Faculty Introduction (Faculty of Sociology, Department of Sociology)
Michiko Shimizu Michiko Shimizu
Professor Dean
Affiliation
Department of Sociology, Faculty of Sociology
Department of Human Behavior, Graduate School of Human Behavior
Faculty of Contemporary Sociology Department of Integrated Sociology
Specialty
Family Sociology, Family Cultural History(Keywords: women, family, society)
Main subjects (undergraduate)
Family Sociology, Gender Theory
Major Courses (Graduate School)
Family Relations, Social Research Methods, Social Research Practicum
Main research themes
Research on domestic servants in modern Japan, research on child-rearing support for seniors
Main publications, etc.
"Home Culture History of the Image of a Maid" (Winner of the 30th Kon Wajiro Award of the Japanese Society of Life Sciences, Sekai Shisousha)
"Japanese Women's History Dictionary" (Yoshikawa Kobunkan, co-author)
"Soseki Dictionary" (co-authored by Kanrin Shobo), etc.
■ Please tell us about your current research theme (or field of specialization) and the reason why you decided to pursue this field of specialization.
Our research targets are areas with three keywords: women, families, and society.When she was in her third year at university, she encountered the research theme of "image of part-time housewives" and was awakened to the pleasure of researching and writing on her own, which was her first step towards research.When I went to graduate school and researched magazines and newspapers published in the Meiji and Taisho eras, I came across the issue of maids, which was my life's work. For the past 3 years, I have been researching my favorite character, Hello Kitty.
■ Profile
Until junior high school, I was aiming for a music college and devoted myself to the piano every day.When he entered high school, he hit a wall where he couldn't play many songs because his hands were too small, so he gave up on music.
At university, I enrolled in the International Relations Department, which was still rare at the time.I didn't have any specific goals, and when asked, "What do you want to be after graduating from university?"Writing my graduation thesis made me want to study a little more, so I went on to graduate school with a moratorium on me.
However, I was busy caring for my relatives who fell ill one after another, and rather than researching the family, I was deeply absorbed in family problems, and I fell into a situation where I could not continue my research.In the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, my home was partially destroyed, and I suffered the loss of all the data I had organized over the years.It wasn't until I got a job at my current employer that I was ready to resume my research.
I'm a die-hard Hello Kitty fan, with 50 years of experience. I truly hope that I'll wake up with Hello Kitty's face on in the morning.
■ Message to high school students
Society is also undergoing major changes.What is necessary to realize each person's well-being?Let's think and act together.
■ Themes that can be cooperated such as lectures and interviews
For the past 35 years, I have given numerous lectures on topics such as "changing families" and "parenting support for the elderly." I can also assist with topics related to gender and Hello Kitty, which are my specialties, as well as kawaii culture.
