Japanese Women: New Feminist Perspectives on the Past, Present, and Future

Abstract

Japanese Women: New Feminist Perspectives on the Past, Present and FutureKumiko Fujimura - Fanselow and Atsuko Kameda, eds. New York: The Feminist Press at the City University of New York, 1995; 422 pp.Reviewed by Yoko Ueda Center for Japanese Studies Department of Sociology Spelman College Atlanta, GeorgiaContemporary issues concerning women in Japan undoubtedly command a broad interest among women in the West. Yet the English language literature, including translated works, about and by Japanese women is very thin. This book edited by Kumiko Fujimura - Fanselow and Atsuko Kameda is, therefore, a most welcome contribution.Western readers will be surprised by and fascinated with the wealth and abundance of Japanese feminist scholarship, which has never been introduced in the way which this book does. In 26 essays, women(f.1) from such a wide spectrum of discipline, interests and ages describe for a Western audience their firsthand experiences and challenges as Japanese women living, working and teaching in Japan. Except for one male author, contributors all grew up in Japan, and majority of them have spent part of their lives in the United States and other countries studying and working. Therefore, as the editors contend, the authors are able to bring a comparative perspective to this book.The book is divided into five parts, with an excellent introductory chapter by Fujimura - Fanselow, covering a wide range of contemporary issues concerning women in Japan. In her introduction, Fujimura - Fanselow challenges the western perceptions of Japanese women and claims that this volume demonstrates the recent changes and gains made by women in all spheres of their lives. The issues presented in the book are all familiar to and shared by women in the West. It deals with basic questions which have been generated by feminist debates.Part 1 focusses on the cultural and historical contexts in which Japanese women's lives are shaped and defined. Each essay deals with sexism and gender stereotyping existing in the family, religious institutions, language, arts and media. It offers an intriguing glimpse into the male cultural dominance of Japan through which images of women have been produced and by which women have been excluded from public spheres of cultural and artistic activities for centuries. Among the essays, Okano's description of the family structure of Buddhist temples is particularly interesting as religion has hardly been taken up as a subject of feminist debate in Japan. She argues that sexism is inherent in Japanese religion and it continues to prevail as long as a family structure based on gender division of roles is maintained.Part 2 deals with education in regard to the characteristics of Japanese schooling for girls and women. The authors demonstrate that schooling has been instrumental for defining women's roles and status in the society rather than a force to liberate women from various forms of oppression. This section provides an excellent overview of women's education in historical as well as contemporary contexts. The main theme is, again, the male dominance of cultural values and knowledge which has hampered women's achievement of equal educational opportunity for centuries. Essays by Fujimura - Fanselow and Fujieda, however, focus on the changes and gains women have made in higher education. They describe a growing interest in women's studies courses in universities and recent changes in social attitudes toward women's higher education and suggest a promising future for women's education. At the same time, however, they point out the challenge of establishing a closer link between female academics and activists outside academia.Part 3 is an examination of marriage, family and sexuality in a rapidly changing society. The family is of pivotal importance for the lives of Japanese people, as government social, political and economic policies have been directed to and built upon it. …