Introduction to Empirical Studies of Western Men in Japan

Abstract

In this second part of the book, I turn to a series of empirical studies based on the contemporary narrative accounts of men who have lived and worked as English language teachers in Japan. The data discussed in these chapters is drawn from a research project that investigated the effects of gender in the experiences of both male and female English language teachers, mostly from Inner Circle countries. In keeping with the focus of the book, the studies included in the following chapters are concerned primarily with the experience of male teachers. The interviews, observations, and ethnographic notes discussed in these chapters represent a series of qualitative case studies that aim to illuminate the field of masculinity and heterosexuality in English language teaching, rather than seeking to represent a wider population (Chapelle & Duff 2003).