Ijime Sociology

Having examined the effects of ijime, this paper will now seek to explore the hypothesised link between ijime and enjo-kōsai. The reasons for the sararīmen’s participation in enjo-kōsai are complex, multi-layered and we propose that the persisting effects of ijime is an underlying factor. Ijime reinforces societal expectations such as gender roles, which erode personal identity. Enjo-kōsai then serves as an anonymous outlet for the sararīmen to escape from these societal expectations which denies them their personal identities. In addition, ijime results in lowered self-esteem among all the groups involved - the bullies, the bullied, and the bystanders. This lowered self-esteem requires them to seek self-validation through non-conventional means which are not governed by the prevailing social expectations. Through enjo-kōsai, they can obtain the “praise and approval” they long for, but “almost never receive” (Rubin 2002, p. 64-65).

As previously explained, ijime at schools and in the workplace punishes non-conformity. People are pressured to conform to social norms such as the prescribed gender roles - failure to do so puts one at higher risk of being subject to ijime (Salin & Hoel 2013). No one, even a bully, is exempt from this pressure. An interview by Reid

We can make a similar statement about why sararīmen participate in enjo-kōsai - it need not be for sexual reasons. The enjo-kōsai schoolgirls provides the sararīmen with emotional counselling and “ego-massages” (Rubin 2002, p. 36). As previously explained, self-esteem in Japan is often based on how other members of society evaluate one’s worth. The Japanese sararīman seeks validation from schoolgirls who participate in enjo-kōsai to boost his self-esteem, which has been eroded by ijime. The participating schoolgirls are willing to provide “ego-massages” in return for monetary gain or