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INTEREST: 18-Year-Old Idol Asuka Kiraboshi Announces Pregnancy with Manager's Child

Well the idol industry makes sense it just doesn't align with western feminist values. I get that some people dislike the idea of sexual innocence that the idol industry sells but honestly I don't see how it is any worse that the idea of sexual promiscuity that Hollywood sells. They both sell the idea of sex and it is simply different aspects of it. Also it is not like any of the people who complain about it are going to fly over to Japan to attend idol performances so it is very much a local issue. It is the people in Japan who spend money on merchandise and tickets that will decide where the idol industry goes.

I don't know what countries y'all are from but here in the United States a 20 year old in a relationship with a 16 year old is frowned upon. It would also be considered grooming since he was in a position of power over her. It's the same reason why a teacher who let's say has sex with 18 year senior can still be arrested. I think the US should change the age of consent to 16 anyway like the UK and many other countries. I don't see the big problem especially since they didn't break any Japanese laws, even tho it would be different in my country.

I miss the days when "don't have sex with teenagers" fell under the umbrella of strawman conservative values instead of strawman feminist values.

If anything in the entertainment industry aligned with "Western" feminist values, it would cease to exist. Sex sells, regardless of what perceived innocence or promiscuity is conveyed.

BodaciousSpacePirate wrote:

I miss the days when "don't have sex with teenagers" fell under the umbrella of strawman conservative values instead of strawman feminist values.

That paragraph was about the idol industry or to be specific the idol industry that markets to adult men. The issue of the manager getting his idol pregnant is a tad complex and without knowing more I don't know whether the guy is a con man or an idiot. If he was a con man I doubt he would be making public comments on social media but obviously my opinion might change depending on his future actions.

Compelled to Reply wrote:

If anything in the entertainment industry aligned with "Western" feminist values, it would cease to exist. Sex sells, regardless of what perceived innocence or promiscuity is conveyed.

It is true that sex sells but I would mention that there are cultural differences in how people look at it. For example some people will complain about idol fans in Japan and how they care about sexual innocence but than they turn around and celebrate the sexual promiscuity that Hollywood sells because they agree with it. Few people really believe in cultural relativism so I guess it is not a surprise when people complain that a different culture has different values.

The insanity of the fans calling her announcement "a betrayal" is so far beyond acceptable, it makes my head spin. The idol industry fosters this entitlement and expectation of a human being catering to the fantasies of strangers. Just... gross.

the fact that the fans consider her actions a betrayal is just plain disturbing. It's her life, and she's free to screw it up.

Kalessin wrote:

the fact that the fans consider her actions a betrayal is just plain disturbing. It's her life, and she's free to screw it up.

That's where you're wrong. She's an idol. There are plenty of other entertainment avenues that she could have chosen if she did not want to adhere to what it means to be an idol. Idols are there to be idolized by wota. As soon as she chose to be an idol then she signed away her "freedom" to screw up her life (and still remain an idol). It's no different from any other job. You have expectations to meet in your job. If you do not meet them then you will be disciplined and eventually let go. You may disagree with what an idol's job specifications are, but it's not like they're hidden away from anyone who wishes to be an idol. The idol industry would fall to pieces as soon as there were people who stopped wanting to sign their social life away to a talent agency. But there are thousands upon thousands who want to do so. So I fail it find it particularly disturbing myself as there is no deception in what is expected of an idol. They could try to be a singer, or an actress, or a model. Or anything that is not an idol. That's their freedom. As an employed person, I can tell you that I have very little freedom when it comes to how I perform my job. That's typically how contractual employment goes.

As an employed person, I can tell you that I have very little freedom when it comes to how I perform my job. That's typically how contractual employment goes.

I'm pretty sure there are laws in place preventing your employer from dictating what you can and can't do out of the job (even if they aren't enforced enough).
And if you're going to claim that an idol is ALWAYS on the job, then I'm pretty sure that there are also laws preventing 24-hour-per-day working times.

The sole concept of your life belonging to someone else because you signed a contract ala Mahoutsukai no Yome is pretty ludicrous. So if a few idols reclaiming their human rights back could make the idol industry collapse, then it cna't collapse soon enough.

What you're describing is the whore/Madonna dichotomy. Some fans prefer to idolize "pure" girls and put them on a pedestal, some fans want to fantasize about sexy, promiscuous Hollywood vixens. Neither type of depiction cares about the humanity of women as individuals, which is why Hollywood has been getting as much criticism as the idol industry recently. Since women are approximately 50% of the human population, it makes sense that people criticize unrealistic, exploitative portrayals of them no matter what culture is behind those particular portrayals. That doesn't mean there is no room for sexy or innocent portrayals of women in media, but that people criticize those portrayals when they are exploitative and hurt the idol or actress herself.

Most idols under the age of 18 are signed up by their parents looking for fame even if they end up put their son or daughter through hell or pressured by other means, so no, this is not true in most cases. So, it's not the idol's fault unless they signed up when they were 18 or over. Also, idols should be admired for their talent and not purity. Idols are not a religion.