Student Discourse on Tokokyohi (School Phobia/Refusal) in Japan: burnout or empowerment?

Author: Yoneyama S.

Source: British Journal of Sociology of Education, Volume 21, Number 1, 1 March 2000 , pp. 77-94(18)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

Key:

- Free Content

- New Content

- Subscribed Content

- Free Trial Content

Abstract:

Tokokyohi (school phobia/refusal) has been steadily increasing in Japan since the 1980s. It is causing an exodus of students from schools, thus creating a legitimation crisis of the education system. This paper examines this phenomenon by focusing on its various discourses. Four types of adult discourse are discussed: the psychiatric (tokokyohi as mental illness); the behavioural (tokokyohi as laziness); citizens' (tokokyohi as resistance to school); and socio-medical (tokokyohi as physical and psychological burnout). These are compared with the student discourse drawn from autobiographical accounts of tokokyohi. This paper argues that tokokyohi is a process in which students who burn out in the extremely demanding and alienating school system try to empower themselves in their search for subjectivity.

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

The full text electronic article is available for purchase. You will be able to download the full text electronic article after payment.

$38.49 plus tax Refund Policy