From: Seija JALAGIN
email Seija.Jalagin@oulu.fi
Snowy and sunny greetings from Northern Finland to all the participants of
H-JAPAN list!
My name is Seija Jalagin and I am presently working as a coordinator of
Japanese Studies -programme which starts at the University of Oulu,
Finland, in september 1996. The programme is implemented by the departments
of Architecture and History which are engaged in research related to Japan.
I myself am a historian. At the moment I am preparing my dissertation on
"The Image of Japanese Woman as seen by the Western Visitors to Japan in
1853 - 1904". My special interest is of how images are formed by an
individual, and how they are transformed when shared with others and how
they in the end become stereotypes. In the whole image of Japan in Western
countries the image of woman is the most essential one, since it can be
said to have been the most positive element. Thus it was forming the
general image of Japan favourable in the West. In addition to this the
image of woman of a non-white culture clearly reflects the general
conceptions of women by the westerners those days. Through these one can
reach the Western conception of the world in general and the basics of the
gender system in the West.
In the Department of History I am also responsible for conducting the
"proseminar" of General history, workshop intended for students preparing
their BA-thesis on various subjects related to general history, including
the history of Japan.
I am looking forward to joining the discussion in the H-JAPAN list and
sharing ideas and information with other japanologists.
Ms. Seija Jalagin
University of Oulu
Department of History
P.O.Box 111
FIN-90571 Oulu
FINLAND
tel. +358 81 553 3327
email Seija.Jalagin@oulu.fi