Gambling With Virtue : Japanese Women and the Search for Self in a Changing Nation

Gambling with Virtue rings with the voices of women speaking openly about their struggle to be both modern and Japanese in the late twentieth century. It brings to the fore the complexity of women's everyday lives as they navigate through home, work, and community. Meanwhile, women fashion selves that acknowledge and challenge the social order. Nancy Rosenberger gives us their voices and experiences, interspersed with discussions of public ideas of the last three decades that have contributed significantly to the opportunities and risks women encountered in their journeys. Rosenberger uses the stage as a metaphor to demonstrate how everyday life requires Japanese women to be skilled performers. She shows how they function of stage in their accepted roles while effecting small but significant changes backstage. Over the last thirty years, Japanese women have expanded their influence and extended this cultural process of multiple arenas to find compromises between the old virtues of personhood and the new ideas for self. The women conform, maneuver, and make choices within these multiple stages as they juggle various concerns and desires. By the 1990s their personal choices had made a difference, calling into question the very nature of these multiple arenas. Highly accessible and enjoyable to read, Gambling with Virtue opens up the changing world of Japanese women to a wide range of readers. Its exploration of social change and women in Japan, non-Western versions of women's search for empowerment, cross-cultural notions of self, and the relation of public discourses with human agency in late capitalism will be of interest to students and specialists of Japanese studies, women studies, cross-cultural psychology, anthropology, and sociology. Annotation Gambling With Virtue Rings With The Voices Of Women Speaking Openly About Their Struggle To Be Both Modern And Japanese In The Late Twentieth Century. It Brings To The Fore The Complexity Of Women's Everyday Lives As They Navigate Through Home, Work, And Community. Meanwhile, Women Fashion Selves That Acknowledge And Challenge The Social Order. Nancy Rosenberger Gives Us Their Voices And Experiences Interspersed With Introductions To Public Ideas Of The Last Three Decades That Contribute Significantly To The Opportunities And Risks Women Encounter In Their Journeys. Rosenberger Uses The Stage As A Metaphor To Demonstrate How Everyday Life Requires Japanese Women To Be Skilled Performers. She Shows How They Function On Stage In Their Accepted Roles While Effecting Small But Significant Changes Backstage. Over The Last Thirty Years, Japanese Women Have Expanded Their Influence And Extended This Cultural Process Of Multiple Arenas To Find Compromises Between The Old Virtues Of Personhood And New Ideals For Self. They Conform, Maneuver, And Make Choices Within These Multiple Stages As They Juggle Various Concerns And Desires. By The 1990s Their Personal Choices Have Made A Difference, Calling Into Question The Very Nature Of These Multiple Arenas. Glimpses Into The '70s: Reworking Traditions -- Institutional Selves: Women Teachers -- Virtuous Selves: Housewives -- Glimpses Into The '80s: Individuality And Diversity -- Backstage Selves: Housewives -- Fulfilled Selves? Working Women -- Glimpses Into The '90s: Independent Selves Supporting Family -- Centrifugal Selves: Housewives -- Compassionate Selves: Women And Elder Care -- Selves Centered On Self: Young Single Women -- No Self, True Self, Or Multiple Selves? Nancy Rosenberger. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 253-265) And Index. Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Introduction 12 Part I Glimpses into the ’70s 22 Chapter 1 Institutional Selves: Women Teachers 32 Chapter 2 Virtuous Selves: Housewives 55 Part II Glimpses into the ’80s 72 Chapter 3 Backstage Selves: Housewives 86 Chapter 4 Fulfilled Selves?: Working Women 110 Part III Glimpses into the ’90s 134 Chapter 5 Centrifugal Selves: Housewives 148 Chapter 6 Compassionate Selves: Women and Elder Care 171 Chapter 7 Selves Centered on Self: Young Single Women 193 Chapter 8 No Self, True Self, or Multiple Selves? 225 Conclusion 244 Notes 252 References 264 Index 278