Saito Sumiko's Struggle in Horse Racing during the Showa Era: A Case Study of Gender Inequality and Social Constraints

Chan Kin Chung

doi:10.47297/wspeiWSP2516-253511.20250902

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Saito Sumiko's Struggle in Horse Racing during the Showa Era: A Case Study of Gender Inequality and Social Constraints

9卷第2期

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Saito Sumiko's Struggle in Horse Racing during the Showa Era: A Case Study of Gender Inequality and Social Constraints
Saito Sumiko's Struggle in Horse Racing during the Showa Era: A Case Study of Gender Inequality and Social Constraints
Tianjin Foreign Studies University
2025年9卷第2期页码：58-63
纸质出版日期：2025-04-28
DOI：10.47297/wspeiWSP2516-253511.20250902
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(2025). Saito Sumiko's Struggle in Horse Racing during the Showa Era: A Case Study of Gender Inequality and Social Constraints. 创业与创新（英文版）, 9(2), 58-63.

Chung Chan Kin.Saito Sumiko's Struggle in Horse Racing during the Showa Era: A Case Study of Gender Inequality and Social Constraints[J].Entrepreneurship and Innovation,2025,09(02):58-63.
(2025). Saito Sumiko's Struggle in Horse Racing during the Showa Era: A Case Study of Gender Inequality and Social Constraints. 创业与创新（英文版）, 9(2), 58-63. DOI： 10.47297/wspeiWSP2516-253511.20250902.

Chung Chan Kin.Saito Sumiko's Struggle in Horse Racing during the Showa Era: A Case Study of Gender Inequality and Social Constraints[J].Entrepreneurship and Innovation,2025,09(02):58-63. DOI： 10.47297/wspeiWSP2516-253511.20250902.

摘要

Abstract

This paper focuses on Saito Sumiko

a female jockey in Japan during the Showa period. It aims to analyze the underlying reasons for the difficulties she encountered in the horse racing field

thereby revealing the gender inequality in society at that time and its implications for modern gender equality issues. By analyzing historical documents

news reports and other materials

it elaborates on Saito Sumiko's journey from aspiring to become a jockey to the ultimate shattering of her dream. The study finds that under the social atmosphere of male superiority and the horse racing operation background with military priority at that time

the Imperial Horse Racing Association of Japan ignored the significance of female jockeys due to the purpose of military horse breeding. Traditional social concepts restricted women's social participation

and there were many prejudices and discriminations against women in the horse racing world

and a lack of institutional support. As a result

although Saito Sumiko strived to pursue her dream of becoming a jockey

it was difficult to achieve. Compared with Hiratsuka Raicho

a Japanese writer active in the same era

differences in the times

fields of activity and social support led to their completely different development trajectories. Saito Sumiko's experience highlights the constraints of social structures and institutions on women's development

providing an important historical reference for attaching importance to ideological reform and institutional support in promoting gender equality in modern society. Future research needs to further explore historical materials

conduct comparative and witness analyses

etc. to deepen the exploration of its historical significance.

关键词

Keywords

references

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