Is the way that the report mobilized the elderly, unnamed, buraku woman satisfying for you? What does the report help us understand about the way that individuals from the 140 buraku farm households felt as they fought for access to the commons? How does your assessment change if I remind you that according to the Meiji Civil Code, “buraku” women, like non-“buraku” women, would not have enjoyed full control over property and political rights even if their community had won equal access to the commons? What more expansive ways might we think about the unnamed “buraku” woman’s determination not to “die in the darkness?” Thinking with the way that Hartman wrote about Esther Brown, what kinds of sources would you need to do this kind of work?
In my perspectives, the report mobilized the elderly, unnamed buraku woman is satisfying. First, the report shows that buraku people did not just accepted discrimination and unfair treatment to them. They stood up and fought for their rights together. This report was the proof of their resolution and courage for fighting against the injustice. Second, the voice of elderly, unnamed buraku women was included rather than muffled. They were the group of people who were marginalized for a long time. Their idea was always ignored, and their voice was always restrained. However, they also stood up for their rights and their voice was heard and included in this report this time. This change was progressive, so this report is satisfying. Third, elderly, unnamed buraku women’s declaration “We were born into the abyss and grew up in darkness, but we do not want to die in the darkness.” was included. This declaration is really inspiring and resonating. It shows the buraku people’s solidarity since this is a strong statement which reveals the actual and unfair living situation buraku people had and shows their resolution of chasing better life and fighting for injustice.
Thinking back to Meiji Civil Code, I believe I need to change my current assessment to a more detailed assessment which is specific on buraku women. This reminds me the ideas I learned in my DOC class. Buraku women are the other of the other. Buraku people were treated unequally. Women were treated unequally. Buraku women were treated unequally not only because they were buraku people but also they were women. This made their situation harder than buraku men or non-buraku women. When we address their problems and try to help them get rid of discrimination on them, we should consider the idea of intersectionality since buraku women had their unique experience of discrimination or oppression. This also make me feel the courage and resolution of buraku women because of their harsher living conditions. I believe we need more primary sources on buraku women, like interviews on them, works of them, diaries, or words of them to help us understand them better directly. Their ideas and voice has been ignored for a long time, and we need to consider these precious experience for our work.
