天美影视

Objectives and Activities

Gender Studies Center

Aoyama The Center aims to contribute to gender equality and respect for gender diversity in Aoyama Gakuin University and society through the conduct of gender studies and the development of gender education at Aoyama the University, based on a Christian spirit, while inheriting the gender studies conducted at Aoyama Gakuin Women's Junior College and carrying on the tradition of women's education at the University in the new era. The purpose of this program is to contribute to the respect of gender equality and sexual diversity in the graduate school and society.

Gender Studies Center Activities

Our activities are based on three pillars: research, education, and social contribution, and we will disseminate information through our website and gallery.

member

The Gender Studies Center is run by a Director, a Deputy Director, a Steering Committee, and a Working Committee.

Until the center is established

The center's name comes from Dora E. Schoonmaker, a female missionary of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States, who founded the first girls' elementary school, which was the origin of Aoyama. Aoyama 's founding anniversary is the day Schoonmaker started this girls' elementary school, so it can be said that Aoyama 's history began with girls' education. After going through name changes and relocations, the accumulation and achievements of women's education were passed on to Aoyama Gakuin Women's Junior College Women's Junior College, but after the Women's Junior College closed, the Junior Aoyama 's women's education and pass it on to a new era, and it was transferred to the university's Gender Studies Center.

1874 Dora E. Schoonmaker establishes a primary school for girls
1895: Aoyama Jogakuin is founded
1927 Aoyama Jogakuin and Aoyama merged
1950 Aoyama Gakuin Women's Junior College opened
In 2017, Aoyama Gakuin Women's Junior College announced that it would stop accepting new students after the 2018 academic year.
In 2017, Aoyama Gakuin University University announced in its AOYAMA VISION "Power Up Declaration" that it has established a women's junior college.
Announcement of the establishment of the Gender Research Institute (tentative name) that will continue the tradition
2018: The New Institute Preparation Committee was established within the Women's Junior College General Culture Research Institute.
2020: Establishment of the Gender Research Institute at the Women's Junior College General Culture Research Institute
2021 Establishment of the Schoonmaker Memorial Center for Gender Studies at Aoyama Gakuin University

Message from the Director

Shin Hye-bong, Director of the Gender Studies Center and Professor Department of Human Rights Faculty of Law
Assuming office in April 2026

The Schoonmaker Memorial Center for Gender Studies was established in 2021 as a research center affiliated with Aoyama Gakuin University. It aims to carry on the gender research accumulated at Aoyama Gakuin Women's Junior College Women's Junior College, uphold the tradition of women's education at Aoyama, and contribute to gender equality and respect for gender diversity Aoyama and in society at large through the development of gender research and education.

Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right that every individual, regardless of gender, should be respected and have their dignity protected, but it is also an important foundation for creating a vibrant and prosperous society by enabling each individual to develop and utilize their abilities. Internationally, gender equality is also listed as one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ("Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls").

Such goals are set because problems such as girls being denied schooling or women being discriminated against simply for being female exist all over the world, and it immediately becomes clear that Japan is by no means immune to these problems. Because the notion that housework and childcare are women's responsibilities is deeply ingrained, wives bear the overwhelming majority of the burden of housework and childcare, even in households where both spouses work, and in the workplace, the working environment that forces women to work long hours that prevent them from taking on housework and childcare responsibilities remains unchanged. In the "Global Gender Gap Report" published by the World Economic Forum (WEF), which surveys gender inequality in four areas: economy, education, health, and politics, Japan ranks near the bottom (118th out of 148 countries in the 2025 edition), and if a country can be defined as a "developed country" not only by its industrial development but also by the degree to which it guarantees human rights, then Japan is at a level that can hardly be called a "developed country." Of the four areas, Japan ranks among the top in education and health, but when looking at higher education enrollment within education, the score drops sharply. This can be understood, for example, by recalling the discrimination against female medical school applicants that came to light in 2018. The reasoning behind the discrimination was that women, even if they become doctors, would not be able to work long hours due to the burden of housework and childcare, so it was decided to narrow the entry point to medical school. However, since women make up half of the population and there are diseases specific to women, is it really acceptable to have no female doctors?

In all fields, including education and research, the ability of individuals to demonstrate their abilities without discrimination is not only a human right but also of great social significance. And this is by no means a women's issue alone. Gender equality is an important perspective for men who feel that they are living in a difficult place due to gender bias. Furthermore, since people's sexual orientations (heterosexuality, homosexuality, etc.) and gender identities (identity about one's gender) are diverse, it is also a challenge to respect such diversity and create a society in which everyone can live comfortably. Universities are required to create a safe learning environment for sexual minority students who differ from the majority.

The gender perspective is relevant to every aspect of our lives and is important across all academic disciplines. Therefore, we aim to create a future open to diversity by bringing together interdisciplinary knowledge from both within and outside the university, and by bringing together the wisdom of people with diverse areas of expertise and collaborating through dialogue. We sincerely hope that many of you will lend your support so that this center can develop meaningful activities to achieve this goal.