Discussion Class:  January 19, 2004

Women and the “Modernization” of Japan

1.         Do the readings – especially: 1) Walthall, “Nishmura Hide,” 2) Steele,“The Ishizaka of Notsuda,” 3) Hastings, “Hatoyama Haruko,” 4) Iwahori, “Jogaku Zasshi.”  And don’t forget the reflect on what you learned from watching the video Makiko’s New World.

2.         Write a three-page paper in preparation for the discussion class on January 19  (We will split the class into 5 sections so as allow for small group discussion). The paper should be 3 pages, double-spaced, font size 12, Times New Roman. Write your paper on one of the suggested topics below:

a.        What role did women’s play in the “modernization” of Japan.  Be sure to define what you mean by “modernization.”  (Was it only men who “modernized” Japan?)

b.        What is meant by the term ryôsai kenbô (good wife, wise mother)?  Discuss the development of this ideology in the Meiji period in light of the readings you have done.

c.        Women in the Meiji period were expected to stay “in the home.”  What is the major source of this “ideal” – Confucian ideology coming out of Japan’s past or new ideas on the family coming into Japan from the West?  Develop an argument basing yourself on some of the readings you have done.

d.        Choose one of the four articles for special attention.  Write a 3-page critique / reaction paper on one of the articles. Since several of the articles deal with case studies of women in the Meiji period, here you can make contracts between the “ideal” and the “real.”

Please note that the paper is due on January 19 – students will hand their paper into the section leader at the end of the discussion session.  Also remember that your notebooks should be turned in on January 19 for inspection --  you should have read and taken notes on 6 articles!