Backlash in Japan over government poster asking ‘is this sexual harassment too?’
- Apparently baffling situations pondered by the campaign include whether to tell women co-workers ‘you’re prettier now that you’ve lost weight’
- The awareness campaign, featuring actor Mikihisa Azuma, has been criticised for pandering to wilful ignorance
An attempt by the Japanese government to encourage men to take responsibility for preventing sexual harassment in the workplace has drawn an uproar online, with Twitter users saying it makes excuses for wilful ignorance of the issue.
The Cabinet Office poster features Japanese actor Mikihisa Azuma with a baffled expression as he asks, when translated from Japanese: “Is this sexual harassment too?”
The background contrasts his comments: “You’re prettier now that you’ve lost weight,” and “Cute outfit today – that’s my type of look,” with illustrations of disapproving women. “You’re not the one to decide what’s sexual harassment!” it extols.
Users replying to a tweet this week unveiling the poster campaign said it serves to let sexual harassers off the hook by taking too sympathetic a view of their conduct, and depicting obvious harassment as confusing.
“I realised immediately that women weren’t involved at any stage of making this,” said one Twitter user. “They really don’t get it … this is why there aren’t women politicians,” another said.