IDIHCS   22126
INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACIONES EN HUMANIDADES Y CIENCIAS SOCIALES
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
?Experience of four generations of Okinawan Women in Argentina: cultivating own tradition in a New Land.?
Autor/es:
CECILIA ONAHA
Lugar:
Naha, Okinawa
Reunión:
Simposio; ?Island women in a Global Network. Experience Beyond Okinawa.?; 2015
Institución organizadora:
International Institute for Okinawan Studies. University of the Ryukyus
Resumen:
Through this presentation, I will try to introduce hundred years of history of Okinawan community in Argentina, from the perspective of gender relations. It will be use Joan Scott?s definition of gender (1996, 2010) as a historical category of analysis, with four aspects: first, it can be seen as cultural symbols (which are use and in what context?); second, the definition adopted of those symbols, imposed to all society; third, political aspects from the perspective of social institutions and organizations and fourth, the subjectivity in the process of construction of gender identity.  These four aspects interact each other and in this way it constitutes a primary field of power relationship in a society. The Okinawan community in Argentina was formed with people that arrived since early twentieth century. In those days, words that symbolize gender relations were ?男尊女卑? (dansonjohi).  This phrase was recognized as a natural principle, reinforced by migratory experience, that means to live in a strange society.  The reproduction of Okinawan identity including this relationship, was part of the role covered by community?s institutions, like Federation of Okinawan shichouson associations. As a part of this Federation,  it was created a women section called ?fujinbu?. Here we will present it and discuss to what extend it contributed to the reproduction of gender relations into the community or if it started to function as a shelter of woman,  where she could  freely developed  her capacities. In this sense, Okinawan dance mainly but also instrumental music and poetry, become the way not only to link her to Okinawan origins but also to interact within Argentinian society.