Автор: Amigo
Дата: 07-09-10 16:42
Statistical outlook: suicide as a gender issue
Since suicide is well incorporated into Japanese behavioral patterns, the prevalence of suicide is hardly negligible. The latest statistics of Japanese National Police Agency says the number in 2003 has reached 34,427 (27.0 per 100 thousand population). Per 100 thousand population in the year 2000, the rate in Japan was 24.1, compared to 10.4 in U.S.(2000), and 4.1 in Brazil. According to the Japanese Ministry of Health and Labor, after World War II, Japan has experienced three statistical waves of suicide. The first wave had its peak in 1958 with 23,641, the second in 1986 with 25,667. Currently we are in the middle of third wave that started in 1998. These waves are observable not only in terms of number but also ratio per 100 thousand population.
The high suicide rate in Japan itself has been the subject of much discussion. Many things have been pointed out regarding suicide statistics, but particularly worth mentioning is their gender characteristics. Japan’s suicide statistics clearly show that men outnumber women, and more so lately. In fact, the last two waves were almost solely produced by the increase in the number of suicides among men. In 1980, the suicide rate (the number of suicide per 100 thousand) was 22.9 for men and 13.3 for women. It became 40.1 and 14.5 respectively in 2003.
Why do men commit suicide more than women? Is it because, as Durkehim outlined, men are more excessively self-reflexive, more anguished from unlimited needs with less external regulatory force, or else merely less embedded in society (Durkheim, 1952)? His hypotheses might still be relevant in contemporary Japan. However, to some extent, the higher suicide rate among men is due to the different types of role expectations assigned to men and women.
The age breakdown of suicide rates between men and women shows how the gender role plays a crucial part. Men 50-64, especially 55-59, have the highest suicide rate. But this is a rather recent trend, and it is not observable among women. The fact that the number of suicides has been increasing among the middle-aged men with financial difficulties highlights men’s financial responsibility towards supporting their family, and sometimes their employees. It is more so in the days of prolonged economic slump. Some suicides are attempted, in a bid to get life insurance for the family. It has been reported that one of the typical patterns of committing suicide among men is that it takes place just after lapse of immunity period of their insurance policies. On the other hand, women in same age bracket more or less perceive their role as being just responsible for the care of the family members. The suicide rate of housekeepers in particular has been low and remains so. However, the women's suicide rate increases gradually as women get older.
The gender gap in suicide rate has been used to document an unjust treatment more against men than women in order to make light of feminists' claims of women’s oppression. But it can be used to substantiate an extant patriarchal gender role. The fact that men commit more suicide than women reveals a paternalistic type of family, in which one breadwinner is more at risk, particularly with the collapse of the life-long employment system.
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