“Gender Free” Feminism in Japan: A Story of Mainstreaming and Backlash.

GENDER mainstreaming; FEMINISM; CONSERVATIVES; JAPANESE history -- 1868-; TERMS & phrases; GENDER & society; EQUALITY & society; JAPANESE politics & government, 1989-; HISTORY; HISTORY of feminism

A case study is presented of the use of the term "gender free" and gender mainstreaming in Japan during the 1990s and early 21st century, including in regard to the relationship between feminists and antifeminist conservatives in the country and . An overview of feminists' use of the concept of gender equality in Japan, including in regard to their efforts to pressure the Japanese government to pass legislation to eliminate gender discrimination, is provided.