Japanese American Women During Ww2 By Valerie Matsumoto

In this article, Valerie Matsumoto describes the lives of Japanese American women during World War II and examines the effects that the internment camp experiences had on these women. Matsumoto argues that good and bad things were brought about because of the internment camps. Japanese American women were discriminated against, they were victims of racism, and they also faced traumatic family strain. Although these women’s stay at the internment camp was a living hell, their experiences there brought about significant changes in their lives; for the better good. From women having more leisure time, new opportunities for women such as travel work and education and better yet equal pay. Over 33,000 immigrant Japanese women entered the United States between the years of 1908 and 1924, this

These women faced hostile, crude living conditions and extreme severe psychological and emotional damage that still affected them in the long run. Matsumoto cites a woman who still sees the watch over searchlights that troubled her sleep while living in the camp (13). However for their experiences in the camp changed them for the better, while living in the camp, these women got caught up in mainstream middle -class values. These women began to engage in social and leisure activities, accustomed to long work day in the home, these women found that having meals and things provided to them already gave them spare time. Living in the internment camps helped Japanese American women learn how to become more self-reliant and independent, something they were never accustomed to. Although living in the internment camp was challenging for the Japanese women they developed a sense of independence from the experience and found a growing awareness of their abilities as