A Narrative Approach to the <I>Futoko</I> (School Non-Attendance/School Refusal) Problem in Japan

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Other Title
  • 「不登校」ナラティヴのゆくえ
  • フトウコウ ナラティヴ ノ ユクエ
  • A Narrative Approach to the Futoko (School Non-Attendance/School Refusal) Problem in Japan

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Abstract

This paper attempts to position the futoho problem in Japan not as asubstantive problem but rather as one of narratives, and to consider thecharacteristics, wavering and potentials of this narrative. The firstcharacteristic of this inquiry is the use of the perspective of “Constructionismof Social Problems, ” as the argument begins by considering the issue ofhow the problem was created. Secondly, it adopted a “Narrative Approach” in the broad sense by focusing interest on the process of narrativeconstruction of the problem.<BR>The following findings were obtained:<BR>First, from the point of view of narratives, constructing “futoko” narratives contains the aspect of a struggle for hegemony between thedominant narrative and the counter narrative of the futoko problem.<BR>Second, the alternative perspective of “futoko” narratives results ina shaking of the dominant narrative and the production of another “reading” of these narratives.<BR>Third, the process of constructing “futoho” narratives develops astwo plots: “recovery” and “discovery.” The former is a return to thedimension of former narratives. The latter is the discovery of the dimensionof the new narratives.<BR>Fourth, the “futoko” narratives contain the motif of “transfer” : from “reflection” to “recovery” and from “reflection” to “discovery.”<BR>Finally, the motif of “transfer” builds a bridge to the new conceptof “transfer-based socialization, ” in contrast to the concept of “permanentresidence-based socialization. “This new concept presupposes the” transferability” or “fluidity” of the socialization process rather than thestability and integrity of the traditional concept of “socialization, ” itsuggests the possibility of re-positioning the problem-saturated self in thenarrative of socialization by means of a shift of the position in narrativecommunication.

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