Speaker: Suzuki Ayaka

Abstract

Honorary Men and Neoliberal Femininity in Contemporary Japan

This presentation examines the figure of “honorary men” (meiyo dansei) as a lens through which to explore gender, neoliberalism, and femininity in contemporary Japan. The term is commonly used in online discourse to describe women who appear to align with masculine-coded values—such as rationality, ambition, and detachment from caregiving—often gaining partial access to male privilege while distancing themselves from feminist perspectives.

By drawing on feminist theory and discourse analysis, I consider how such figures have come to be framed as model female citizens under a neoliberal regime that prizes individual performance, competitiveness, and loyalty to existing structures. “Honorary men” are not simply exceptions to the norm but are actively produced and celebrated within neoliberal gender governance, which rewards certain forms of femininity while marginalizing collective struggles and structural critiques.

At the same time, these women often face ambivalence and contradiction: while seen as empowered individuals, they are also criticized for their perceived complicity with patriarchal systems. Through an analysis of media discourse and qualitative data, I explore how the figure of the “honorary man” functions as both a site of aspiration and a mechanism of discipline. Ultimately, this presentation aims to contribute to broader conversations on gendered subjectivity, postfeminism, and neoliberal governance in Japan, highlighting how seemingly empowered positions can reinforce structural inequalities.

Short Bio