the Use of Education of Change the Lives of Muslims and Japanese Women  

Imperialism through imperial networks such as Great Britain and the United States spread through countries through their expansions they spread their beliefs. HiratsukaRaicho was born into a relatively wealthy family and through Western literature, she began to view women’s rights in an entirely new way. Raicho aimed to persuade the Japanese community to be more inclusive with women and challenge the portrayal of Japanese women having to live up to their expectations. Sayyid Ahmad, an Islam Muslim reformist aimed to educate Indians about Western science and implement it into their education system.

Both these leaders were against their country’s perception of certain problems regarding either Muslim Indians or women, their movements caused huge changes in the education of those individuals with new schools or public advocating. Japanese women in the twentieth century were taught to view women as needing to be feminine and having to stick to traditional beliefs. They did not have voting rights and their education was limited compared to men.

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Hiratsuka Raicho was a feminist who was a writer in the Bluestocking journal; which challenged the stereotypical norms the Japanese traditional community had. Raicho argued that women did not have to be the “perfect wife” or “wise mother” (R08_ Bluestocking, p81). She was influenced by Western beliefs, which were spread through technological advancements and advanced transportation. She wanted women to escape self-doubt and challenge their role in society as traditional caretakers. Raicho stated that women should explore their beliefs, to crush man’s selfishness and create a“new realm of the spirit” (R08_Bluestocking, 87).

Raicho used spiritualism to spread her ideas to the community, mainly emphasizing how women should find their true selves. To not limit themselves to housework or family obligations instead they should use meditation as a form of self-discovery. Although the U. S did not imperialize Japan, she was still able to learn a lot through English literature.

Modernization and freedom of choice were an important part of her feminist movement, she supported liberation by having her life be public. The Bluestocking journal was heavily influential in Japan and brought a lot of change to women’s voting rights, the feminine role in society, and the job force. The Muslim community in Arabia in the early 20th century was imperialized by the British, they were devoted to Islam and were strongly against the British. One particular person that wanted to change religion and the acceptance of European influence was Sayyid Ahmad. He was born into a devoted Muslim family was exposed to Western culture and Western ideals, but as Ahmad matured he found himself criticizing the British for a number for some of their policies. Although he critiqued the British, he was devoted to them which was evident in the Indian Rebellion of 1857 (Sayyid Ahmad_Wikipedia) in which he sided with them. Through the spread of colonization and systemic racism, the British’s presence in India influenced Ahmad to feel shame and disgust towards his own race. He referred to Indians as “dirty animals” (R09_Ansary_Reform_Movements, p259). His visit to England exposed him to a new way of life, feeling determined to advance India’s scientific and technological movement. He made advanced European learning accessible for Indian Muslims (R09_Ansary_Reform_Movements, p261), establishing a university that specializes in sciences it contributing to his secular movement. Ahmad’s fascination with advanced technology and the sciences, caused him to want to change the interpretation of Islam and create a new change in India’s education system for future generations.

This picture demonstrates how women in Japan achieved something big like being able to drive when for years they could not be able to even vote. This was a big step in overcoming some of the obstacles that stopped them from being equal to men, but it was not just about being able to drive it was being able to work in jobs that were only for men, like being a driver.

This image shows Japanese women working in the fields plowing rice this was just one of the many jobs that women had. It was common for them to have jobs in the fields and although it was tough they were forced to endure it. These are some of the things that Raicho addresses, to have women choose their jobs, to have more rights, and be able to educate themselves if they wished to.

This image is a representation of Britain's imperialism in India and India's opposition to their homeland invasion. Sayyid Ahmad was in support of British colonization in India but, as this telegraph shows, it was clear that Indians did not share the same views. During this rebellion, Ahmad helped save the British and did not side with his country, but later did address the cause of the rebellion, in which he blamed the British.

Both communities had distinctive qualities and beliefs that set them apart and made them very different from each other. Sayyid Ahmad believed that Muslims should interpret things in a whole new way to be civil people through charity or other forms. Hiratsuka Raicho did what no other women did and broke stereotypes, she spoke publicly about using self-discovery, meditation, or spiritualism to break away from their roles at home. Both of these leaders used education in different ways to convey their message and they both had different views about what the first step was. Ahmad found that it was important that Muslims be exposed to Western education and after his visit to England he was able to notice how different they were. His education moved people, some of his graduates were modernists that sought to reshape their society along European lines (R09_ Ansary_Reform_Movements,p261). His scientific approach to reform was successful through Aligarh University which focused on science education and translation of European texts for students. Riacho strongly believed in meditation, this way women could connect with nature and liberate themselves of gender roles and social pressure (R08_Bluestocking, p89,90).

She not only advocated for women’s voting rights but also empowered them to act and be themselves. She supported modernization and early Western feminist approaches to break gender stereotypes, changing the way women were to be perceived in Japanese society. Raicho and Ahmad lived in different environments and grew up with very different customs/traditions, however, they were both influenced by Western education to modernize and change the educational approaches in their own countries. Raicho however believed in modernization and with her knowledge of how the U.S treated women she wanted to share her knowledge with the rest of Japan. Through her journal she spread her ideas and hoped that people would be influenced, she encouraged women to stop living by Japan’s standards. Through the influence of British imperial networks, Sayyid Ahmad wanted a change, one that he believed started with education and changing Muslim’s use of their religion. These two communities had more significant similarities than differences in both countries education was used to change people’s perceptions. In Japan Raicho learned more about women she was inspired to speak out and in India through the British, Ahmad was able to learn more about science which sparked his interest to help Indians.