TSO, Christopher - Appointed in AY2023
Participant Profile
TSO, Christopher
Sociology, Gender StudiesGraduated from Victoria University of Wellington with a major in Sociology and French Literature. In 2016, he completed his master's degree in the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Cambridge. In 2021, he received his PhD from the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Cambridge. After serving as a Newton Trust/Japan and the World Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Cambridge from 2021 to 2022, he assumed his current position in 2023.
TSO, Christopher
Sociology, Gender StudiesGraduated from Victoria University of Wellington with a major in Sociology and French Literature. In 2016, he completed his master's degree in the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Cambridge. In 2021, he received his PhD from the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Cambridge. After serving as a Newton Trust/Japan and the World Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Cambridge from 2021 to 2022, he assumed his current position in 2023.
Understanding Gender Ideologies to Comprehend Contemporary Social Issues
My Research Theme and How I Encountered It
My specialization is in gender studies. I research how the roles of "women," "men," and other genders are socially constructed. Since I was young, I have been interested in how society influences an individual's life. To pursue questions such as how people's backgrounds contribute to their success in life and where their "common sense" beliefs come from, I majored in sociology at university. There, I encountered gender studies and realized that it is essential for a deeper understanding of society. Since then, the focus of my research has been on how gender ideologies are embedded, particularly within corporate culture.
The Appeal and Interest of My Research Theme
Conventional gender studies are based on the analysis of gender inequality in society, focusing on the positions and experiences of women. For example, as important issues in contemporary society, the perspectives of women themselves are often discussed regarding the low percentage of female managers in companies and unfair treatment such as sexual harassment. Governments and companies are working on initiatives such as the empowerment of women, but what about the positions and experiences of men, which have not received as much attention regarding the current situation in the workplace? By exploring not only the perspectives of women but also those of men, might we be able to understand gender issues more deeply? In my current research, I am conducting interviews with male office workers, and in contrast to company policies aimed at increasing the number of female managers, many male managers hold the opinion that women are fundamentally unsuited for management positions. Thus, if we look beyond government policies and corporate facades, we find that traditional values often remain deeply entrenched. By also considering the male perspective, might we be able to clarify the current state of all gender issues and the potential for true transformation?
A Message to Students
I believe that meaningful learning is not simply about memorizing information but about acquiring the ability to thoroughly understand, analyze, and judge things. To solve the critical issues of contemporary society, it is precisely individuals with this kind of critical thinking who are needed. In my classes, I take up the theme of gender issues, which many students will likely face in the future. I hope to help students acquire critical thinking skills so that they can change society for the better.