As of April 2021, the Schoonmaker Memorial Center for Gender Studies at Aoyama Gakuin University was established.

The name “Schoonmaker Memorial Center” is in honor of Dora E. Schoonmaker, a missionary who established a girls school in the Meiji era that later became the roots for Aoyama Gakuin.
Creating a society where all people are guaranteed their rights, and which accepts any sexual orientation and gender identity is an important task both in Japan and worldwide. As a higher education and research institution, universities have responsibilities to face this task.
The equality of gender and accepting diversity of gender identities is also a task that is to be handled not only by the university, but by Aoyama Gakuin as a whole through its large span of education.

【The purpose of the center】
By respecting the Aoyama Gakuin ideals for education that originated in Schoonmaker’s time, the Memorial Center plans to inherit the traditional girls’ education to the next generation, and commit to the acceptance of gender equality and diverse identities both in Aoyama Gakuin and in society through gender education and research held under the Christian spirit.（referring to article 2 of the Schoonmaker Memorial Center for Gender Studies at Aoyama Gakuin University rules）

【Expected job descriptions】
According to the purpose of establishment, the Memorial Center will be expanding its work to mainly 3 areas, area of research (managing research activities, and giving presentations of research results), area of education (managing educational activities), and area of social commitment (managing social commitment activities).
The management will be done by the director, vice directors and committee members. The committee is expected to consist of equal numbers of opposite gender.
All 3 of the jobs above will be managed and handled by each committee. The committees will consist of members from a wide range of faculty, from different expertise, and without difference in gender.

【Commemoration Symposium】
To commemorate the establishment of the Memorial Center, an online symposium will be held concerning the now and future of gender research institutions of universities. The symposium is scheduled to be held on Sunday, May 9, 1PM-5PM.

“The now and then of Coeducation University Gender Research Institution in Tokyo”
■Rikkyo Gender Forum Former Director・WADA, Yu
■Waseda University Gender Studies Institute Director・MURATA, Akiko
■International Christian University/Center for Gender Studies Advisor・TANAKA, Kazuko
■Hitotsubashi University Center for Gender Research and Social Sciences Co-representative・KIDO, Yoshiyuki

Comments “The future of University Gender Research Insitutions”
■Certified NPO Women’s Action Network Chair／University of Tokyo special guest professor・UENO, Chizuko
■Promotional Director for Gender Diversity and Equality at Shibuya City Office・NAGATA, Ryutaro
■Aoyama Gakuin University Faculty of Law／Head of Schoonmaker Memorial Center for Gender Studies・Professor SHIN, Hae Bong

We await for your participation to the symposium.

Event details

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