Hundreds of years before women held positions of power in western society, Japanese women were leaders! Today Japan is classed as a liberal democracy that promotes equality. So why then are women prohibited from remarrying for 6 months after the end of a marriage, but men are not? Japanese gender roles have shifting considerably over the years. However, like in western society there are still loopholes and societal views which restrict the ability for true gender equality.

TRADITIONAL GENDER ROLES

In the more distant past Japanese women could lead a household, have ownership of family property and become leaders. However, in the Heian period from the year 794-1192 men began to exert their dominance. In the 17th century Hayashi Razan developed a Confucian school of belief that emphasized that a woman's role was to devote herself to the needs of her husband. Women were expected to take a subservient role, whose main priority was to be ryosai kenbo' a good wife and wise mother. This became the way of life for hundreds of years.

When Japan became an industrialized nation women were required to support Japan's rapidly expanding textiles industry. They were allowed to leave the house to work. However, they were generally expected to work in appalling working conditions for a small wage. The conditions saw many women's health decline to a life threatening state.

WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE IN JAPAN

The dreadful conditions women faced working in the textile industry were the precursor to women's suffrage in Japan. In between the two world wars women began to speak out demanding rights. Women's advocacy or feminist groups were formed. They demanded education for women. This was granted, albeit for an ulterior motive. The government opened the doors to women's education with the belief that it could prepare them for being a better wife and mother. Nonetheless women fought for further advancements.

Women had been excluded from any sort of political participation. They could not attend any political discussions and definitely could not become involved in politics. In 1921 women at least won the right to be present at political meetings.

Women continued to campaign for several rights and the abolishment of subordinate practices. They campaigned for the right to vote, to end the right for men to have more then one wife and to stop women being forced into prostitution.

In 1946 they won many of these rights. The constitution was rewritten and some of

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