The greatest thoughts were put forth by Naruse Jinzo (1858-1919), a distinguished Japanese educator who was engaged in women’s education with the establishment of Niigata Jogakko and Nihon Joshi Dai-Gakko (later Japan Women's University). He presented the concept that women were not only the mothers and wives but the members of society as well as the national subjects. Aiming to cultivate responsible, independent woman who can play a positive role in the Japanese society, Naruse argued that it’s necessary for us to improve the character and ability of women providing them proper education so that they can accomplish their female true nature, adapt to the society’s progress and help to advance the japan. He said, “Without doubt when we know and can realize the genuine worth of women with the same spirituality as given to all things, it will greatly benefit the nation.” Naruse also emphasized that the aim of the education was not to discourage the women to get married but to create the independent wives and mothers with good values. (Taylor & Francis)
Moreover, considering to the fact that there were not only the women that can’t get married but also the wives who might lost their husband and supporting resources, the measures for them to take to be self-support should be discussed to avoid being the encumbrance in society. Beyond these, Japanese bachelors, with the social progress, were not in the hurry to get married and they can rent apartments, hiring a cleaner and eat outside in the restaurant with their scholarship. So a woman, on the other hand, had more free time to do what they were interested. Given those circumstances above, the dramatic changes were brought to the field of female employments and even the political field.
In the normal school, young boys and girls were trained to prepare for the careers as teachers. But often the girls got lower pay then the boys. In order to change this position, women had to push the women’s political movement to safeguard their right. They even “publicise their desire to further their education, to find paid employment or not to marry”. (Patessio)
The efforts of all the supporters of women’s education had paid off. Nihon Joshi Daigaku, that is the Japan Women's University, provided the chance for the girls to enroll in three departments in 1901 and education department was added in 1904. It’s from then on that the girls can have chance to study the different kinds of courses like physical education, childrearing, pedagogy, household management, ethics and psychology rather than focusing only on the domestic arts. And now, it might be appropriate to say that the women’s education parity with men was achieved.
Conclusion
By examining and comparing the history of women’s education in Japan and America, it’s easy to find out that though there has been a great progress in this field, for women’s education, more attentions were put on the domestic art rather than the education parity with man because the differences in the women’s traditional social role as a housekeeper and wives and mother. But since society develops and the talents are in need in the progress of modernization and industrialization, the role of women become more and more important and they begin to be active in the society. All these things have changed gradually and now it can be said that women are equal with men in the field of education.
Works cited
Jansen, Marius B. The Making Of Modern Japan. Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2017. Print.
Gordon, Andrew. A Modern History Of Japan. New York: Oxford University Press, 2017. Print.
Patessio, Mara. 'Women Getting A ‘University’ Education In Meiji Japan: Discourses, Realities, And Individual Lives'. Japan Forum 25.4 (2017): 556-581. Web. 15 May 2017.
Taylor & Francis,. 'Religious Education Leading To Higher Education For Women: Historical Insights On Modern Japan'. N.p., 2017. Web. 3 May 2017.
Nwhm.org,. 'NWHM Exhibit: The History Of Women And Education'. N.p., 2017. Web. 15 May 2017.
Armstrong.edu,. 'Japanese Westernization And The American Civil War – Armstrong Undergraduate Journal Of History'. N.p., 2017. Web. 15 May 2017.
Japanvisitor,. 'Early Westernization In Japan 1868-1900 | Japanvisitor Japan Travel Guide'. N.p., 2017. Web. 15 May 2017.
Wikipedia,. 'Women In Japan'. N.p., 2017. Web. 2 May 2017.
Silva-Grondin, Mallary A. 'Women In Ancient Japan: From Matriarchal Antiquity To Acquiescent Confinement'. Student Pulse 2.09 (2017): n. pag. Web. 3 May 2017.
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