This Japanese blog post celebrates the recent growth in diverse Barbie dolls (including body type, skin color, and gender), which better represent the U.S. demographic. I also discuss other dolls (Licca, a Japanese equivalent of Barbie; Sylvanian Family, a collection of animal figurines; and traditional Japanese hina dolls), exploring the many roles that dolls have, including as communication tools and sources of inspiration.
人形（ひとがた）は人形（にんぎょう）になりましたが、今でも私たちはそこに自分を投影しています。米国の非営利団体「A Doll Like Me」は、注文を受けて、多様な子供たちと同じ姿の人形を作っています。同団体のフェイスブックのページは、皮膚や四肢などが他人と異なる子供が人形を抱えて微笑む写真でいっぱいです。 人形の作者である女性は、「人形は、ストレスの多い状況に子供が対応するときに助けてくれますし、何より、子供に自信を与えます。そのためにも、人形は、彼らを愛してくれる子供たちに似せて作られるべきなのです（筆者訳）」と書いており、人形の料金を取らずに寄付金だけで経営を行っているようです。
In the wake of the presidential elections that revealed a nation that remains highly divided, this bilingual post explores how we might visualize data in a way that doesn’t mislead audiences or stereotype different types of people.
Earlier this month, we witnessed one of the most dramatic presidential elections in history. These past four years, the U.S. had been unrecognizable to me. As a woman, quasi-immigrant, and minority, I felt that I was unwelcome on all three counts. I was in a state of disbelief as racist remarks and actions were normalized, and many laws that I had been proud to associate with the U.S. were rolled back one by one.
It is a huge relief to have a national leader who seems rational, calm, and mindful of the growing diversity of the U.S. demographic. I am ecstatic that we now have the first woman vice president–who also happens to be Black, Asian, and the daughter of an immigrant. That fact alone allays my concerns about criticism over the president-elect’s treatment of women.
A Divided Country
But as we all know, this was no swift victory. The “blue wave” touted by pundits never came. Instead, we had a handful of swing states that flipped, one by one, from slightly red to barely blue over the course of four days. I kept taking screenshots of the close race (at one point a difference of 1,000 votes, or less than 0.1%!) and sending it to friends. I pored over the news analyzing the developments in each state, from which counties’ votes were being counted first, to why Nevada seemed to take its sweet time, to legendary figures like Stacey Abrams and the late John McCain affecting the outcome in Georgia and Arizona.
The state of the swing states as of the morning of Nov. 6. With 99% of votes reported, Georgia had a difference of 1,000 votes, or less than 0.1%. Screenshot from Google based on results compiled by the Associated Press.
Maps
With all the election results readily available online, it has been really fascinating to be able to zoom into any state and look at the results in each county. Maps like this one (for Virginia) show islands of blue cities in a sea of red.
Election results by county in Virginia. Screenshot from Google based on results compiled by the AP.
But this year, the way maps show election data seemed to undergo an important and fascinating shift. With the slogan “Land doesn’t vote; people do,” several maps came out to show votes in proportional circles based on how people voted in each county, as opposed to coloring in the entire area of each county. Since fewer people live in rural areas, this was a much more accurate representation. Based on how much recognition these newer maps received, I suspect future elections will be represented in this way.
Either way, the fact remains that we are a deeply divided country, mostly reflecting whether we live in urban or rural areas. So how do we heal as a nation? One way, I think, is to avoid stereotyping others as much as we can.
Visualizations that Reinforce Stereotypes
The below illustration is called “What it means to be a typical Democrat or Republican, based on everyday items.” A translation of the words that appear throughout the illustration are in the chart below (all translations are my own).
From this website of The Asahi Shimbun. I added the numbers in purple for the translations provided below.
Democrats
Republicans
Prius; Volvo
❶ Cars
Hummer; Porsche
MSNBC
➋ TV stations
FOX
Comedy; Romance
❸ Movies
War; Action
Jazz; Rap
❹ Music
Country
Tennis; Soccer
❺ Sports
Rodeo; Motor Races
Women: Silky smooth; Men: Long with beards
❻ Hairstyle
Women: Voluminous; Men: Short and neat
Casual
❼ Attire
Business Suits
Sushi; Vegetarian
❽ Food
Fried Chicken; BBQ
Starbucks
❾ Beverages
Coors Beer
This was apparently first published in The Asahi Shimbun about 10 years ago. It came up on its website this past March (with the explanation that “trends have not changed that much since then”) as part of an article that helps young job applicants / recent college graduates understand current events.
When I first saw this, I couldn’t help but laugh. It’s wonderful that Japanese audiences are paying close attention to the U.S. elections. I think visuals are very important, especially to a younger audience. But I also think we need to be careful not to generalize too much–precisely because we are shaping young minds.
To start with the basics, the data comes from mixed sources. This illustration is apparently based on “data from advertising and research firms, as well as the voices of American voters.” That’s at least three sources that probably use different methodologies, samples, dates, and collection methods. While I don’t expect the entire methodology to be part of the picture, I’d at least like to know the names of the companies that collected this data.
The illustration is full of points I want to ask more about. For example (and I am also making big generalizations here), the “Republican” category seems to combine several types of people: the military type (short, neat hair), the wealthy type (Porsches), people living in rural areas (fried chicken; country music), etc. More minor examples show weird combinations too, like Starbucks (likely coffee) with sushi for Democrats. It is very confusing because all these mixed data is illustrated in the same picture.
And while the variety in music tastes and hairstyle is certainly interesting, I don’t see how it makes a big difference. The only thing I thought was truly relevant here is the type of media consumed (FOX vs. MSNBC), which other sources also indicate. I would rather know about the difference in opinion on topics like education, immigration, and religion. And, at least in terms of food, there’s evidence that we can’t associate them with political thought: The New York Times recently published a quiz asking readers to look at photos of fridge contents and guess whether they belong to a Trump supporter or Biden supporter. As of today, readers have made 25 million (!) guesses, and were correct 52% of the time–it’s 50/50, even with that huge sample.
Caricatures
To me, the most egregious point that could be corrected is that all four people depicted here are white. According to data compiled by the Pew Research Center, as of 2019, 40% of registered Democrats were non-white (even back in 2010, when this illustration was made, it probably would have been more than 36% (2008)). The Democratic party clearly states that “diversity is a strength,” and its support for immigrants and minorities is clear. So it seems especially odd to represent 100% of the Democrats here as white people.
But I also see how it’s extremely hard to visualize people “correctly.” Take, for example, the controversial NHK video that attempted to explain the BLM movement in June. If Black people or other minorities were added to the Asahi Shimbun visualization of Democrats and Republicans, would it have made things better? I doubt it, because it’s hard to illustrate someone without resorting to caricatures, especially if you do not know them well.
A screenshot (from here) of the controversial NHK video that illustrated Black people who wore tank tops and Afros, lighting the city on fire, and saying that they were resorting to violence because they were angry about the income gap (with no mention of police brutality)
And the truth of the matter is that there’s an inherent difference in illustrating someone who is already in the majority versus someone who is not. The former has already been drawn in many different ways, and one additional illustration is just that–a collection to add to many different images that readers may have in their head. It won’t skew the audience’s minds in either direction. Someone who is rarely drawn, on the other hand, automatically becomes a representative of their entire group because they are rarely seen. It’s similar to how movie characters used to be caricatures. The token Asian characters in older films were stereotypes (Mr. Yunioshi in Breakfast at Tiffany’s or Long Duk Dong in Sixteen Candles), whereas now we are seeing diverse backgrounds and personalities (from Crazy Rich Asians to The Farewell) because there are more films and more characters.
Visualizing Content in Better Ways
A lot of the data in the Asahi Shimbun illustration is interesting, even if not necessarily relevant. I think this could be improved by 1) listing its sources by name, 2) not showing people in the illustrations, and 3) instead of showing the top one or two in the same big picture, perhaps choosing the top five in each category and turning them into separate charts. Illustrations are so powerful, helping us understand and remember things better–but without the full context, they can also be misleading.
Media have to work with quick deadlines, and it’s easy for me to be an armchair critic. But as people pointed out with the BLM video, I believe there are ways to find consultants. On a deeper level, I believe we all need to have a better understanding of each other, so that we don’t stereotype others, and know when we are about to create caricatures.
These take long conversations, better education, more reading, stronger media representation, and so much more. But to circle back to the original discussion, at least we know that we are politically divided. At least we are beginning to learn, in the past six months, how much pain Black people have been experiencing. I hope that we can strive to understand each other. After this election, the only direction to go is onwards and upwards.
“Thoughts on Wording Surrounding the BLM Movement”
Some of the phrases we have been hearing in relation to the BLM movement are difficult to convey in Japanese, and I wanted to really sit down and look into them. Here’s a Japanese blog post that explores some key phrases–what “Black Lives Matter” means, why we ought not to say “All Lives Matter,” how “defund the police” could be interpreted, and the difference between “Black” and “African American”–based on what I thought and learned from friends and other articles.
抗議の次のステップとして、警察を今後どうしていくかということも話し合われています。スローガンとしてdefund the policeという表現が頻繁に使われていますが、このdefundという言葉は、米国で大きな物議を醸しています。英語でもほとんどの人がこれまであまり馴染みがなかった言葉（このブログを書いているワードプレスでも、スペルチェックに引っ掛かります）であるため、各々が異なる解釈を行っているのです。
CNN、アトランティック誌、ヴァイスなどの多くのメディアが、defund the policeが何を意味するのかという分析を行っています。アトランティック誌の記事の見出しは「『Defund the police』という言葉は、defund the policeという意味ではない。ただし、そういう意味の場合もある」（副題：「文字通り解釈すべきなのか？」）です。この言葉がどれほどの混乱を招いているかをよく示していると思います。
主要メディアに加え、オンラインの辞典であるdictionary.comも本件に関する記事を出しています。それによると、defundと言う言葉の定義は、to withdraw financial support from, especially as an instrument of legislative control（法的統制のツールとして、財政支援を止めること）とあります。また、「多くの活動家や研究者、一部の政治家によれば、defund the policeは、『お金の力を使って、これまでの漸進的な変化では達成できなかった制度的改革を行う』と言う意味」だとも書いています。
Black Lives Matterは、黒人が米国の警察に何度も殺害されていることに対する抗議運動として端を発したため、各地における警察の見直しは、大きな進捗だと言えます。黒人の親が子供に必ず警察への対応の仕方を教えなければならず、特に男性の命が危険に晒される状況には、本当に心が痛みます。他方、制度的差別があまりに根深く、社会のあらゆる側面に浸透しているため、目の前の具体的な問題（警察のことのみならず、南北戦争で南軍を率いた人々の像の撤去など）で進捗があっても、より大きな問題はなくなりません。今後論点がずれていったり、象徴的な進歩で大きな目標が見失われたりしないことを願っています。
BlackとAfrican American
Black Lives Matterの中心にあるBlackという言葉。恥ずかしながら、私は先日までこの言葉がAfrican Americanと同じ意味だと思っていました。正直、Black はもともと肌の色から来た言葉なので、自分がyellowと呼ばれたら嫌なように、その言葉自体、黒人でない私は言ってはならないのかと思っていました。また、子供の頃、正しい表現はAfrican Americanだと習った覚えがあったため、そちらを使うよう努めてきました。でも、これも間違いでした。
African American の方が正しい言葉なのかと思った、と友人に説明したところ、世代間のギャップはあるとの話でした。つまり、公民権運動を経験した彼女のご両親の世代は、黒を意味する差別的な古い言葉「ネグロ」から距離を置くため、African Americanを使っているそうです。若い世代の方がBlackという言葉に共感を覚えるのだそうです。
The DC flag at the end of the “Black Lives Matter” sign. This sign has definitely made me very proud of the city!*
The past ten days have brought so many emotions, it’s been hard to put them into words. Everyday, I seem to experience something different:
Shock that we are here again, with yet another incident of policy brutality against Black people.
Utter embarrassment that an Asian officer just stood and watched.
Shaken by the images and accounts of riots, especially from friends who experienced it.
Outrage at looters and violent instigators who took advantage of this moment.
Sadness for the restaurant workers who endured closures, as well as doctors who continued to help others through the pandemic–only to have their places destroyed.
Relief in seeing the solidarity of communities that clean up together after the violence.
Heartened by how the BLM movement has spread worldwide.
Frustration at the difficulty of conveying to Japan the many layers of this complicated issue.
Disbelief that the leader of our country tear-gassed peaceful protesters just so he could walk and make an empty gesture.
Guilt that continued to grow each day–that I’m not doing anything as a minority, especially when I’m in DC.
Overwhelmed by the sheer volume of news, information, advice, and opinions.
Shame about my own ignorance and biased opinions.
. . . The list goes on and on. I’ve been writing little by little, and it has been hard to make it cohesive. But I think two things have really helped in recent days: things are finally starting to be peaceful and hopeful; and I got to take part in the protests.
The storefront of Teaism, which was set on fire. Even after that, the co-owners have shown support for BLM. I’m sad remembering the many lunches and teas I’ve enjoyed here, including Japanese food like ochazuke. I am now even more motivated to frequent one of their stores again.
Responsibility as an Asian American
One of the hardest things for me has been to figure out my role as a fellow minority who faces some racism, but whose experience is very different from Black people.
I cannot even begin to imagine what it is like to face such oppression every single day. I have been a recipient of some discrimination or racial slurs, but have never been suspected of crimes or deemed dangerous simply because of the way I look. I often forget how much we benefit from civil rights movements and all the other efforts that Black people have made towards equality. We’ve received so much–but are not giving back enough.
Biases
This has been a time for self-reflection as well. I grew up in Japan and in a state whose African American population is 2%. As a child, I did not know anything beyond what I read in classical literature; saw in television (Gordon from Sesame Street!), movies, or the news from the mainland; or learned through very limited personal interactions. This is simply an excuse, of course. After all, DC’s African American population is 46%. And at any point, including in college and as an adult, I could have made more of an effort to seek information and get to know more people. Have I clutched my bag tighter based on the appearance of strangers I’m passing by? Have I bombarded my patient Black friends with ignorant questions? Yes; I’m ashamed to say that I definitely have. I look forward to learning and improving through dialogue and resources (books, films, articles, videos) that have recently been circulating.
With the current protests, I initially wondered if I am qualified to speak up. I wanted to say something in solidarity, but was embarrassed about my lack of knowledge and experience on this matter. But as an Asian woman, I have striven to promote diversity and equality, and decided that I should contribute in my own way.
Police Brutality
I learned about Rodney King in school, but did not realize until a few years ago–when Michael Brown, Freddie Gray, Philando Castile and many, many more became household names–that nothing has changed in almost 30 years. I am in disbelief that these incidents continue to happen, despite the protests, civil unrest, and wide media coverage–and that we tend to forget once something else replaces the headlines. (And as others have pointed out, these are only incidents that we know about.)
Of course, the police needs to change, and I’m glad that’s beginning to happen. But those terrible police officers didn’t act the way they did just because they happen to be more violent. It starts with mindset, which is shaped by education, representation in media, cultural discourse, relationships, and more–so I think we are all responsible for changing things collectively, even if each step might be indirect and small.
I am hopeful that this time, things will be different. We all know nothing will change overnight. But what has been heartening is that, thanks to anyone being able to film and spread information quickly, we are now more vigilant than ever. I do believe that the protests had a hand in upgrading the crime of the first officer, as well as the arrest of the three other officers. And I am hopeful that this movement, now bigger than ever before, is leading to a cultural shift where individuals like me will commit to being more mindful of their words and actions regarding race.
The Center of Action
While the protests began in Minneapolis, DC is very much one of the focal points of this movement. Being here in this moment has been scary and fascinating at the same time. I luckily did not experience riots or heavy policing in the suburbs that I live in. But I was heartbroken to see that many of the buildings I’ve frequented in downtown DC are now destroyed. I’ve enjoyed many lunches at restaurants near the White House (which is a 15-minute walk from my former workplace), and felt especially sad that this happened when dine-in services had finally resumed the day before. I also remember my interactions with the kind doctors, pharmacists, and other staff at the urgent care center and CVS that were destroyed–these professionals risked their own health to continue working during the pandemic. I understand that lives are much more important than properties, and hear that this point had to be made physically because peaceful means were not effective enough. I simply wish we would not have to spread the sadness and anger like this.
On the other hand, it has been wonderful to see the decisive action by the DC mayor to emblazon 16th Street with the sign “Black Lives Matter.” While there’s criticism that this is a publicity stunt against the White House and that real action is lacking, I do think that, in this moment, this sign is exactly what is needed. I felt that the street became a symbolic safe zone, and this gave me the courage to finally shake off the fear and hesitation I had in joining the protests. I just wanted to celebrate this happy occasion by standing there with my own two feet.
The wonderful man on the right kept singing and keeping people upbeat. This song was “Lean on Me,” and several people were dancing.
Facing Forward
Sure enough, when I visited yesterday, Black Lives Matter Plaza was the center of activities, be it chanting in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church or dancing and singing in front of the letters. While the boarded up buildings were stark reminders of the violence during the past week, the overall vibe was positive and encouraging.
Even three months ago, none of us could have imagined this surreal scenery: people dressed in surgical masks and black attire kneeling in front of a caged Lafeyette Park, surrounded by boarded storefronts and vandalism. It sounds apocalyptic, if not for the fact that we were all there because of hope for a better future. I have faith that this is a historical moment. One day, we’ll look back and say: this is when the tides finally began to change.
Kneeling in front of the fenced Lafayette Square (the tip of the Washington Monument can be seen in the distance). Some hands are raised in response to the chant, “Hands up, don’t shoot.”
*PS: I finished this blog post on a positive note last night and was getting ready to post it–but found out this morning that apparently someone defaced the DC flag at the end of the “Black Lives Matter” sign overnight, converting it into an equal symbol (=) that leads to the words “Defund the Police.” I’m very sad that someone used this powerful sign to promote their own view, stripping away the proud moment many of us felt about being in DC. It didn’t even last 48 hours.
PPS: Apparently DC authorities will not erase the “Defund the Police” message, but instead repaint the three stars so that it’s no longer an equal symbol. Perhaps this is again symbolic of the fact that we cannot be complacent with little victories; that this is a neverending fight; that there are divisions even among allies; and that dialogue must continue in every direction.
