From August 6 to 8, 2025, the Faculty of Humanities and Human Sciences course “Social Change: Gender Studies 2025” was offered at the Hokkaido Summer Institute 2025.
Similar to the “Social Change: Gender Studies” course offered at HSI 2023, this course welcomed Professor Lynne Yukie Nakano from the Department of Japanese Studies at The Chinese University of Hong Kong as the Invited Lecturer . Participants learned about gender through lectures and group work.
Continuing from HSI 2023, this year also saw participation from many students with diverse backgrounds from other departments and overseas. In addition to hailing from different undergraduate majors, students representing various cultural and historical backgrounds from Taiwan, South Korea, Cambodia, Finland, China, the United States, and other countries—each having experienced varying levels of gender inequality—found the group work sessions a valuable opportunity to learn about each other’s differences, complementing the content covered in lectures.
On the first day, after a foundational lecture by Professor Nakano on “What is Gender Studies?” , each student reflected on various aspects of their daily lives and the societies to which they belong. They then shared their thoughts on questions like “What issues are currently problematic?” and “What challenges exist?” Subsequently, they critically examined gender by considering questions like “What solutions can be devised?” and “What factors contribute to these issues?” They also questioned and critically analyzed existing gender stereotypes. Through this combination of lectures and group work, students first learned fundamental research methodologies.
Students actively responding to questions posed by Professor Nakano
After three days of lectures, group presentations were held on the final afternoon. Divided into nine groups, students selected one theme from various gender-related topics presented starting on the afternoon of the second day. Within a limited timeframe, they researched and compiled their presentation content into PowerPoint slides.
Students conducting research and summarizing while listening to Professor Nakano’s explanation
Presentations covered a wide variety of topics, ranging from differences in how individuals perceive information from TV, newspapers, online news, and other mass media outlets to international comparisons of influences from encountering diverse opinions via social media and reflections on personal experiences. Many groups ran past their allotted time due to the sheer number of presentation slides and questions from other groups, resulting in extended presentation periods. Through Q&A sessions with Professor Nakano and other groups, participants gained new insights and perspectives on their presentations, with some delving even deeper while answering questions.
