How the Kimono represented Japanese tradition and national identity Outline

How the Kimono represented Japanese tradition and national identity and How it has changed overtime - Outline Example As a result, wearing traditional garments such as the Kimono are largely restricted to certain festive or special occasions. Chambers (2007, p. 64) says that Japanese national identity can be established through two primary dimensions: Cultural identities and the distinction between traditional and modern practices. Although worn by men, women and children, the Kimono has always been the marked attire worn by Geishas (traditional dancers) and is also worn by women during their coming-of-age ceremony (held around the age of 20). The goal of characterizing the Kimono as feminine attire can be traced to the cultural renaissance initiated during the Tokugawa era (17th-mid 19th centuries). This persisted among the Japanese elite up until the Meiji period (during the turn of the 20th century) (Mathers, 2005, p. 42). As a result, the role of women in contemporary Japanese society is not dependent on individual choice, but has been built on broad national consensus. Women are looked upon to uphold the family and tradition (as a good mother and wife), unlike men who are supposed to be the decision makers and engage with the external world. Thus, while men prefer western outfits, women are encouraged to adorn the Kimono since its wrapping around the female is a direct representation of national identity. In other words, the wearing the Kimono is widely seen as the differentiating element between Japanese tradition and western cultures. â€Å"In our culture today, a clothes is a part of identity. It is a fashion statement of who we are. This is because we want to be seen in certain ways. Wearing clothes is a practice of showing our subjectivity.† (McRobbie, 1994, p. 128) Nevertheless, the use of Kimono has waned over the decades primarily due to western influences and the high level of maintenance required to clean and preserve the garment. Efforts are often underway to revive the tradition and increase the use of the Kimono

Reflection on conjoint family therapy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reflection on conjoint family therapy - Essay Example Indeed some of the purist therapists cannot acquiescence to commence with a session unless the whole family is present. This therapy exists on the premises that the whole family is the client hence anything less than that is underrepresentation. For the family to heal, it is hence essential that the ailing relationships must be present in the room while therapy is conducted, necessitating the presence of the whole family (Satir 1983, p.66). The symptoms of family pain manifest themselves in one member of the family; these then affect the other members in different forms causing the ultimate breakdown. This has been used with considerable success, to deal with problems such as alcoholism where one member’s addiction affects the entire family (Piercy, Sprenkle, Wetchler 1996, p.320,). One of the major advantages of conjoint family therapy is that it helps create a natural environment for children to express themselves in therapy. Young children often appear to have psychological problems, but these are normally reactions to a troubled environment. Bearing in mind that the child’s primary environment is the family, often family problems Cause his /her discomfiture. As such, the family as a unit will have to heal so the child’s problems can be solved Since children are often not very articulate, individual therapy can be intimidating, and they may be overwhelmed by therapy whose cause they may not even comprehend. This will devalue the therapy, creates the impression that there may be something wrong with him/her hence, and as a result create psychological new problem (Kafka, 2012). Besides, it is crucial that the parents support therapists’ work, and if they are not aware of what the child has learnt through therapy, they might reverse the improvements. This can occur inadvertently through their behavior especially if it is the course of the child requiring therapy in the first place. Conjoint