In the 19th century, the majority of the workers in Japan’s modern ind

In the 19th century, the majority of the workers in Japan’s modern industries were mainly

[amp_mcq option1=”Japanese men and children” option2=”Japanese women and Chinese men” option3=”women” option4=”Japanese and Chinese men” correct=”option3″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2016
The correct answer is women.
During the rapid industrialization of Japan in the 19th century (Meiji Era), the burgeoning textile industry, particularly silk reeling and cotton spinning, became a major sector employing a vast number of workers. The majority of these workers were young women from rural areas.
Women constituted a significant portion, often the majority, of the workforce in early Japanese modern industries, especially textiles, which was a key driver of industrial growth. They were often recruited from peasant families and worked in factories, frequently living in factory dormitories. While men were employed in heavier industries and other sectors, women dominated the textile sector workforce. Chinese men were not a significant part of the workforce in Japan’s domestic modern industries in the 19th century.