#KuToo: the revolution of the Japanese against the obligation to use high heels

The Japanese on Monday petitioned the government to protest the strict convention of wearing high-heeled shoes at work. The #KuToo campaign, a word game with "kutsu" (shoe) and "kutsuu" (pain), and a version on the occasion of the feminist slogan #MeToo, was designed by the actress Yumi Ishikawa and quickly gained the support of 19 thousand people.

Activists denounce that they are forced to wear these shoes at their workplace and that they should even wear high-heeled shoes when they are looking for a job.

"Today, we presented a manifesto calling for a law prohibiting employers from forcing women to wear high heels, which discriminates badually and constitutes harbadment," Ishikawa said. AFP after meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Labor.

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In this context, a Japanese minister on Wednesday defended companies that compel women to use tacos to work. "It is something that is socially accepted and that goes into what is professionally necessary and appropriate," said the Minister of Health, Labor and Social Affairs, Takumi Nemotobefore a parliamentary committee.

The case shows the problem of misogyny in Japan which, according to specialists, is a deeply rooted problem. Last year, Kanji KatoA parliamentarian in the ruling party said that women should have several children, because if they remained single, they would become a burden on the state later in life.

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厚生 労 働 省 宛: #KuTooの ·! 」Https://t.co/q61K5E2TVw @change_jpり

– 優 実 @ # KuToo 署名 中 ?? (@ishikawa_yumi) February 21, 2019

A tweet from Ishikawa earlier this year, complaining of the need to wear high heels for work in a hotel, became viral and prompted him to launch the campaign. "I realized that many people were facing the same problem," he said.

More than 150,000 people in the UK signed a similar petition in favor of receptionist Nicola Thorp, who was sent home after leaving work for refusing to wear 2 to 4-inch heels.

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A committee of parliamentarians opened an investigation into workplace dress codes, highlighting other cases in the UK where women had to wear heels, even for tasks such as climbing stairs or carry heavy suitcases. bring food and drinks up the stairs and walk long distances.

However, the government refused to amend the law, saying that the margin of reparation already existed under the 2010 Equality Act.

In 2015, the organizers of the Cannes Film Festival had to apologize for refusing access to the red carpet to women who did not wear taco shoes. Whatever the case may be, the dress code has not been changed, which has provoked an actress's protest Julia Roberts, who went barefoot the following year.

In addition, in 2017, the Canadian province of British Columbia banned companies from forcing their employees to wear high heels, claiming that the practice was dangerous and discriminatory.

MS / CP