Modern Day
(1912 - Today)
Education
Many Japanese beliefs still influence females about what their roles in life are. Many women in Japan dedicate themselves to their children, and prefer to stay at home doing household tasks, at least, while their children are still young. However, women’s educational opportunities have increased in the 20th century. 37% of women have received education beyond upper-secondary school, compared with 43% of men, but most have received their post secondary education in junior colleges and technical schools rather than in universities and graduate schools.
Now, boys and girls in the 20th century get equal education. Both genders have the right to learn, and all students are taught subjects like Japanese, Mathematics, science, social studies, music, crafts, physical education and home economics. Students in Japan also learn traditional Japanese arts like shodo (calligraphy) and haiku (form of poetry). Girls are also allowed to try boy’s sports in school too - Judo is popular in both genders. Women, now know just as much as men as they get older, and are equally as wise. Sometimes, even wiser then men. In modern Japan, the school year starts in April, and classes are held from Monday to Friday or Saturday, depending on the school. The length of the school year, for both male and female is around 198 days long. The school year consists of two or three terms, which are separated by short holidays in spring and winter and a six week long summer break.
Marriage
In modern day, the average age to marry is 27. So, not really an extremely young age like before modern day. However, a growing number of women are choosing to stay unmarried in Japan today. Developments often viewed this as a rebellion against the traditional confines of women’s restrictive roles as wives and mothers. In 2004, 54% of Japanese women in their 20’s were still single, while only 30.6% were single in 1985. Today, marriage can either be ‘arranged’ or a ‘love’ match. Arranged marriage is the result of formal negotiations involving a mediator who is not a family member, coming together between the respective families, including the bride and groom for a meeting. This is usually followed by further meetings and ends with an elaborate and expensive wedding ceremony. Love marriage, which is okay in todays society, is the more preferred choice of marriage. This is where, when two people fall in love they can get married - not who they are forced to be with. Less than 3 percent of Japanese remain unmarried, however the age of marriage is increasing for both men and women, from late twenties on wards. The divorce rate is one-quarter that of the United States. The divorce rate in Japan is less than the US, but is growing. About one in three Japanese marriages end in divorce, four times the rate in the 1950’s and double the rate in 1970’s. This is probably because more women have the freedom now to marry who they want, and who they don’t want to be with. In the earlier japanese periods, women were forced to marry a man she didn’t love, and work for him, for the rest of his life, but not in modern Japan now.
Appearance
Japanese women in modern society do wear western style, but they also wear kimonos to their ocha (Japanese Tea Ceremony) class once a week. However, Japanese women don’t dress as casual as Americans, and tend to wear fewer bright colours. Although modern day Japanese women basically wear the same as westerners for everyday clothing. Women generally wear skirts or dresses instead of long pants or trousers. Women that work in offices are required to wear appropriate uniform - usually a matching skirt and vest with a white blouse.
One of the most distinctive feature in modern day Japanese dress is that most women dress in season. There are specific spring/summer and fall/winter colours for the different seasons, and most people stick to those. Yukata (casual cotton kimono) are worn by most women for summer festivals and while visiting hot springs. Other than this, in modern Japan, it isn’t very common for women to be walking around in the traditional style Japanese clothes. However women who practice some traditional hobby like the ocha (Japanese Tea ceremony ) where kimono’s for this.
Other than that, women will only wear a kimono for very special occasions like the age ceremony when their turn 20, her wedding or a close relatives wedding.
For occasions like formal parties, award ceremonies and receptions, Western evening wear is more common. Women sometimes wear kimonos, but it is usually quite uncommon. Many in modern day, don’t even own kimonos, they only rent one for big Japanese occasions where they are expected to wear one.
Women's Rights
Women’s rights have dramatically changed since the Edo and Meiji period. Women have had careers, and 70% of japanese women have jobs before they even get married. Japanese women now have lives of their own, and don’t have to follow and bow down on their knees for the men. After World War I, equal rights was written and revised for women. Women as well as men were granted the right to choose spouses and occupations, to inherit and own property in their own names and to retain custody of their children.
Women were also given the right to vote in 1946. Postwar reforms opened education institution to women and stated that women receive equal pay for equal work - just the same as men. However, few barriers to women’s equal participation in the life of society still remain.
Meiji to Modern
There were many changes that women experienced from the Meiji to the Modern period. These changes include Social, Cultural, Political and Economic. Below, is more detail about each individual change.
Social: During the Meiji period, women were always the inferiors and males were always the superiors. Women were never emperors, and were seen and entertainment to the men. Due to their beliefs and culture, women didn’t really have a place in society, and were not treated with equality. They always had to follow, obey and serve for the men in her family - her father, husband and son. Women were expected to get married and look after their children. They were required to either do housework or work on the fields. However, now in the modern day Japan, much has changed since the Meiji period. Women have more equal rights as the men, and are not treated like prostitutes or slaves anymore, ever since laws have been put in place. Women are not afraid to have a voice and speak up. Women in Japan now, feel as though they have a say in their life.
Cultural: Women were always not as important as the men. In the Meiji period, the Japanese believed women were “good wife, wise mother.” Meaning, they were good wife's to their husbands, and cared for their children, and the men didn’t have to. Women were sometimes even treated with so much disrespect, they would get hit and abused by their husbands if they were not feminine enough. Women were also forced to marry and often had arranged marriage that they could not get out of. For their motherhood, the Japanese culture suggests that all women should look after their children, and that all their time and energy go into the child, and the men didn’t have to do a thing. It was the wife's job. Motherhood to the Japanese was known as an act of selflessness and sacrifice. Although in modern day Japan, there was a big change in Japanese women’s culture. Women are now starting to believe that they deserve a chance at a career, and law has now stated that women have equal rights as men. Women are allowed to marry who they want, and wear what they want. Women in Japan are now stepping away from their traditional culture from the Meiji period, to more of a modern, westernised life. A life with independence, and success. Surveys have also shown, that many women do not want to be mothers, as they want to focus on a career for themselves instead.
Political :Before the Meiji period Japanese Women were taught to obey males: father, husband or son. However during the Meiji period a number of changes were made. Trafficking in women was restricted and women were allowed to request divorces, and both boys and girls were allowed to have equal education. However further changes were made as the modern era came after WWII. Women were allowed to vote and the new constitution in 1946 announced equality between the sexes. Later in modern day Japan in 1979 a “Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women” was held. This convention was approved by the Government of Japan in 1985. In the 1920’s the government satellite organisation issued a manifesto that outlined the abuses that Japanese women suffered and also how to correct these issues. This manifesto was pushed, and finally women were given the rights to vote, and to be married to who they want.
Economic: Although from the Meiji Restoration laws have been put in place to stop Discrimination of women it is still happening in the work place. The “low cost welfare system” that was put in place for workers in Japan, excluded women from attaining equal opportunities in the workplace, as they are not allowed to be a apart of this system due to the laws. In the Meiji period, women played different roles then men in the workforce. Women was referred to as “office flowers” as employers would call them because of their appearance. Males in the workplace would receive better paying jobs than women, as women’s only duties involved coping, mailing and making tea for the employees. However in modern day the workplace has changed. Many of the young Japanese girls wish to not get married, and actually have a career and be more independent. This new generation of Japanese girls may provide different views that might change traditional views on the role of women in the workplace. Women are also getting more opportunities by the government to have a career. However, some jobs, women still get paid less then men. Women can have careers in modern day, and are a lot better than the Meiji period, but discrimination by men still occurs in the workplace today.
Manga Comics
In America, comic books are used for entertainment as well as for political and social messages. In Japan, their comics are purely for entertainment purposes. However, Japanese comics are much more popular than America’s comics. In 1984, almost 2 billion Japanese comics were sold, while in America, only 3 million were sold. This is because there are many entertainment genres in manga (Japanese comics) for both men and women. There is romance, fantasy, action, adventure, drama. However the one that most men in Japan like is the ones portrayed by women in bad ways. Many of these Manga comics portray Japanese women in sexual ways, and a lot of them include male violence towards women in them. Japanese women in Manga comics are drawn to have large round eyes, long eyelashes, thin lips, long legs, small waistline and a large bust. However this fantasy image is not true. In fact, Japanese women don’t look like that usually. They have dark straight hair, short legs, small eyes and long torsos. Many of the women in these comics play the roles of nurses, cooks and housewives. However in reality, Japanese women actually have proper, non stereotypes careers that give them independence. In movies and comics, the male tends to be the main heroic character, where the women are more insignificant characters. Basically, they are there in the story to serve and please the men, and are treated more like objects than people in the comics. Women are treated in this way because of the past. It all based on culture. In the past women have always been told to serve men, thats what the Japanese culture was all about. But even though times have changed in the modern day, these cultures are still reflected in modern day Japanese comics. Even the comics of strong Japanese female character, somewhere along the line still have to be saves by a male character. These comics are just a reflection of traditional past, which women are now trying to move away from those typical stereotypes.
Many Japanese beliefs still influence females about what their roles in life are. Many women in Japan dedicate themselves to their children, and prefer to stay at home doing household tasks, at least, while their children are still young. However, women’s educational opportunities have increased in the 20th century. 37% of women have received education beyond upper-secondary school, compared with 43% of men, but most have received their post secondary education in junior colleges and technical schools rather than in universities and graduate schools.
Now, boys and girls in the 20th century get equal education. Both genders have the right to learn, and all students are taught subjects like Japanese, Mathematics, science, social studies, music, crafts, physical education and home economics. Students in Japan also learn traditional Japanese arts like shodo (calligraphy) and haiku (form of poetry). Girls are also allowed to try boy’s sports in school too - Judo is popular in both genders. Women, now know just as much as men as they get older, and are equally as wise. Sometimes, even wiser then men. In modern Japan, the school year starts in April, and classes are held from Monday to Friday or Saturday, depending on the school. The length of the school year, for both male and female is around 198 days long. The school year consists of two or three terms, which are separated by short holidays in spring and winter and a six week long summer break.
Marriage
In modern day, the average age to marry is 27. So, not really an extremely young age like before modern day. However, a growing number of women are choosing to stay unmarried in Japan today. Developments often viewed this as a rebellion against the traditional confines of women’s restrictive roles as wives and mothers. In 2004, 54% of Japanese women in their 20’s were still single, while only 30.6% were single in 1985. Today, marriage can either be ‘arranged’ or a ‘love’ match. Arranged marriage is the result of formal negotiations involving a mediator who is not a family member, coming together between the respective families, including the bride and groom for a meeting. This is usually followed by further meetings and ends with an elaborate and expensive wedding ceremony. Love marriage, which is okay in todays society, is the more preferred choice of marriage. This is where, when two people fall in love they can get married - not who they are forced to be with. Less than 3 percent of Japanese remain unmarried, however the age of marriage is increasing for both men and women, from late twenties on wards. The divorce rate is one-quarter that of the United States. The divorce rate in Japan is less than the US, but is growing. About one in three Japanese marriages end in divorce, four times the rate in the 1950’s and double the rate in 1970’s. This is probably because more women have the freedom now to marry who they want, and who they don’t want to be with. In the earlier japanese periods, women were forced to marry a man she didn’t love, and work for him, for the rest of his life, but not in modern Japan now.
Appearance
Japanese women in modern society do wear western style, but they also wear kimonos to their ocha (Japanese Tea Ceremony) class once a week. However, Japanese women don’t dress as casual as Americans, and tend to wear fewer bright colours. Although modern day Japanese women basically wear the same as westerners for everyday clothing. Women generally wear skirts or dresses instead of long pants or trousers. Women that work in offices are required to wear appropriate uniform - usually a matching skirt and vest with a white blouse.
One of the most distinctive feature in modern day Japanese dress is that most women dress in season. There are specific spring/summer and fall/winter colours for the different seasons, and most people stick to those. Yukata (casual cotton kimono) are worn by most women for summer festivals and while visiting hot springs. Other than this, in modern Japan, it isn’t very common for women to be walking around in the traditional style Japanese clothes. However women who practice some traditional hobby like the ocha (Japanese Tea ceremony ) where kimono’s for this.
Other than that, women will only wear a kimono for very special occasions like the age ceremony when their turn 20, her wedding or a close relatives wedding.
For occasions like formal parties, award ceremonies and receptions, Western evening wear is more common. Women sometimes wear kimonos, but it is usually quite uncommon. Many in modern day, don’t even own kimonos, they only rent one for big Japanese occasions where they are expected to wear one.
Women's Rights
Women’s rights have dramatically changed since the Edo and Meiji period. Women have had careers, and 70% of japanese women have jobs before they even get married. Japanese women now have lives of their own, and don’t have to follow and bow down on their knees for the men. After World War I, equal rights was written and revised for women. Women as well as men were granted the right to choose spouses and occupations, to inherit and own property in their own names and to retain custody of their children.
Women were also given the right to vote in 1946. Postwar reforms opened education institution to women and stated that women receive equal pay for equal work - just the same as men. However, few barriers to women’s equal participation in the life of society still remain.
Meiji to Modern
There were many changes that women experienced from the Meiji to the Modern period. These changes include Social, Cultural, Political and Economic. Below, is more detail about each individual change.
Social: During the Meiji period, women were always the inferiors and males were always the superiors. Women were never emperors, and were seen and entertainment to the men. Due to their beliefs and culture, women didn’t really have a place in society, and were not treated with equality. They always had to follow, obey and serve for the men in her family - her father, husband and son. Women were expected to get married and look after their children. They were required to either do housework or work on the fields. However, now in the modern day Japan, much has changed since the Meiji period. Women have more equal rights as the men, and are not treated like prostitutes or slaves anymore, ever since laws have been put in place. Women are not afraid to have a voice and speak up. Women in Japan now, feel as though they have a say in their life.
Cultural: Women were always not as important as the men. In the Meiji period, the Japanese believed women were “good wife, wise mother.” Meaning, they were good wife's to their husbands, and cared for their children, and the men didn’t have to. Women were sometimes even treated with so much disrespect, they would get hit and abused by their husbands if they were not feminine enough. Women were also forced to marry and often had arranged marriage that they could not get out of. For their motherhood, the Japanese culture suggests that all women should look after their children, and that all their time and energy go into the child, and the men didn’t have to do a thing. It was the wife's job. Motherhood to the Japanese was known as an act of selflessness and sacrifice. Although in modern day Japan, there was a big change in Japanese women’s culture. Women are now starting to believe that they deserve a chance at a career, and law has now stated that women have equal rights as men. Women are allowed to marry who they want, and wear what they want. Women in Japan are now stepping away from their traditional culture from the Meiji period, to more of a modern, westernised life. A life with independence, and success. Surveys have also shown, that many women do not want to be mothers, as they want to focus on a career for themselves instead.
Political :Before the Meiji period Japanese Women were taught to obey males: father, husband or son. However during the Meiji period a number of changes were made. Trafficking in women was restricted and women were allowed to request divorces, and both boys and girls were allowed to have equal education. However further changes were made as the modern era came after WWII. Women were allowed to vote and the new constitution in 1946 announced equality between the sexes. Later in modern day Japan in 1979 a “Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women” was held. This convention was approved by the Government of Japan in 1985. In the 1920’s the government satellite organisation issued a manifesto that outlined the abuses that Japanese women suffered and also how to correct these issues. This manifesto was pushed, and finally women were given the rights to vote, and to be married to who they want.
Economic: Although from the Meiji Restoration laws have been put in place to stop Discrimination of women it is still happening in the work place. The “low cost welfare system” that was put in place for workers in Japan, excluded women from attaining equal opportunities in the workplace, as they are not allowed to be a apart of this system due to the laws. In the Meiji period, women played different roles then men in the workforce. Women was referred to as “office flowers” as employers would call them because of their appearance. Males in the workplace would receive better paying jobs than women, as women’s only duties involved coping, mailing and making tea for the employees. However in modern day the workplace has changed. Many of the young Japanese girls wish to not get married, and actually have a career and be more independent. This new generation of Japanese girls may provide different views that might change traditional views on the role of women in the workplace. Women are also getting more opportunities by the government to have a career. However, some jobs, women still get paid less then men. Women can have careers in modern day, and are a lot better than the Meiji period, but discrimination by men still occurs in the workplace today.
Manga Comics
In America, comic books are used for entertainment as well as for political and social messages. In Japan, their comics are purely for entertainment purposes. However, Japanese comics are much more popular than America’s comics. In 1984, almost 2 billion Japanese comics were sold, while in America, only 3 million were sold. This is because there are many entertainment genres in manga (Japanese comics) for both men and women. There is romance, fantasy, action, adventure, drama. However the one that most men in Japan like is the ones portrayed by women in bad ways. Many of these Manga comics portray Japanese women in sexual ways, and a lot of them include male violence towards women in them. Japanese women in Manga comics are drawn to have large round eyes, long eyelashes, thin lips, long legs, small waistline and a large bust. However this fantasy image is not true. In fact, Japanese women don’t look like that usually. They have dark straight hair, short legs, small eyes and long torsos. Many of the women in these comics play the roles of nurses, cooks and housewives. However in reality, Japanese women actually have proper, non stereotypes careers that give them independence. In movies and comics, the male tends to be the main heroic character, where the women are more insignificant characters. Basically, they are there in the story to serve and please the men, and are treated more like objects than people in the comics. Women are treated in this way because of the past. It all based on culture. In the past women have always been told to serve men, thats what the Japanese culture was all about. But even though times have changed in the modern day, these cultures are still reflected in modern day Japanese comics. Even the comics of strong Japanese female character, somewhere along the line still have to be saves by a male character. These comics are just a reflection of traditional past, which women are now trying to move away from those typical stereotypes.