Okinoshima, World Heritage, and the Exclusion of Women in Modern Japan

德威特博士的项目重点是将冲之岛和宗方神社（实际上是位于九州北部的三个神社）改造成世界遗产。具体来说，这是一项关于在当代背景下使用古代历史和做法的调查，特别是与排斥妇女有关的调查。通过详细的历史和民族志分析，调查以时间和地点为基础。拨款主要用于进行实地考察、购置材料和设备、参加展览，以及在国内外进行研究报告。DeWitt在日本的一系列场所用日语和英语介绍了这项研究，并在国际期刊和编辑卷上发表。这些努力的结果将有助于保存神社的重要历史，同时也为女性被排斥的模糊历史以及它在文化和宗教遗产背景下的部署和挑战方式提供新的线索。

Dr. DeWitt's project focused on the transformation of Okinoshima and Munakata Shrine (actually a group of three shrines located in northern Kyushu) into a World Heritage site. In particular, this was an investigation into the use of ancient histories and practices in contemporary contexts, especially as related to women’s exclusion. The investigation was grounded in time and place through detailed historical and ethnographic analysis.The grant was used primarily to conduct fieldwork, acquire materials and equipment, attend exhibitions, and present research at domestic and international venues.Dr. DeWitt presented this research at a range of venues in Japan, in both Japanese and English, and published in international journals and edited volumes.The results of these efforts will help preserve the important histories of the shrines while also shedding new light on the murky historicity of women’s exclusion and the ways it is deployed and challenged in the context of cultural and religious heritage.