Female hikikomori voice that has been overlooked January 20, 11:55
"Because the users of the facility for the elderly touched my body, I became unable
to continue working, and I became a hikikomori."
, I always wonder
.” Hikikomori, which has long been considered a predominantly male problem.
However, it is said that support organizations have recently received earnest voices from hikikomori women.
If you listen to their voices, a situation that can happen to anyone, and what can be called a "distortion" in society emerges.
(Sendai Broadcasting Station Director Sayo Noguchi)
Female Hikikomori: ``We haven't seen the reality yet.''
The reason why I started reporting this time was that the number of consultations from women at a support organization in Sendai was increasing, and I learned that there was a support initiative targeting female hikikomori. bottom.
The person in charge of the support organization who consults points out that the background of women's hikikomori may be a change in social roles.
Ms. Mamiko Akita, Community Support Center for Hikikomori, Sendai City
“I think that the world has become a place where women go out into society, and women also work and shine. I think it's a world where women who are out of work feel a lot of pressure to become independent, such as having to work in addition to the difficulty of living."
The reality of female hikikomori is not well understood.
In 2018, the government conducted a survey targeting people aged 40 to 64.
Then, among those who fit the definition of hikikomori (“a state of being withdrawn at home for more than six months without going to work or school and not interacting with people other than family members”), the number of full-time housewives (husbands) ) was 12.8%, and housework help was 6.4%.
However, some of the people providing support pointed out that there are various situations in which female hikikomori are not only full-time housewives and domestic helpers, but also students and people who have jobs but cannot leave the house. I'm here.
Opportunities were work and family Voices received
What kind of experiences did the people involved come to withdraw from?
And what kind of thoughts do you spend your days with?
This time, we decided to gather their voices by requesting questionnaires through dedicated posting forms and support organizations.
This is because we wanted to share as many experiences and thoughts as possible, and to gather as many sympathies as possible.
When I called out, about 30 people responded.
(Miyagi Prefecture, 30s)
“When I was in my 20s, I studied hard at a vocational school and acquired a welfare-related qualification. I was gradually overwhelmed by the pressure of being involved.In addition, I was physically touched by a male user, which made it impossible for me to continue working.Even though I worked hard to get the qualification...I felt hopeless. I started to withdraw from
(Yamagata Prefecture, 40s)
"After my mother passed away when I was 19, I was a hikikomori for 10 years. My mother was very passionate about education, and she was the type to get angry when I scored 98 on a test, why didn't I score 2?" I had a difficult relationship with my mother.
(Miyagi Prefecture, 60s)
“Since the examination for promotion started at my workplace, I thought it would be a great opportunity to study. I felt a 'glass ceiling' that no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't move up, and I lost my energy and started to withdraw."
Relationships with family members, harassment at work, anxiety about the future, and an old-fashioned social structure that makes it difficult for women to play an active role in society
.
In addition, some people lost the balance of mind and body due to multiple factors.
A place where hikikomori women can gather
Ms. Kyoko Hayashi, who is the representative director of the Hikikomori UX Conference and has experience of being a hikikomori herself, listened to the voices we received this time, and asked for her opinion on "female hikikomori."
Since 2016, we have been holding a group called "Girls' Association" where hikikomori women can participate without hesitation.
So far, it has been held in more than 170 locations nationwide, with a total of nearly 5,000 people participating.
First of all, Mr. Hayashi touched on the loneliness of the people involved and the sense of crisis that it might have been overlooked.
Ms. Kyoko Hayashi, Representative Director of Hikikomori UX Conference
"When I held a girls' party, the most common response was 'I wasn't the only one' or 'There were so many people with the same thoughts.' It used to be that way, but people who are concerned think, ``I'm the only person in the world who is doing such stupid things.'' There is a sense that ``female hikikomori'' has increased significantly. There is, but I don't mean that the number of people is increasing, but I think that it means that we can see a figure that we have not seen before."
On top of that, in the past few years, there have been cases where family tensions have increased due to the increased opportunities for husbands and siblings to stay at home due to the coronavirus pandemic.
I pointed out that it leads to domestic violence and that some women are having a hard time.
“Hikikomori for 20 years” What the parties wanted to appeal directly
This time, one of the people who sent their voices through the submission form is “Hamuta-san (pseudonym)”, a full-time housewife in her 50s.
It is said that he was a hikikomori from around 2000 until recently.
I got on the phone with Ms. Hamuta during the recording of her program and listened to her voice with Ms. Hayashi.
Hamuta (50s)
"I've been married for a long time, but I didn't know anyone around me, so I stayed at home all the time. For example, if you want to apply for a part-time job, you'll be told things like 'because housewives aren't good' or 'because housewives are ignorant of the world'. It must be easy.
Mr. Hayashi quietly nodded and talked to Mr. Hamuta, including his own hikikomori experience.
Ms. Kyoko Hayashi:
“People around me force me to be normal. Sometimes I want things that I should be like, not just myself, but also the people around me.I’m in my 20s too. When I was in my 30s, there was a time when I felt like Hamuta-san now, and there was a moment when I thought, oh, these people aren't going to take responsibility for my life. Many people say many things, but in the end, these people won't take care of my future.When I thought that, I came to think that I should not worry about the people around me. "
Furthermore, Mr. Hamuta talked about his current situation of isolation, unable to connect with anyone other than his husband.
It is said to be “a state of nowhere, nowhere to lean on”.
Hamuta (50s)
“In the end, I have no connection with anyone, no one to help me, and I really feel like I have nowhere to turn. I thought that if I had to leave my husband, I would be homeless. And eventually, they lose the ability to raise their voices.
It is said that Hamuta's hikikomori continued for about 20 years from around 2000 until recently.
However, he moved and started living in a new land, and now he is able to go out little by little.
Hayashi-san, who heard that, spoke slowly.
Ms. Kyoko Hayashi:
“I think you have come all the way here.
And at the end of the call, Mr. Hamuta said that he wanted to tell people who are hikikomori, his voice choking.
Hamuta (50s)
“Let’s raise our voices.
"I want you to treat me normally" "In an era of 1 million hikikomori", we are...
According to national estimates, there are more than 1 million hikikomori people in Japan.
Even those who think "I have nothing to do with it" may find that someone close to them is withdrawing themselves, or they themselves may be in such a state because of something.
At the end of this episode, Mr. Hayashi said:
Ms. Kyoko Hayashi:
“I would like people with hikikomori, including their families and people in the community, to be able to interact with them as normally as possible. Instead of thinking that you're dealing with a hikikomori, you're just talking to someone, and you're just talking to them, and you're just saying, "Good morning, are you going out somewhere?" I think it would be most appreciated if you could talk to me."
He also said that he wanted people to know that each and every hikikomori is desperately facing their own hearts.
Kyoko Hayashi, Representative Director of the Hikikomori UX Conference,
"People who are in a hikikomori state will try their best, work hard, and do their best to the point where they can't do it any more, but they are hikikomori to protect their own lives. If you understand that, I don't think you'll be able to approach or talk to people who put pressure on you. I feel that the words that come out of it will naturally change as well.”
Each person's situation is different, it's never "self-responsibility"
This time, through the NHK Sendai website and support groups, we asked for the voices of those affected.
After reading all of them, I was strongly reminded that the "self-responsibility" that we always hear when discussing "hikikomori" is never true.
That's why there is "sympathy" in the voices received.
I'm not the only one who's hikikomori, and I'm not the only one who feels this way.
I would like to continue working on the coverage, aiming to slowly "share" it and spread it.
Sendai Broadcasting Station Director
Sayo Noguchi Joined the station in
2020
Continuously covering issues such as youth who have difficulties in living and school refusal
Produced many programs related to the Great East Japan Earthquake
Women's Hikikomori -Voices that have been overlooked-
This interview will be broadcast on January 20th (Friday) on "Tohoku Coco Kara" (from 7:30 pm in Miyagi Prefecture).
You can watch it on NHK Plus for two weeks.
You can watch the conversation between Kyoko Hayashi and announcer Nozomu Kurihara of "Minna de Hikikomori Radio" from here.