1: Defines the phenomenon of enjo-kōsai, discusses its translation into English, and explores its classification as both a social/moral and health issue, while examining prevalence and policy responses.
CHAPTER TWO: Analyzes the social, moral, and medical costs of enjo-kōsai, highlighting the correlation between the collapse of the bubble economy, rising unemployment, and increasing juvenile crime rates.
CHAPTER THREE: Examines the effects of pornography in Japan, arguing that its widespread availability and graphic nature have desensitized the public and influenced deviant behavior in both adults and minors.
CHAPTER FOUR: Discusses the role of women in Japanese society, exploring how historical and structural discrimination contributes to the societal environment that allows compensated dating to persist.
CHAPTER 5: Analyzes extrinsic factors, specifically the rise of the Internet, mobile telephones, and the influence of mass media in sensationalizing and facilitating the practice of enjo-kōsai.
CONCLUSION: Summarizes the findings, reflecting on the government's slow response and the ongoing challenge of addressing the deep-seated societal issues that continue to facilitate the exploitation of young girls.
Keywords
enjo-kōsai, compensated dating, teenage prostitution, Japan, pornography, sexual exploitation, bubble economy, mobile technology, social values, juvenile crime, consumerism, gender roles, health issues, HIV/AIDS, STI
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this dissertation?
The dissertation investigates the phenomenon of enjo-kōsai (compensated dating) in Japan, exploring why it became a significant issue in the 1990s and analyzing the complex factors that sustain it.
What are the central thematic fields?
The work covers sociology, education, economics, media studies, and criminology, specifically looking at how these fields intersect in the context of child exploitation and teenage prostitution in Japan.
What is the main research objective?
The author aims to answer why enjo-kōsai is a matter of urgent public concern, illustrating the severe social and medical consequences of sex between adult males and adolescent girls.
Which research methodology is applied?
Due to the difficulty of conducting direct fieldwork on sensitive illegal activities, the research is primarily based on a literature review, analysis of secondary data, government statistics, and existing surveys.
What is addressed in the main body?
The body covers the definition of the term, the economic and social environment after the collapse of the bubble economy, the influence of pornography and media, and the specific impact of technology like mobile phones.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include enjo-kōsai, compensated dating, teenage prostitution, sexual exploitation, social desensitization, and Japanese consumer culture.
How has the collapse of the "bubble economy" influenced the phenomenon?
The author argues that the economic downturn reduced family income and resources for teenagers, while creating a context of uncertainty where prostitution became a way for young girls to maintain their social standing.
What role does mobile technology play in the practice?
Mobile phones and the Internet have made it easier and more discreet for adult males to solicit minors, largely replacing earlier "telephone clubs" and providing a platform that is difficult for authorities to regulate.
- Quote paper
- Gerry Mclellan (Author), 2005, Schoolgirl Prostitution in Japan, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/175398
