| Blogs > swallowtsui > Hopping Swallow 鍋爐焰焰 |
|
Are you a loser dog? Reminder: This applies to women only. [Loser dog, a.k.a, defeated dog, a word originated from Japanese "makeinu"(pronounced as mah-kei-ee-nu). [Definition: Despite her beauty and success in career, if she is over her 30’s, still single and no , she is a loser dog (or defeated dog) in life's battlefield. Origin: from "Makeinu no Toboe (Cry of a Loser Dog)", an essay by Japanese writer Junko Sakai, published in Oct. 2003; Junko has since sparked a controversy in Japan and won several literary awards with this book; the word “Makeinu” has topped the Japanese most spoken pop word chart for years and spread to E. Asia. [Theme: Junko Sakai wanted to convey this message - by admitting that we're losers and even calling ourselves losers, single women can be freed from the struggle and enjoy their single lives even more Moral: When you admit your defeat superficially, you are a true winner under the skin. Trivia: The author herself is a 100% “loser dog”. She has received thousands of letters from married, -breeding women, telling her they don’t feel they are the “winning dogs”. Afterword: This is not a Japanese phenomenon, gradually, it will be more and more Chinese, Asian and worldwide. 
|
|||
11/15/2006 1:20 am |
Oh ! that is very interesting . Last night I watched a programme on BBC tv about women in Japan who suffer from " retired husband syndrome " and now it becomes obvious to me that they are a type of "loser dog " . Most intriguing ...
| ||
|
Tem Pest, Your understanding is quite to the point. Mine is: Those 30-sth, no-child, no hus. "Loser dogs" need not to be approved by the conformists. By creating this satiric name and thus naming themselves(ourselves) "loser", they/we are not only facing the reality but also break out from the social shackles in a eastern society. It seem to be a torturous satire but actually it is a proud manifestation of independent women.
| ||
|
BBYY&Goan, Thks for your visiting despite my warning "this is for women only." BBYY, in one sense, losers are everywhere; in another, there's no absolute losers. Goan, so superficial your understanding is!
| ||
|
Gourmet, Didnt you read my post well? Yeah, those married, staying home taking care of children and husbands, are "winning dogs", according to Junko Sakai. But facts are, winning or defeated, depends, case by case, how they manage their lives. Virgo, You are so womanish. My flying kiss on yr cheek.
| ||
11/16/2006 11:11 pm |
She felt like a loser as a woman herself and as a japanese woman. Being trapped in the situation whereby she have very little respect for herself and from her husband. I must say, that is a tough life to live. Whether she is a loser or not loser, its up to other people to decide. If she thinks shes loser, then she is one. Other people who have lived in a much comfortable life would have thought her life sux. To those who are gifted or barely can get their 3 meals: they are those who needed attention and help. Remember: The word "loser" only occurs when there is a comparison between the worst with the slightly better ones.
| ||
|
Touki, Tks for raising up the comparison notion. We cant see ourselves well, we are the reflection in other ppl's eyes. As i said b4, there;s no absolute losers. Bobonico, We must bear in mind the traditional eastern society's values standard is leaning on man. So my answer, remember, not my personal answer, but answer by the conformists: 1. Man over 30, no child, single, comparatively well-off is 'dimond bachelor'. 2. Woman, single w/ child, is called "shameless, brave single mama". Cheers for being single and fabulous!
| ||
|
Yes. Tem Pest. In a society where marriage and child is upheld as the happiness source for women, no doubt it came out w/ such terms. Some facts abt Japan, not exact data but sth vaguely in my head: Currently, 28% women in her late 20s and 30s are single; in 50 years, Japanese population will decrease 50% sth bcoz of very low birth rate. China and Japan share the similar social, family values, though there's difference as Japan is moving faster and has gone over economic boost and industrilization which affects the national psyche. In spite of some failure in marriage, my many Chinese female relatives and friends, incl. my 80-y-o grandma, keep telling me, 'To marry and have child is a must for a woman.' Some radically suggest, 'or just to have a child...' What explains these? As gourmet points out, when women (or men) have choices, they can choose what delight them most. So I dare to conclude: Those 'makeinu' loser dogs in Japan choose the life style they like, becoz they find more freedom and self in the single, no-child lives. A great contrast to those devoted mothers/housewives portrayed by gourmet. In an era when everyone can choose what they prefer, is it wonderful? Women who prefer to explore their feminist quality stay home, women who prefer to explore the equity w/ men stay in work, nobody has the right to interfere w/ one another. Great! Nevertheless, gourmet,i'd like to point out a fact: nowadays the world and the beautiful, peaceful family scenario is both very fragile. While your Japanese women friends selflessly devote to their hus/children/family, some of their husbands are dating the single 'makeinus'. I kick the ball to you, if the bubble breaks, how?
| ||
|
Pest, You are thoughtful but not long winded. Hehe... I posted "Loser Dog" here for women's self-examination. Its view is not my personal view. You know I have such an openmind  LOL.However, in some eastern societies, women are facing a dilemma - being squeezed btw personal choice and social/family judgement/pressure. Sometimes they have to confront it, though their self-awareness is strong enough to deal it. And I guess to be a happy single or to be a devoted married, is not merely a question of choice. Many factors may attribute to one's status quo.
| ||
|
Goan, You are the only two men gossiping here in women's company and express yr sentiments.
| ||
|
Pest, Dont you agree sometimes we have not choices but are offered with what we may like or may not like - shall we call it fate or luck? Frankly and unshamelessly I admit i never faced the choice of getting married factually. Life is a cobbled field, we must stagger in it while we keep watching at others and wondering: are we keeping the same pace? In one sense a/c to Junko Sakai's definition, i am a loser dog; in another, i am just a free, jumping dog that might jump up to grasp the playful ball. Aha.. The tag or the label is a virtual thing, whatever, women go as the world turns around. Some luckily have choices, some no.
|
