Women are a significant part of the human society and they should be allowed to exercise their rights and freedom. This is a response paper on the on a debate that Yosano Akiko had with Taisho on the roles of the “New Woman”. It is in November 1911 that Henrik Ibsen produces the Doll’s House; film that stirred a young beautiful actress Matsui Sumako. Although it was only a university production, the performances still caught the attention of many. Matsui pulled a strong performance with an explosive message that generated considerable attention from the popular press. The Doll’s House’s message was that marriage was not a sacrosanct and that the authority of men in the family setting should be challenged (Rodd 176). The message formed an instant commotion in the culture where women had very few rights. In my view, the production did an exemplary performance challenging the powers that the society bestows on men. Debates had emerged on the roles of women in the society.
I like the many women came out to defend the rights of a “new woman” (a term coined by western theater models) to reconsider the lives of women (Rodd 186). It is very encouraging to note that three strong and confident women had come out to challenge women’s roles in the society during the Taisho period. The three of them had differing backgrounds, experience and philosophies which enabled them to defend women in different positions. I like the zeal that Yosano Akiko (1878-1942) had in advocating for a woman grounded in equality, social rights and responsibilities for women, and educational. Hiratsuko Raicho advocated for a promulgated policy in which women get state protection and have access to state privileges. Yamakawa Kikue, on the other hand, called for a socialist view of the history which women can own their private property. Although the three had differing perspectives on how women should be treated, they still represented the welfare of their fellow women. It is uncivilized; to say the least, that women during that era of Taisho democracy were excluded from the political process (Rodd 190). They were even denied the rights to attend meetings. Instead, they were perceived as household items whose main role is to give birth and take care of the family. I like the way the debate in the reading comes out in favor of women because they have the abilities men have and that they should be given a chance. The readings are quite contradicting because some argue that women should have granted their rights while another that the status quo should remain (Rodd 196).
Works Cited
Rodd, Laurel Rasplica. “Yosano Akiko and the Taishō Debate over the “new Woman””. Recreating Japanese Women, 1600-1945. Ed. Gail Lee Bernstein. University of California Press, 1991. 175–198. Web
