ABSTRACT
Feminist transgression characterized the “second wave” of Japanese feminism, beginning in the late 1960s. What was called “ūman ribu” (women’s lib) deeply challenged Japanese society by rejecting hegemonic notions of female sexuality, gender roles, and maternalism. This chapter examines one of the militant organizations, Chūpiren, which not only fought patriarchal norms and society, but was also opposed by other feminist groups because of its focus on legalizing oral contraceptives and its use of public spectacle to gain attention. Most other feminist organizations at that time rejected the pill as a major form of contraception, as it placed the responsibility for birth control only on women; they were also dismissive of Chūpiren’s public transgressive actions. To further explore these tensions, the chapter focuses on conflicted feminist reception of the transgressive feminist musician, Kobayashi Mariko, who called into question the power relations not only between men and women but also among women, precisely the kind of tension that emerged between Chūpiren and other feminist groups. Although initially appreciated by feminists for her provocative lyrics, Kobayashi’s protest songs were increasingly criticized for their outspoken focus on sexual issues. This chapter links the critique of hegemonic notions of female sexuality—the intimate—with visible public feminist interventions.
