This site offers references to other websites and books that deal with feminism in Japan. The topics covered include general information on the movement as well as specific historical and political information. The actual texts referenced are indicated only in a bibliography and are not accessible directly through the web.
A research paper by Mara Patessio, this website deals specifically with the Journals printed and distributed for women during the Meiji Restoration in Japan. Patessio gives in-depth information on literacy and the publication of journals and magazines, as well as the effect these publications had on Japanese society and their views on women.
The Tale of Genji, written by Murasaki Shikibu in the early 11th century, is examined in this site based specifically on the role women play in the literary work. Gender relations, rape, polygamy, and male domination are discussed as well as the impact of the book on Japanese society, in terms of influencing or supporting gender gaps and their consequences.
An online Asian newsletter, this site refers to their Nov. 7, 2000 publication on the rising status of women in Japanese society. The author of the article makes the claim that due to Japan’s destabilizing political and economic environment, the country is increasingly showing a devaluing of men in high society, accusing them of corruption in their management and thereby causing a downturn in Japanese society. The site offers a fairly recent point of view of the status of Japanese women as compared with Japan’s history.
The examination of women and their role in Japanese society is the topic of this site by Seth Friedman. He emphasizes the importance of Confucianism, Buddhism, and feudalism to the status of Japanese women in both a historical context and in current events. The website is rich with information and cited texts for further readings.
This site deals specifically with female warriors in Japanese history, a topic often overlooked in more general readings. The site mentions the Asian martial arts and the time periods in which female warriors were most prevalent. The article by Ellis Amdur also offers footnotes and a bibliography for further reading.
This site is an introduction to the role of Japanese women during and before the Heian period in Japan. While much of the history on ancient Japanese women is either lost or embedded in myth, this website offers as much of a complete view of the topic as possible.
The essential comparison between China and Japan’s views on gender is the main topic of this website. The historical differences and similarities between these two countries are expressed through religion, polity, and the culture which defines China and Japan.
Emphasizing human rights for women workers in Asia, this site displays a bulletin active from February of 1996 to December of 1999. The discussion offers insight on issues such as the World Trade Organization, abuse, sexual harassment, and low wages. The topics raised draw parallels to the plight of Asian female workers, from poor working environments to child labor. The site offers a unique point of view on international trade and globalization as it affects other countries and their workers.
This website deals specifically with women in the Tang Dynasty in China from the 10th to the 7th century B.C. Examining the status of women in China offers a comprehensive comparison to the situation Japanese women faced during the same time. However, this site offers only a limited view on the status of women in early China; in order to fully compare and contrast Japan’s and China’s policies with one another, a broader time period must be used.
This site is a comprehensive bibliographical list of female rulers and influencers in Asia, sweeping a broad time frame of many hundreds of years. By including women from other countries, a good comparison can be made between the status and success of females in Japan as compared to other Asian societies.
Entitled the “Asian Women Workers Newsletter,” this website is an official publication by the Committee for Asian Women, including their quarterly publication addresses and the issues that face Asian female workers in modern society. The topics include realizing solutions to the problems female workers experience as well as networking between other groups that support women organizations and unions.