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Until the mid-1930s in Japan, it was deemed inappropriate for women to ride bicycles. The movie "Twenty-Four Eyes" portrayed a female teacher facing backlash from the local community for riding a bicycle, and in 1934, the "Yomiuri Shimbun" newspaper argued that women riding bicycles could negatively impact their health and marital lives.
The concept of "women on bicycles" stems from the sensual act of women straddling a bicycle. This action was novel and alluring to people at that time, simultaneously being associated with a decadent image. Historically, "women on horses" were also considered problematic for health reasons. While one could ride a horse sideways with legs closed, a bicycle must be straddled, leading to strong disapproval of women on bicycles.
Additionally, men might have perceived women on bicycles in the same light as the erotic symbols of that time – telephone operators or geishas. Particularly, while geishas were recognized for their sexual allure, telephone operators were seen as women working in lower social positions. During the Meiji era in Japan, female telephone operators received incessant calls from men enchanted by their voices and charm. This highlights the sexual objectification of women in certain professions by men. Due to many men seeking the charming voices of female operators, stringent hiring standards were established, and male operators were phased out, indicating the prevalent sexual bias and interest.
However, by the late 1930s, media began portraying female cyclists in a positive light. Especially during wartime, the image of women on bicycles evolved into one of healthy contribution to the country. A woman named Tamaki Miura was praised as a "bicycle beauty" for her daily commute on a bike, making bicycles a symbol of fashion and status among some women. The acceptance of women wearing pants also grew with the popularity of bicycles.
Entering the 1940s, newspapers and magazines began portraying female cyclists as a representation of healthy beauty, overturning the previous negative stereotypes. During the war, female cyclists were depicted as contributing to the nation, significantly changing their overall image.
