WOMEN OF JAPAN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22427, 6 September 1947, Page 6

WOMEN OF JAPAN

THEIR LIFE ROLE BUSINESS CLUB ADDRESS The latest meeting of the Gisborne Business and Professional Women s Club was presided over by Mrs. P- L. Garbeit when members assembled at the Bon Accord on Monday evening. The opportunity was taken to offer best wishes for success in her career as a dental nurse to Miss E. Ritchie, who is shortly proceeding to Wellington. With* much interest members hoard a talk entitled "The Women of Japan," prepared by Mr. Dennis Widdowson. and in his absence from town, read by his mother, Mrs. E. I’. Widdowson. The Japanese woman, the key to whose character lay in the word “obedience,” made domesticity her chief consideration, and above all was a jjood mother, merpinff her very existence into that of her children. Woman everywhere was wha man had made her and it might he said that this statement was more true of the woman of Japan than of any other. The present-day Japanese woman was the product of preceding ages. bong ago her three great duties were religiously declared to he obedience —first to her parents; if a wife, to her husband; if a widow to her eldest son. Legally, women are the servants of men. In married life the husband may mix with the world but the wife may not.

In recent years, however, there had been ■a .noticeable tendency for the wife to accompany her husband to social affairs. wife's personality, though gentle and self-sacrificing, indirectly counted in the home and in many cases she was the adviser and counsellor of her husband and was skilful in managing masculine wilfulness. A mother guided her son's development and when he was old enough to realise his position he became master of the situation and his mother faded further into the background. Many Toiled in Iticc Fields

As Japan was strictly a farming country the greater majority of the women toiled uncomplainingly and tirelessly from daylight to dusk in the rice fields. A smaller percentage of women, those living in cities and towns, were engaged in shop-keeping and office duties, and lived easier fives under more congenial conditions, but their working day was long, too.

Details of the origin and training of that much heard of and unique character ill Japanese fife, the Geisha girl, were most informative. Again, her fife was not a happy nor pleasant one, she earned very little and in comparison her expenses were high. She was a hired entertainer whose purpose in life was to please men. This was done in a refined way and she was only expected to dance and sing in Japanese style, play the samisen and perform perfectly the all-important tea ceremony. She had a busy time. Her services were used chiefly by Japanese business men. When a big deal was to be clinched, the businessman arranged a Geisha party and invited his associates and clients along. The bigger the party the more prestige was attached to the host and the more business he was likely to get. The prevailing conditions in Japan as far as women were concerned were changing noticeably with the occupation, and the efforts towards building their country into a democracy had achieved much for them, as they were now considered equals with the men and allowed to voice their opinion and vote. After centuries of oppression this change was appieciated by them, and it remained to be seen whether they would make the most of their new-found freedom or whether they would lapse into their previous subdued state when the occupation ended. Members greatly appreciated hearing Mr, Widdowson’s impressions gained whilst a member of J-Force, and hearty thanks were accorded to him, and to Mrs. Widdowson for her part in making the evening a most enjoyable one.