Sexual Equality in Japan
2001-11-13
When I came to Japan , I hound an interesting scene which can be often seen in the street. When couples are walking on the road together, women often follow the men and walk behind them, especially to the girl or boyfriends. But it also depends on the ages and generations. The youths are almost walking together, but the people in thirties, forties or over fifty years old, compared to other countries' couples, are often walking backward and forward.
Although in the modern life in Japan , more and more people follow the rule Lady First, most time in daily life, men have quite different position from women. We can find the truth easily through some samples. When I read the teachers' introduce of FPU, I can hardly find a female teacher or professor. In the office, often we can see are female assistants and sanctuaries. It also happens in the companies and some organization. The number of positions for male is much larger than which for female, and especially at a high position like CEO, etc.
Let's keep an eye on the families. I think that is quite different between Chinese and Japanese. Normally, the Chinese family is formed by 3 persons at least, working couple and one child. And it is normal that father take charge of cooking everyday and taking care of child. Often, there is no difference in doing the housework. But it seems that most of Japanese women do housework at home and her husband work very late in the evening. It has formed a habit, which had lasted for hundreds of years.
I have talked with many Japanese students of whom some are girls. When our talks are going on, I can feel strongly that they had already considered them as housewives. They always told me that they will do their best to help her husband, help him to reach the success. Well, in fact, ii was quite moved when they said so, but from another side, how will the men feel if it becomes a nature? When the time goes on, they will feel that his wife is a helper, for him, for this family, or maybe it is not so obvious, it is just subconscious. It is true that now, most women in Japan stay home after marriage, or just has a part-time hob. But I think the situation is changing everyday, the law and the societies have both admitted that men and women have equal rights and opportunities.
That is my personal opinion. Thank you very much.
November 13, 2001
Last update: 01/18/2004 23:07