THE WOMAN’S MOVEMENT IN JAPAN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3889, 25 September 1928, Page 63

THE WOMAN’S MOVEMENT IN JAPAN.

By

Plain Jane.

(Spechal foe the Otago Witnepb.) Several considerations combine to make this subject one of special interest. Life of itself in the East has_a charm of its own simply because it is Eastern. And East and West are closer to-day than in any period of history. Everything is conspiring to bring the peoples of the world into closer communion. International sport is one factor, the improvement in methods of comm tin’cation is another. Unifying ideals in deed and thought is a third. And there are many others.

In the current issue of the Nineteenth Century and Aftei’ there is an article on “ Some Forces Behind the Woman’s Movement in Japan.” The fact that it is written by a man, presumably an Englishman—Captain Al. D. Kennedy—in no way detracts from its interest. I confess to having read it with pleasure and to having learned something new from it. Just how accurate are its deductions I am not prepared to say, but its reasoning appears to be cogent and sound. As my readers doubtless know, the women of Japan do not exercise the vote, and universal manhood suffrage is but a growth of some three years. In the captain’s opinion 10 or 20 years are likely to elapse before women will have the right to vote on ecytal terms with men. Nevertheless* marked progress is being registered in the emancipation of women, and the coming of manhood suffrage has quickened it. For centuries women have occupied a position of marked inferiority, and this position has covered the social and legal spheres. To-day they suffer social, legal, and political disabilities, but their position is markedly superior to that of their sisters of feudal times.

It is not necessary to go farther into the past than to remark that in prehistoric times women took a leading part with men in ■war, and this equality extended to leadership. They enjoyed equal rights with men, were free to love, and marry from choice, and were social equals with man. The introduction of Chinese and Korean civilisation and the growth of Buddhism changed all that, and although man’s freedom was as a result restricted, greater disabilities were placed upon women. In some cases these even increased. These, discriminations had their legal genesis in the Daiho Laws of 701 a.d. In the matter of divorce the inequality was marked. While husbands were permitted to divorce their wives if they bore them no son, or if they were unfaithful, talkative, jealous, or lepers, the wives had no reciprocal rights; for neither infidelity, ill-treatment, cruelty, nor dis-

ease on the part of husbands entitled the women to sue f_or divorce. We are told that notwithstanding sex inequality, Japan has never been lacking in women of intelligence and force of character, who have wielded immense influence. The absolute subjugation of Japanese women is a long and oft-times a painful story, and the development of the large family system well-nigh completed her slavery. Everything tended towards the complete dominance of the male, and the strict .samurai code of honour demanded absolute fidelity and obedience, while the family system restricted them entirely to their homes. Gradually, however, a change came in the outlook of Japanese women. In 1868 a young woman opened a school whose main object was to attack the long-established social and family system. Small success attended the effort, and the teacher of the new gospel was imprisoned. To-day four women’s organisations are in existence, though one is under eclipse on account of its alleged connection with Communist elements. Modern conditions have brought great changes, and it would appear here, as elsewhere, that economic changes will react in political evolution. Whereas women under the old dispensation did not render service for wages, the position to-day is vastly altered. - Statistics show that over 1,000,000 women are now employed in factories, close on 500,000 in day labour, in mines, and in the service of transportation and communications, and about 1,100,000 in professional work, medical, educational, commercial, and so forth. There are, in some 6,000,000 engaged in agricultural work, and an unstated number helping husbands or, parents in small business ventures. This. vast body . of. wage-earners is a potent force for progress, and standards are changing. Japanese statesmen know that one of the tests of civilisation, according to Western ideas, is the treatment of women, and they are anxious to stand well in Western eyes. So it is that the women’s cause is making progress. The white slave question is being vigorously debated, and if is reported that 50 representatives in the present Diet are in favour of abolishing the system of licensing prostitutes, of then: are 50,800. .

While there is a definite movement towards the enfranchisement of women, it would’ be incorrect, according to Captain Kennedy, to imagine that the women of Japan are, as a whole, hungering for the vote. Those who really want it are still few in number, and the interest shown in national politics by the bulk of Japanese women is but small. There is a growing interest in local and social legislation, and an increasing demand for a voice in municipal affairs. So far as the national vote is concerned, however, the demand is still too small to merit serious consideration. Slowly but surely, however, the disabilities imposed upon women are disappearing; a brighter day is dawning. Women show’ great courage when thoroughly roused, and instances are not wanting in recent Japanese history. Captain Kennedy’s conclusion is in these words: — _ . . . u 4ny attempt to hasten the emancipation movement without good reason would result in too great a jolt to the whole social fabric of Japan, by placing a weapon in the hands of the women before they are. sufficiently trained either to accept their new’ responsibilities or to use their new privileges in the best interests of themselves and of their country. “ Hurry slowdy ” seems, therefore, to be the best advice, and “ hurry slowly ” does, in fact, seem to be the motto of the accredited leaders of the movement and of the country’s legislators alike.