The Role of Women in Western Europe and Japan

Women in Western Europe and Japan had similar and different roles religiously, politically, and economically. Religiously, women in Western Europe and Japan had some religious roles and had female religious leaders. Women in Western Europe were better off religiously, partly due to the ability to become a nun and take part in religious services, while women in Japan could not. Over time, women in Japan lost most of their religious rights, and ability to partake in ceremonies. In both areas, the women had few political roles and could not be in the bureaucracy. Japanese women's political rights slowly declined while Western European women's rights increased over time. Women in Europe had it better off politically with having the right to rule or be a regent while Japanese women could not. Economically, Japanese and European women had a reasonable amount of rights for the time. Women in Japan eventually could not inherit land but were able to be in the merchant class, while women in Europe could also inherit land in some places, they were better off and more economically engaged with the running and working of a craft guild compared to the few economic roles for Japanese women.

Religiously, women in Western Europe were better off compared to women in Japan. In Japan, the popular religion was Shinto with Buddhism is some places as well. In Western Europe, the popular religion was Christianity. Similarly, both regions had venerated female religious figures. Saint Clare of Assisi gave people the idea of purity and dedication to the church, which allowed women to become more involved. In Japan, the Shinto religion drew out the image of a Sun Goddess, Ama Terasu, said to be the creator of the Japanese Islands. This idea of a Sun Goddes...

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...tern Europe were foremost more economically successful than women in Japan.

The political, economic, and religious roles of women in Japan and Western Europe provide evidence of similar and different characteristics. Politically, there were numerous female empresses in Japan while in Western Europe, women could rule as solitarily rulers and regents. Economically, women in both locations could be involved in the merchant class and work with necessities but women in Western Europe were better all around and could inherit land while Japanese women could not. Religiously, there have been religious role models in Japan and Europe but given the opportunity to become a nun; women in Europe had a better religious life. Collectively, women in Western Europe could be considered better than those in Japan regarding religious rights, political roles, and economic engagement.