The Japanese Attitude to Women During the Occupation of Hong Kong

Abstract

This paper gives a general overview of participation by women in Hong Kong society during the Japanese occupation period. Despite the continuous fighting in East Asia after December 1941, the Japanese managed to establish order in Hong Kong gradually. Women were recruited as teachers, detectives, nurses, and other professionals in the city. They went through training courses and examinations offered by the Japanese government. Some, especially the Eurasian and European women, engaged in private tuition of languages. The Japanese government also allowed girls’ schools to operate and encouraged girls’ participation in various cultural activities. Despite the fact that some women served as entertainers and there were many cases of rape, it seems that the Japanese government was quite interested in demonstrating gender equality in its East Asian empire. I will also draw examples from Japan and other parts of Japanese-occupied territories where women participated in youth movements, athletic meetings and other socio-cultural activities, to make comparisons with those in Hong Kong. These examples will illustrate the roles played by Hong Kong women in society in this difficult period and evaluate efforts by the Japanese occupation government in promoting equality for women.