The only woman to help write Japan's post-World War II constitution will visit UF Monday night to talk about her career.
Beate Sirota Gordon grew up in Japan and moved to Oakland, Calif., to attend Mills College.
At 22, Gordon returned to Japan after World War II to work in Gen. Douglas MacArthur's office and help draft the women's rights section of the constitution in nine days, according to her memoir, "The Only Woman in the Room."
Gordon, 83, will speak in Turlington Hall L007 at 6 p.m. It is free and open to the public.
"It is one of the most progressive constitutions in the world," said Hikaru Nakano, East Asian cataloger of the Smathers Library.
Nakano said students will be able to learn about Japanese women's achievements throughout history, the core concept in feminism and the global context for equal rights.
The program is being presented by the Association for Asian Studies, the UF Smathers Library and the Department of Asian Studies.
