JAPAN’S WOMEN DOCTORS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18500, 22 February 1930, Page 11 (Supplement)

JAPAN’S WOMEN DOCTORS.

That women doctors were popular in Japan, more particularly for children, was stated by a Japanese woman, married to a European, who recently visited London. Though she wore national dress of her country, she said that many Japanese women, especially those who worked outside their own homes, had adopted Western costumes as more convenient. In an interview with a representative of the London Daily Telegraph she referred to a book which had been published by Dr Yakoi Yoshioka. This woman doctor graduated in 1892, but was not the first to ask for admission to the schools of medicine, for as early as 1868 a woman had made application for admission to the gynaecological classes at the Imperial Government School. Her request was not granted, and it was not until 1884 that women got the right to qualify for a medical career, the first having graduated a year later. Dr. Yoshioka’s career is very interesting, for she was a pioneer in the women’s movement, and it was owing to her iniative and persistence in demands for educational opportunities that so much progress was made. Something similar to the state of affairs in London is going on in Japan, for men are not all willing to admit women to the schools, and a good deal of controversy goes on concerning the facilities granted to them. Dr. Yoshioka has a medical college for women, which she hopes to have joined to a university. Meantime, something like 1500 women are in practice. Some have gone to work in Korea. China. Formosa, and the United States. Government offices have women doctors appointed to look after their female staff. In great factories there are women in charge of the workers of their own sex. and in connection with the silk industries many thousands of women are employed in well-managed factories, as well as in their own homes, looking after the silkworms. Hospitals, schools, and charitable institutions are staffed to the usual extent by women, and women are appointed to look after them.

If he has a good reputation and bears himself like a gentleman, trust him, provided he agrees with you in religion and politics and is not your competitor in business or your rival in love.