NEWS
2024.11.18
SSS #4: Japan-ASEAN Vietnam Research Report
Seijo University’s International Research Center for Sports and Gender Equality (SGE) operates the YouTube channel "Sport for Social Solutions (SSS)". This channel highlights sports as a platform for addressing social issues, featuring a wide range of guests including experts, government officials, and athletes to share information and exchange ideas.
Seijo University’s International Research Center for Sports and Gender Equality YouTube Channel:
The theme of SSS Episode 4 is "Japan-ASEAN Vietnam Research Report."
Following the third report on the Indonesia study, SGE postdoctoral researchers Yu Furuta and Yushi Miyazawa reflected on their research conducted in Hanoi, Vietnam, in January 2024.
As part of a Sports Agency subcontracted project, SGE is engaged in "ASEAN-JAPAN Actions on Sport: Gender Equality," a collaboration between Japan and the governments of 10 ASEAN countries to promote gender equality through sports. One of the key pillars of this initiative is a research project aimed at identifying the challenges and needs related to women's and girls' participation in sports across ASEAN countries. SGE members conducted on-site visits and interviewed government officials, Olympic and Paralympic committees, sports federations, top athletes, NGOs, and female university students from physical education institutions in each country.
Two shared perspectives with Japan
Yushi first noted that there are many similarities between Vietnam and Japan in their views on sports. He shared two key perspectives that were frequently mentioned by participants in the study. One is the competitive orientation—the belief that the appeal of sports is primarily driven by athletic performance. The other is the perception that ‘gender equality in sports has been achieved,’ often brought up in discussions comparing male and female participation rates.
On the other hand, Yushi highlighted gender-related issues that cannot be explained by participation rates alone, such as the limited options for women in terms of sports participation and the gender inequality in media representation. He emphasized the existence of a ‘male-dominated sports structure.’
Male-Dominated Sports Structure
One of the target groups in this study was students at physical education universities, where the gender ratio consisted of 90% male and 10% female. Yushi, who also graduated from a physical education university in Japan, reflected on his own experience: "Even in women's sports, most coaches were men, and even among trainers and staff, men were the majority." He further shared his observations from the student environment, stating: "Even if women want to pursue this path, there are no role models. There aren't even environments where women can work in the first place. These fundamental issues have not been addressed at all."
In interviews with local female students, many shared experiences of being labeled with masculine-emphasizing imagery or language, such as being called "a boyish girl." Yu pointed out the issues with these stereotypes directed at female athletes, stating: "These perceptions need to change moving forward. Just because someone plays sports doesn't mean they are masculine." She emphasized the importance of recognizing and embracing the diversity of women in sports.
Visit to the Vietnamese Women's Museum
As part of this research, the team visited the Vietnamese Women’s Museum, which highlights the roles of women throughout Vietnam’s history and showcases their contributions across diverse fields. At the museum, they introduced "diverse and strong women" who defy the typical stereotypical images of women, such as those who were active on the frontlines of the Vietnam War, led revolutions, or harvested crops using tools made by men.
While Vietnam has a strong cultural tradition of celebrating women’s contributions across various social sectors, the sports industry remains predominantly male-oriented.
Yushi suggested that modern sports, which were introduced from the West as a means of cultivating "masculinity," may have contributed to this structural imbalance. He reflected: "Vietnam has an incredibly strong history of powerful women. I believe they have the potential to reshape sports in a way that feels right for them."
Finally, Yu concluded the discussion by emphasizing the importance of collaborative exploration in addressing these challenges: "Our role is to find the right approach together with each country. Through this, we have seen Vietnam’s strong culture of female leadership, and I believe there are aspects we can apply in Japan as well. We want to stay focused on building it together and continue working towards that goal."
Watch the full video of this report here:
