2006 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Comparative Research on the Thoughts on Eugenics and Childcare of the Feminist Theorists among Japan, Germany and U.S.A. in the Beginning of 20th Century.
| Project/Area Number |
16520025
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Philosophy/Ethics
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| Research Institution | Showa Women's University |
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Principal Investigator |
KAKEGAWA Noriko Showa Women's University, Graduate School of Human Life Sciences, Professor, 生活機構研究科, 教授 (60185858)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2004 – 2006
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| Keywords | eugenics / theory of childcare / motherhood / Ellen Key / Charlotte Persons Gilman / Helene Stocker / Marianne Weber / Hiratsuka Raicho |
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| Research Abstract |
Under the title of "Comparative Research on the Thoughts on Eugenics and Childcare of the Feminist Theorists among Japan, Germany and U.S.A. in the Beginning of 20th Century", I treated the Thoughts of Ellen Key in Sweden, Charlotte Perkins Gilman in the U.S.A., Helene Stocker and Marianne Weber in Germany, and Raicho Hiratsuka in Japan. Because of the strong influence on Stocker and Raicho, I analyzed at first Ellen Key's thoughts on eugenics and childcare in her "The Century of the Child", and I recognized her concepts of the love-marriage, the protection of motherhood and childhood under the influence of the theory of social progress. Her life-philosophy affirmed the unmarried mother, and she interpreted Nietzsche's philosophical concept of "Ubermensch" as physically the next generation. Not through sterilization but education women must make good partner selection and breed well. As for Gilman's original concept of social motherhood and collective childcare, I analyzed her works "W
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omen and Economic" and "Herland". I saw the problem of immigration behind her thoughts on heredity through marriage. Marianne Weber criticized Key, Gilman, and Stocker in her "Beruf und Ehe" and other articles. I translated Stocker's articles in "Muttershutz" and "Die Neue Generation". I must differentiate her thoughts from 'Rassenhygiene', which characterized German eugenics. In modern Japan people accepted eugenic thought as part of a family-healthcare-method. As an example I treated the introduction of eugenics and birth control in "Shinshinfujin" (New Right Women) by Nishikawa Fumiko at the same time as "Seito" by Raicho. Raicho learned eugenics under Key's strong influence, and her denial of all negative heritage and sickness changed in 1919. Finally, she selected only venereal disease. Her activities in the Association of New Women was characterized though her idea of a petition to the Diet for the control of men who contract venereal disease. Raicho developed her thoughts through her experience from the perspective of the rights of motherhood and childhood and it differed from the eugenics movement of men and foreign countries. Less
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