The Heian era of Japanese history (794-1185 C.E.) is often characterized by the literary accomplishments of elite court women. Such ladies include Izumi Shikibu, Murasaki Shikibu and Sei Shōnagon. As the Heian era also saw the beginning of the decline of the number of women in public positions and the rise of the patrilineal family, discussions of women's writings often center around gender and politics. For instance, earlier scholars depict the writings as a means of confession and personal expression, devoid of all political content. Such scholars argue that because women lived secluded lives they were necessarily unconcerned with the politics of court life. In a response to this, later scholarship takes a different approach, treating women's writings as the commissioned work of powerful men, thereby serving as political tools to elevate the men's status. According to this interpretation female authors could do little more than complain about the injustice accorded to women. However, it is my argument that women were intentionally portraying themselves as secluded and powerless as part of the politics of fashion. I argue that though the methods of politics differed between the sexes, women were by no means lacking in influence.

Secrets in My Sleeves: The Politics of Seclusion in Heian Women's Diaries