Social and Gender Transformations 50s to 80s

Global Context
- Life Expectancies
  - Increasing life expectancies attributed to scientific and technological advancements.
  - Countries with high life expectancies include Japan (in particular women), Andorra, Australia, Italy, and more.

Scientific and Technological Developments
- Medical advancements leading to increased life expectancies.
- Atomic Weaponry & Nuclear Power
  - Emergence of the Cold War context.
  - The People’s Republic of China (PRC) recognized as a major nuclear power since the 1970s.
  - Importance of American-Chinese diplomacy for global security.
- Japan's historical significance as the only country to have experienced atomic bombings.

Nuclear Test:
- September 3, 2017, North Korea tested a staged thermonuclear weapon equivalent to hundreds of kilotons of TNT.
- Information regarding various missile capabilities outlined (e.g., Nodong, Musudan).
- Mention of resources on North Korea provided by related organizations.

Civil Rights Movements
- Contextual connection with global civil rights movements, including women’s rights and reproductive rights.
- Influential events leading up to the 1975 UN declaration of International Women’s Year.

Robust Economy by 1964
- 90% of households owned “three sacred treasures” (TV, refrigerator, washing machine).
- Transition from rural agrarian lifestyles to urban professional ones.
- Bubble economy began to emerge in the late 1970s, characterized by rapid economic growth and significant changes in consumer behavior, which further fueled the shift towards a more materialistic culture.

Diverging Lifestyles for Women
- Distinction between "Shufu" (housewives) and "Office Ladies" (OLs).
- Questioning the role and proper place of women in postwar Japanese society.

Traditional Family Ideals
- "Good wife, wise mother" ideal emphasizes a mother’s role in education.
- Extends beyond Japan to other East Asian cultures.
- Kids often attend cram schools after normal school as they prep for “exam hell”
- Male roles defined as earners ("sarariman") while women take care of home duties, including children’s education and family finances.

China:
- Post-1949 Communist Party empowered women, granting leadership roles not seen in South Korea or Japan.
- Ishigaki Ayako, a Japanese feminist journalist, critiqued the sacrificial roles of housewives.

Cold War Context
- Struggles between authoritarianism and democracy until late 1980s.
- Rapid growth during the 1960s under Park Chung-hee’s semi-dictatorial rule, but diminished rights for women.
- Historical examples of female labor activism increasing economic growth but still facing backlash and opposition.
- Prevalence of Christianity in South Korea reinforced traditional gender roles, yet also provided a platform for women to organize and advocate for their rights.

Access to Rights
- Socialist transformation improved women's roles within the workforce (64% participation by 1990).
- However, gender wage gaps and prejudices remained prevalent.

All-China Women's Federation
- Membership of 70 million women in the 1950s highlights significant mobilization.
- Backlash against women’s leadership during Mao's "Hundred Flowers" campaign led to traditional gender roles being reinforced.