New Women of Empire: Gendered Politics and Racial Uplift in Interwar Japanese America

Japanese American young women were leaders and heroines of the Roaring Twenties, challenging gender norms and expanding sexual freedoms. They also reshaped their ideas of manliness to focus on intellectualism and athleticism. New Women of Empire centers the life histories of five young women and men in Los Angeles who negotiated overlapping imperialisms through new gender roles, providing the groundwork for future expressions of model minority respectability and Japanese American feminisms.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 206 pages
Publication date: 14 June 2022
Publisher: University of Washington Press

The Roaring Twenties were a time of great change and excitement for Japanese American youth, who were strong, bold, and vivacious leaders and heroines. These young women were controversial to the male immigrant elite for their rebellion against gender norms, which made significant changes in the community. They expanded sexual freedoms, redefining women's roles in public and private spheres, and furthering racial justice work. Young men also reconceptualized their ideas of manliness to focus on intellectualism and athleticism, as racist laws precluded many from expressing masculinity through land ownership or citizenry.

New Women of Empire is a book that centers the compelling life histories of five young women and men in Los Angeles to illustrate how they negotiated overlapping imperialisms through new gender roles. With extensive youth networks and the largest Japanese population in the United States, Los Angeles was a critical site of transnational relations, and in the 1920s and 1930s, Japanese American youth became politicized through active participation in Christian civic organizations. By racially uplifting their peers through youth clubs, athletics, and cultural ambassadorship, these young leaders reshaped Japanese and US imperialisms and provided the groundwork for future expressions of model minority respectability and Japanese American feminisms.

These young women were a force to be reckoned with, and their impact on the community was profound. They challenged traditional gender roles and paved the way for greater equality and opportunity for women. They also played a significant role in advancing racial justice work, advocating for the rights of Japanese Americans and other marginalized communities.

In addition to their leadership roles, these young women were also known for their vibrant personalities and sense of style. They were trendsetters and fashion icons, and their influence on the fashion industry was significant. They helped to popularize Japanese fashion and culture in the United States, and their style was emulated by many young people across the country.

The Roaring Twenties were a time of great change and transformation, and Japanese American youth played a significant role in shaping the era. Their strength, boldness, and vivaciousness made them leaders and heroines, and their contributions to the community will be remembered for generations to come.

Weight: 295g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780295750521