THE MODERN WOMAN DURING THE MEIJI TIME PERIOD
The "Homemakers"
Taking a Look at the Underclass
Exploring the Underclass
Many of the people who helped perpetuate the growth of Japan, are often not acknowledged.
A lot of modern Japanese society was able to give rise, due to many of the “homemakers” who were overworked, and underpaid. This consisted of the women in the Meiji period, who worked occupations, such as at factories or at brothels. However, not enough discourse has taken place on the topic.
Photos (left side) from : https://www.oldphotosjapan.com
During the Meiji time period, many changes occurred. First of all, with the change of power, with the Emperor owning all lands. With this, also came the reorganization of lands into 72 prefectures. Officials traveled Europe and the West, coming back with ideas of how Japan should be modernized. The increase in available capital was invested into industries, and for the Meiji government, this meant the Silk and Cotton industries.
With an increase in capital put towards key industries, came the need for more workers and labourers. The labourers recruited were primarily from rural areas, and made overall production more productive. However, it was not always so easy to convince these girls and women to move from rural areas to join the workforce. In fact, there was some propaganda needed to be done by the government for successful convincing. Many of the girls recruited were underage, underpaid, and overworked. They were seen as easy to control.
Initially, payments were made towards the families of the girls, however in reality, it functioned as something more similar to a loan that would eventually need to be paid back. Girls were paid less than minimum wage, and if lucky, overtime, and with experience that wage would increase, to meet minimum wage. This, on top of terrible working conditions. For many of these girls working at the factories, this meant over 12 hour shifts, with the average shift lasting 14 hours. Abuse was also common in the workplace.
The girls and women themselves lived in dormitories, where tuberculosis spread wild. Even when attempting to go home, this just led to the spread of it in their hometowns, causing an epidemic in the 1920as. Other illnesses spread too, such as beriberi and chlorella.
Eventually, came the much needed formation of unions, to combat some of the issues that arose throughout these factories. Along came strikes, and further efforts to ignite change. The issues brought among with the rise of ‘factory girls” led to the push for unions, and the increased vocalization of women, fighting against cruel working conditions and inequality.
Brothels
The second largest employers were in fact, brothels. Even prior to the Meiji time period, prositution had taken place, and brothels were common, especially in urban areas. Meiji reformists eventually legalized prositution, meaning that girls were both bought and sold domestically, and overseas. Abuse of power took place in many forms. Especially in the countryside, many families lacked information or education on forms of birth control. On top of that, things such as abortion were illegal. To counter the rise in the number of family members, and children to feed, many of these farmers would sell their children to brothels. It was a perpetuated cycle.