Why is Tsurumi’s argument about the importance of Japanese women’s labor power to nation-building an important intervention to week 1’s theorizations of nationalism? On the flip side, what experiences might focusing too much on this point occlude?
Throughout E. Patricia Tsurumi’s writing, it is evident that women played a major role in the textile industry, contributing to the Meiji economy and nation-building. However, women were not properly compensated for their tedious work in the textile factories. They were often times cheated out of their hard earned money by having to pay ridiculous fines, or their savings being confiscated by the companies.
It was evident throughout Tsurumi’s writing that women in the textile industry had varying opinions on the conditions and treatment of working in these factories. The women who were the top thread laborers received the best treatment and optimal pay. It was a conflictual way to pay the female workers because the women whom were not as skilled as the top workers would get horrible pay or sometimes no pay at all.
Questions continue to be raised about the victimization of the factory women. I have concluded that it will depend who you ask. The majority of women would likely agree that the treatment was unfair and the conditions were unacceptable. In contrast, those who were at the top, and were “favorites” among the male workers or bosses, may believe the conditions were tolerable. It was recognized that women sometimes would participate in relations with the men, not blaming all the action on the men. However, in most cases the sexual harassment was horrid for the female workers. The Japanese factory workers were degraded in these labor factories… sexually, physically, and emotionally.
Tsurumi’s argument about the importance of Japanese women’s labor power to nation-building was an important intervention to week 1’s theorizations of nationalism because it showed the essential roll the women took on in the textile industry that directly contributed to their economy. In last week’s reading, it was stated that, “No nation in the world gives women and men the same access to the rights and resources of the nation state” (McClintock 61). I wanted to include this to touch on the harsh reality that women were not appreciated or acknowledged much in the working world. In lecture last week, it was mentioned that Empress Haruko was the new model of Japanese women and the women were not expected or encouraged to join the workforce. Women had different expectations that mostly involved being a perfect wife and housewife, so when women started to enter the workforce, they were not respected and appreciated the way they should have.
The Meiji era was the first time women could actually work for cash and make financial contributions to their family. The conditions were far from perfect, but it was revolutionary all at the same time. Japanese women who worked in the factories knew that although they were not properly compensated, they were contributing greatly and directly to their country, and they took great pride in this. One of the songs that were sung included the lyrics, Your labour is known to be precious. The treasure of your prosperous country Is produced by your working hands” (Tsurumi 29). The beauty behind all of the Japanese workers in the factories, is that they were proud of their work, and they knew their work was treasure. #HIEA115
by Utagawa Kuniaki II, October 1877 this painting depicts the hard-working Japanese silk workers of the Meiji Era contributing the enrichment of their country. They are using innovative silk reeling machines that dramatically increased production. By not having to reel the silk by hand, production quadrupled!
