Women and culture
11/30/2005 @ 9:00 am
Women in Asian countries, from Japan to India, still face many cultural hurdles.
A recent survey about Taiwan’s ceremonial customs reveals that many women believe some of the old customs are discriminatory.
Examples:
- Taiwanese women, married or unmarried, are not allowed to have their names recorded on the family tree, which results in the women of a family being forgotten over time.
- Splashing water out of the door when a daughter from the family marries.
- Brides stepping over a heated stove or on debris.
- Women are traditionally not allowed to hold incense and pray during their periods.
Are you sure? I thought Taiwanese women can too keep their names now. My wife didn’t have to change her name when she married me though I have a local identity.
Michael
November 30th, 2005 at 3:36 pmDanny — with all due respect, why do you keep posting Taiwan stuff on this site? Wouldn’t it do better at another blog? This is JAPUNDIT after all.
November 30th, 2005 at 3:40 pmMichael,
November 30th, 2005 at 3:48 pmRead the article from the Taipei Times. I believe it is about recording the names on the family tree, if the woman marries a Taiwanse man.
Though mostly about Japan, JAPUNDIT’s reporting has always included other countries of east Asia.
JAPUNDIT always looks forward to Danny Bloom’s contributions, be they about Taiwan, Japan, or anywhere else.
November 30th, 2005 at 3:55 pmI don’t care what feminazis think. They’re the reason “innocent until proven guilty” has been spat upon in rape cases here in the USA.
November 30th, 2005 at 5:11 pmCurzon - With all due respect, since when have you been appointed editor-in-chief here?
November 30th, 2005 at 7:08 pmTha is funny, in the Dominican Republic we spalsh water out the door when somenoe dies and the funeral car is passing in front of your house. How similar we are, but different occasions. saludos
December 1st, 2005 at 1:54 amWe are the children, mari, we are the world. Thanks for the comment! Saludos!
December 1st, 2005 at 5:27 pmI’m not sure about Taiwan, but here in Korea issues about women’s status in the family are, supposedly, directly related to Japan’s colonial legacy In Korea.
The hojusystem, or hojuje [호주제, 戶主制], which was only recently declared unconstitutional because it discriminates against women, prevents women from being the “head of household.”
Supposedly this legal standard was codified during the colonial period. Conservatives wanted to keep it, even though Japanese pointed out that Japan had gotten rid of this some time ago.
Anyway, given their history, a lot of Taiwanese and Korean stuff is inextricably Japan-related, so more power to you, JP.
December 1st, 2005 at 11:03 pmkushibo wrote:
Anyway, given their history, a lot of Taiwanese and Korean stuff is inextricably Japan-related…
So true.The colonial legacy was stronger than most people realize.
December 2nd, 2005 at 10:29 am