“Woman Was the Sun”: The Gendered Impact of Japanese Heritage Management on Women’s Cultural Rights

This thesis investigates how heritage is constructed in ways that disadvantage and exclude women. This heritagization process has tremendous effects on the everyday lives of women. Through a feminist human rights approach, I have examined in what ways this heritage-making process infringes upon the rights of women, taking Japan as the context for this study. Japan is a global player in the international community, promoting culture as a form of cultural diplomacy (soft power), and brands itself as a modern and peaceful nation state. At the same time, they claim to promote women’s empowerment and fund several international programmes. However, their heritage practices serves the purpose of consolidating their national identity, often to the detriment of women. The issues surrounding the memorialization of Comfort Women is discussed, an issue that is highly political and controversial. Heritage managers are made aware of the impact decisions have on what to preserve as heritage, and...Show moreThis thesis investigates how heritage is constructed in ways that disadvantage and exclude women. This heritagization process has tremendous effects on the everyday lives of women. Through a feminist human rights approach, I have examined in what ways this heritage-making process infringes upon the rights of women, taking Japan as the context for this study. Japan is a global player in the international community, promoting culture as a form of cultural diplomacy (soft power), and brands itself as a modern and peaceful nation state. At the same time, they claim to promote women’s empowerment and fund several international programmes. However, their heritage practices serves the purpose of consolidating their national identity, often to the detriment of women. The issues surrounding the memorialization of Comfort Women is discussed, an issue that is highly political and controversial. Heritage managers are made aware of the impact decisions have on what to preserve as heritage, and whose interest it serves, and how to be inclusive in representing heritage. The second case study contextualizes the practice of excluding women from sacred sites, and names the effects of elevating the pilgrimage Kii Mountain range to World Heritage Status, thereby legitimizing the exclusion of women as tradition. The study shows that the actual heritage practice is more nuanced and doubt is places on UNESCO’s commitment to gender equality. The importance of applying a gender lens to heritage analysis is stressed, guided by the International Women’s Convention (CEDAW), and heritage managers are made aware of their responsibility in promoting just and diverse narratives and engaging women at all decision-making levels.Show less

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“Woman Was the Sun”: The Gendered Impact of Japanese Heritage Management on Women’s Cultural Rights