My daughter and Japanese anime-should I be concerned?

[candy_coated_bitch]

I'm not an EXPERT on Japanese anime, but I do know some about it. Mainly from people I know who are obsessed LOL. I am answering with that caveat.

The shows you are describing sound pretty obnoxious and sexist. I think maybe the best you could do is explain to her why you think those shows are sexist and not particularly empowering to girls. You sound like you've started doing that already. In my opinion you should absolutely have conversations with her about it and not treat it as a "phase". It may very well be a phase, but she's also getting messages there at the same time, you know? Maybe not make it into a huge, dramatic thing but start a dialogue. Maybe ask her what she enjoys about these shows so you have a better understanding of why she's watching them

And as traumaqueen and dykeumentary have said: there is a HUGE range of stuff out there. From the type of stuff your daughter watches, which may not be terrible positive, to stuff that depicts women in girls in much more positive light, to stuff that I think would be HUGELY inappropriate for someone of her age. It's like anything else I suppose.

I'd say just open up some conversations and see what's going on there for her, as a starting point.

[silkepus]

Anime is such a massive genre really, there is a bit of everything there. I dont understand why you would be concerned?
I read loads of manga comics as a young girl and they were probably a lot "worse" then what your daughter sounds like she's into, violence, gore, nudity etc. But its just a form of entertainment, like other things such as romantic comedies and horror (and anime is full of both). I dont think consuming material like that would change anyone anymore than other forms of entertainment would.

[Femminator]

My youngest is 15 and really into Anime. I feel it's pretty benign actually. It's just a new thing, and I guess I am lucky I also have a 17 yr old son and a 22 yr old daughter that is into it, as well. They go to JFAX(japanese films and art expose) at my eldests University and they do Cosplay(like Trekkies, they dress up as their favorite character. I figure that as long as I keep on eye on it an watch that the concepts are not too sexually charged, there are worse things they could be doing.

My kids are all(even my son) outspoken Feminists and these stories have impacted none of them as far as women's rights or thinking that males should be dominate. They talk quite frequently about how the culture there is male run and is behind the times. I would just make sure to discuss it with your daughter so she understands that the culture their is different and not woman friendly. Kids are actually quite smart and are happy to listen to your point of view, or discuss theirs. Even if they never actually act like they are listening.