JAPANESE WOMEN AND FAMILY
What is the role of women in Japanese society, and is it much different than it was not so long ago? Studies do show that more and more Japanese women are choosing to abandon the traditional role of being a household provider. Many could be growing tired of staying home all day while doing household chores and making sure the kids have their homework done. Research shows that for the fourth consecutive year, the population of Japan is declining. I think women choosing to be independent, and not have children is indeed a major contributor to this trend. More women have begun to take jobs (one out of three employed workers in Japan is female.. and this number is likely a bit higher now), although their pay averages only about half that of men. They have begun to organize themselves into political, religious, and economic groupings, while their voices are heeded to an extent that was undreamed of in the days before WWII. As they have begun to understand the dimensions of their freedom, younger women have started to look around and consider what they might do other than get married. There is a saying: 結婚は女性の墓場である。(Kekkon wa josei no hakaba de aru.) This translates to "marriage is a women's grave."
It seems that most husbands still do not tell their wives when they think they may come home late. Although her husband may call her by her first name, without the polite ending of course, the wife must use polite form when addressing him. When his guests come to the home (which seems to be seldom), she is more servant than companion.
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