Roles Played by Japanese Women - Article Example

Roles Played by Japanese Women Name Course Title Instructor’s name Date Japan experienced a severe war which caused a great change to the nation due to the side effects that the war caused. As a country within the Asia continent, it has a low birth rate due to the inequality that is being expressed in the manner in which gender is treated. Women were being discriminated during the time of pacific war; they were seen as slaves, and unnecessary in the community1. During this time, japan nation was under Confucian, they were to follow and adhere to laws of Confucians. Women were being humiliated; they were to depend on their husband2. They were ruled as prisoners, forced to work and underestimated in the society. Buddhism and samurai was the only religion being practiced during this time of pacific war, in which women were being denied their right of worship. They were not supposed to go around the sacred places3. The Asia-pacific war has brought a lot of changes to the Japan nation, causing the economic life of the Japanese to be unstable and brings a lot of impact to the nation. In this paper, I will compare the role played by women in japan during the Asia-pacific war period and in the last two decades of the twentieth century and the improvement which has took place from 1930s to 1990s. The comparison is as follows; firstly, women could not own property. Both in the Asia-pacific war and in the last two decades of the twentieth century, women have been treated unfairly compared to men4. They were not allowed to possess any property in their homes because they were seen as slaves5. They were treated like people who had no authority over something. When it comes to differences among the two, during the period of pacific war, women were not supposed to touch any property within the community or otherwise they would be disowned by the members of the community6. In the times of twentieth century, that is when the japan nation has changed their attitudes towards women and started treating women has the most important being in the society. Secondly, women were not supposed to vote. Both in the Asia-pacific war and in the twentieth century, women were being denied their rights to vote. They were treated as people who cannot lead7 and those who cannot rule the nation. During that time, women were being denied their citizens’ rights and treated like the immigrants in the country. The difference comes in when the religion changes to Christianity that is during the twentieth century. Women were taken to school to learn political policies and their rights as citizen of japan and the roles which they are supposed to play as a member of the community8. After the amendment of new constitution to the Japanese nation, men and women were being treated equally. Thirdly, women were confined to domestic matters. Both in Asia- pacific war and in the twentieth century, the role of women was strictly on the domestic matters. They were to take care of their homes and families9. They were not supposed to move away from their home except the men. During the post war period, their role changes due to the introduction of the new policies. There was equality of sexes and no gender harassment due to the introduction of a new Japanese government. Both women and men were doing the same role. Fourthly, Women were to obey their fathers as daughter, their husband as wife and their son as aged mother10. Women played a big role during this time. Their life was miserable due to some rules which they were undergoing. They were supposed to obey their own fathers and treat them like their daughters in which if you went against the role, you are being treated as an irresponsible person. They were to treat their husbands as their wives, taking good care of them, cook them and do all the chores they have been assigned by their husbands. Women were also to obey their own sons and treat them like their aged mothers11. Special care was given to their sons since they are the next upcoming generation in the japan land. The difference comes in during the last two decades of the twentieth century that is a new constitution was amended and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) treated all the sexes as people of one nation. All those roles formed against women were demolished and a new role was formed which brought a change to the people of japan. Fifth, women were to provide the labor in the commercial sector. During those times, women were treated as the source of labor. They were supposed to work in coal mines, others in the steel mills whereas the rest are supposed to be in the armed factories12. All these works were recommended for women as their men was to work in the armed forces. During the Asia-Pacific war, women were to work until marriage and then they retired. That is the law which they were to follow regardless of their age. But in the twentieth century, women were to work for long time until certain age and then they retired. In which, after the retirement, the government are responsible for their upkeeps, there being refunded and being respected as the women of the japan and the hard work they have shown during their working periods in the government. Sixth, women were to produce more babies and increase the population13. The role of women during the time of pacific war was really scared. Women big role were to give birth yearly. They were to make sure a newborn has been brought to the family, a newborn is to be celebrated and honored in the Japanese community. Japan families are most nuclear, while others are extended family. The birth rate during this time of the Asia-pacific war increased due the strict rules which women were hindered to follow14. During the post war period, the new government of japan amends a new constitution and the rights of women in the society. Women were taken to school, they were taught about their ways of living, birth rate fertility and business transaction. These changes have made a great impact to the today’s generation of the japan nation. Seventh, women were not allowed to be educated. During the time of pacific war, Japanese women had no rights for education15. The type of religion which they practiced cannot allow women to go to school rather they were taken as slaves with their husbands. Since the introduction of Buddhism and samurai, women in japan have been neglected and abandoned by their nation. In the last two decades of the twentieth century, the life of women has improved in the Japanese land. Women were taken to school, universities and afterwards their being employed in the government sector. Their religion life has changed since the introduction of Christianity. It has made brought a great impact to their social, political and economic way of living. Japan women had improved their social status considerably from the 1930s to the 1990s due to the following reasons. First, the introduction of education to women, in 1930s most of Japanese women were not allowed to go to school due to their roles which they played in the society16. They were being discriminated and sexual harassed in the community. During 1990s, education in japan has been announced compulsory to each individual. This has created a great difference in Japanese women since they are now focusing in their careers and ways to position themselves in a better place in the society. Secondly, the form of employment in the japan has changed and gives all gender the same equality in the job opportunities. In 1930s, women were to work until marriage and then they retired17. There wages were a bit less compare to what men were earning. But in 1990s, their life completely changed. Since they were now educated enough and have their professional careers, women were to work longer until there time of retirement and they were given insurance policies by the government to assure for their work, health and loss. This has improved the life of Japanese women in 1990s and today’s generation. Lastly, in today’s japan nation, human rights are being respected. In 1930s, women were being sexual harassed in their work place18. They were being forced to work in the industries, treated like prisoners, living in an unhealthy environment and being paid low wages. In 1990s, such humilities come to an end. New laws was introduced, human rights were respected and honored. Domestic abuse comes to an end and all other violence in which it has improved the social status of Japanese women and their state of living. From the discussion, it is clear that the paper has look at the role played by women in japan during the Asia-pacific war period and in the last two decades of the twentieth century. It has also looked on how Japanese women had improved their social status from the 1930s to the 1990s. Women should be considered as part of the community, they should have the feelings of equality. Human rights should be respected and adhered according to the new Japanese constitution. Notes Chu, Yun-han, and Jih-wen Lin. "Political development in 20th-century Taiwan: State-building, regime transformation and the construction of national identity." The China Quarterly 165 (2001): 102-129. Frühstück, Sabine. Colonizing sex: Sexology and social control in modern Japan. Vol. 4. Univ of California Press, 2003. Selden, Mark, and Alvin Y. So, eds. 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