Books etc

This chapter examines Helen Heffernan’s interactions with Japanese educators from gender and transnational perspectives. During her stay in Japan as a member of the General Headquarters, of the American occupying force between 1946 and 1947, Hefferman (1896–1987) pushed for a radical child-centered approach in education policy, some of which is recognized as her legacy. While she was herself a minority in terms of gender and sexuality, Heffernan’s gaze on Japan included both benevolence and control in terms of race, which caused friction with Japanese educators. Despite her political and racial superiority, she was deprived of opportunities to receive due recognition for her work because of her primarily male counterparts. Heffernan’s life highlights the importance of exploring transnational educational history from race, gender, and sexuality perspectives.