5/9 - Pitelka - Women in East Asian History

A number of years ago I took a 6th grade world history class to the Rice exhibit at the cultural museum at UCLA. It was fascinating, and a good deal of it was given to the devotion in Asia to the Rice Goddess. Interesting shrines in the fields, offerings, and rituals. Of course, as I listened to Professor Pitelka talk about women's influence and realm in East Asia I was taken back to the exhibit, and realized why Rice was embodied in a goddess. I had often wondered what role Shinto played in the religions of this area. Finally I know that it is based an ancient animism that has continued in contemporary Shinto. It was very suprising, yet logical when Prof. Pitelka explained women's role as portal for spirits, to hear of their strong role as shamen in this religion now.

It will be an interesting lesson to show my 7th grade students that women were great innovators in literature in both China (Ban Zhao), Korea ( Lady Hyegyong), and Japan (Murasaki Shikibu). Another possible lesson could involve research on women warriors during Japan's Tokugawa period. Several of the slides we saw could be the launching point for the lesson. The essential question would be, how could women hold their own with male warriors? Why would they be respected, and even feared? This lesson could be added to by watching Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon which has an awesome scene of a female defeating an entire inn full of aggressive males. I loved it!

I really appreciated that Professor Pitelka's opened his lecture with a differentiation of family in China, Japan and Korea. Of course not all families follow the same model, but it was very helpful for him to give these societal norms before discussing the role of women in East Asia- and a cultural background of why these norms are, for example, rice cultivation in China solidifying gendered labor.

I also found the esoteric or spiritual parts of his lectures very interesting- (women being connected to the world of the spirits through child birth and mentsruation, and Ying and Yang) Ying and Yang trips me out because women embodying certain characteristics/ personalities seems close minded, not acknowledging the different aspirations of women. And yet, different cultures have representations and symbols similar to Ying and Yang- is this a result of a male dminated society? are these contrasting characteristics real? or a way of maintaining women subservient, pregnant and in the kitchen?

The posts on this strand are quite polemic, we all seemed to have enjoyed Prof. Pitelka's lecture. As an English teacher who would also like to be a Social Studies teacher I found many aspects of his lecture useful. First though, I want to thank S.Gregg for posting the LA times story on footbinding, I hope to use it. Ebrey's conception of footbinding as "competitive grooming" was interesting. I could see pairing this information with a discussion of current fashion trends--piercings, tattooing...etc. I have used a video and lesson plans from Frontline on "Cool Hunting" by Douglas Rushkoff to discuss corporate control of youth culture. Adbusters, a anti-adverstising magazine and movement, has a teacher's kit with some lessons on this theme.

I lived in Japan for a time and I am married to Japanese woman who studied Women Studies at UCLA and I have certain awareness of women in Asia--I have even been to many countries in East and Southeast Asia too. Women in Japan have for a long time (at least since WWII) been the holder of the purse strings. They manage the families finances, they pay their husbands an allowance and basically run the home. Husbands are often working from 8am to 11pm, even teachers from 7am to 8pm. Therefore, men literally out of the picture for much of the time. Of course, I noticed lots of infidelity and even pride in acquiring a mistress among Japanese men. However, I don't believe that infidelity in Japan is any worse than what we have in America with cheating common and divorce very high. In Japan, the male hegemony is just clear about its dominant entitlements. Don't get me wrong, Japan is a complex society and there are cases that buck any tread.

Prof. Pitelka's discussion of Shamanic practices in Asia (particularly Korea), I found to be interesting.

I agree with all the postings so far on this topic. It is extremely interesting for us as teachers, and our students as well, when we are able to connect aspects of a distant culture with aspects of our own. Students often view history as something that does not relate to them, but the topics of fashions and fads definately are a way to hook them in. I would love to use this as an opening topic for all of the areas we study throughout the year so the students can see how each culture develops their own style and identity as well as how it can change through time as well.

Wow...This was one awesome lesson. Although I know all the different terms for uncles, aunts in Chinese, I have never thought why we have more terms from the father side.

I also liked how Professor Pitelka broke down the periods and women, comparing side by side.

Even though Professor Pitelka didn't comment on modern Japanese women, having lived in Japan for several years and surviving marriage to a wonderful Japanese woman (10 years this summer), I felt compelled to at least start a commentary. Please forgive my broad brush; I realize not all individuals fit into neat little categories, but we have to be able to start a discussion somewhere.

Japanese women dominate their households. They usually control the money, doling out allowances to their husbands. They are great money managers, which must partly account for the high savings rate in Japan. Taking care of the children takes precedence over all other matters. Japanese women dote on their children to degrees rarely seen in the United States. They "spoil" (by Western standards) their children with attention, goodies, and great freedom. Their children's education is of great importance and they will make sure their children are getting by/getting ahead. Enrolling children in after school tutoring programs or hiring private teachers is not uncommon. There is a tendency for Japanese women to view their husbands as separate from the family. I once met a Japanese mother who had business cards made with her name and the names of her children (excluding the husband). Many Japanese women are happier when their husbands are not home, explaining that he "just gets in the way." (I guess this happens in the US too; my experience tells me that this attitude is much more common inside Japan). My sense is that there has been a significant shift in the sexual politics of the Japanese family over the past 20-30 years. Japanse women are more independent, career-oriented, unafraid to express themselves, and demanding of equal treatment than ever before.

In answer to your question about Chinese women, I have a sister-in-law who has adopted two of those "lost girls". It was a difficult procedure despite the fact that there are so many in orphanages and with foster parents. Both girls are doing fairly well. The oldest was taken from an orphanage where she had spent all of her day in a crib in a room with about 40 other girls in cribs. She is in trouble frequently, and was very slow to develop mentally. She can function, but is easily misled and did poorly in school even with considerable help from her parents. The younger was in a foster home and fared much better. She is bright and bossy, and a very talented violinist. Those in the orphanages might not make the best citizens when they are grown.

I feel this population control was poorly thought out, and will backfire on the Chinese government. I'm no expert, but even I could foresee that the societal reverence for males would cause an enormous imbalance in the not too distant future. Since the Chinese have such respect for the past and don't embrace change on that score too quickly, I wonder why their government didn't impose restrictions that would balance the population. Or perhaps they had visions of gigantic armies of males to do their bidding. Any thoughts?