The Geopolitical and Cultural Features of Women’s Diaspora: The Case of Ireland and Okinawa in the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries

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Since ancient times, human beings have been migrating due to a variety of circumstances, such as colonization, trade, slavery, escaping poverty, and exile. This has sometimes had an effect in the foundation of new settlements and even countries. In more recent times, migration has mainly involved younger men who were more daring to take on the risks and challenges of venturing afar. In a period spanning from the beginning of the 20th century, many Okinawan young men migrated abroad with hopes of earning higher wages and finding social success that would help them achieve ambitions such as purchasing a home, bringing their wife and family, and sending money back to relatives in the mother country. 　However, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the gender composition of those leaving Ireland was different from the usual trend. Many migrants leaving Ireland were women. During the late 19th century, the first wave of Irish women’s migration consisted of over 4,000 teenage girls who were sent to Australia. Later, a massive second wave went abroad to the United States for service industry employment. In terms of emigration, Irish women displayed a relatively higher degree of independence from their families compared to Okinawan women, who frequently relied on their families for support. These differences in background, emigration patterns, and roles within the host country should be taken into account. It is essential to consider these gender-related factors alongside the growing influence of community networks in the host country.

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