@article{oai:nagoya.repo.nii.ac.jp:02005267,
 author = {Gershoni, Gad Hai},
 journal = {名古屋大学人文学フォーラム, Humanities Forum, Nagoya University},
 month = {Mar},
 note = {In 2010, to combat the nation's low birth rate, labor shortages, and gender inequalities, the Japanese government adopted the term ikumen to promote fathers' participation in childrearing. Since then, NPOs and the media have also adopted the term. As a result, the term ikumen was featured extensively in newspapers and magazines, television dramas, manga, movies, and more. Therefore, scholars have studied the 'ikumen phenomenon' to argue that Japanese masculinity and fatherhood are changing. However, scholars often overlook how the typical father is represented in the ikumen discourse. To help fill this gap, this study analyses how guidebooks that explain to fathers how to be ikumen represent the typical father. These books are significant because the experts who wrote them advise and help form governmental policies on gender equality and work-life balance issues. The typical father's representations in such books are significant for two reasons. First, the typical father's representations show how the government and experts perceive the typical father. This conceptualization of fatherhood might influence future policies regarding Japan's gendered division of labor. Second, the books compare the stereotypical father with ikumen, arguing that ikumen are better for Japanese society and families. This comparison sheds light on how the Japanese government and the experts in question aim to change the Japanese gendered division of labor. This study found that the typical father is represented as an emotionally detached and absent parent who their wives shun due to his prolonged working hours. Furthermore, the typical father is perceived as emotionally stunted – unable to discuss feelings, identify with others, or show empathy. Additionally, such fathers are shown as unable to perform elementary house chores and childrearing activities. Lastly, such fathers are portrayed as inefficient workers. In contrast, ikumen are represented as fathers who overcome these shortcomings. Hence, ikumen are argued to be empathic communicators who participate in family life, have strong ties to their community, and are efficient workers. The paper hypothesizes that such representations are used to elevate ikumen's image while keeping it 'masculine.' This enables experts to add new responsibilities to fatherhood practices, to be good workers and fathers. However, ikumen are not shown to be equal to mothers, but only to support mothers enough so they can become 'working mothers.' Therefore, this study argues that the ikumen discourse has not fundamentally departed from the Japanese gendered division of labor.},
 pages = {87--102},
 title = {From Men to Ikumen : Representations of Hegemonic Masculine Fatherhood in the Ikumen Discourse},
 volume = {6},
 year = {2023}
}