Japanese Girls and Women / Revised and Enlarged Edition

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

32449

Title

Japanese Girls and Women / Revised and Enlarged Edition

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Alice Mabel Bacon offers an intimate, insider's look at the lives of Japanese women from childhood to old age. Drawing on deep friendships with Japanese ladies, she explores their education, marriage customs, domestic roles, and the evolving social landscape of late 19th-century Japan.

Summary up to 500 words

In her revised and enlarged edition of *Japanese Girls and Women*, Alice Mabel Bacon presents a comprehensive portrait of the lives of Japanese women, a demographic often overlooked by foreign observers. The work traces the female lifecycle from birth to old age, offering both a historical record and a critical plea for the betterment of women's status. Bacon begins with childhood, describing the joyous but demanding arrival of a baby and the specific rites of passage, such as the *miya mairi* temple visit. She details the rigorous domestic training girls receive, noting that while traditional arts like calligraphy, flower arranging, and ceremonial tea cultivate memory and dexterity, they historically offered little opportunity for independent reasoning. The narrative shifts to marriage and family life, where Bacon candidly discusses the power of in-laws, the prevalence of divorce among lower and merchant classes, and the strict obedience expected of wives. She contrasts the quiet, undemonstrative nature of traditional Japanese love with Western romantic ideals. A significant portion of the text addresses the impact of modernization and Western education. Bacon argues that while education broadens a woman's mind, it can render her miserable if she enters a marriage lacking autonomy or facing the prejudices of her in-laws. She highlights the emerging class of educated women finding independence through teaching and the growing influence of Christianity in fostering egalitarian unions. Ultimately, the work balances respect for tradition with a critical eye toward the hardships faced by the 'neglected half' of the population, suggesting that without legal and social reform, education alone may only increase female discontent.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Social Life and Customs
• Social Conditions