Housewife's Attire and Housework in the Taisho Era

Abstract

  This study investigates changes in life reform movement and housework, and examines housewives of the Taisho era wearing housework clothes. The magazine Fujin Sekai and other Japanese magazines and books were referred to for this purpose.

  There was a shortage of maids during the Taisho era, so housewives began to do housework themselves. As a result, housewives began to wear housework clothes. The image of a housewife at home was that of a woman doing housework.

  Next, I focused on housewives' kimonos. Kimonos were classified as formal kimonos for ceremonies, clothes for going out, and everyday clothes. Daily wear in the Taisho era gradually improved, as did housework clothes. Better housework wear came to indicate that a housewife had become skilled in doing housework.