In the United Kingdom, cases of sexual harassment by female managers to male employees occasionally get into the news. The women's liberation movement in the nation has roots back in the 18th century. Even in the Victorian era when the social system was deemed feudalistic, women's position in society was considered fairly high compared to that of Japan. For instance, once a mother decided dinner starts at six, the husband and the children had to be ready sitting at the dining table. If they were late for the time, they were served no meal, or otherwise cold dishes at best. It was inconceivable for the mother to recook the meal according to family members' convenience like in Japan.
From Japanese point of view, such practice in Britain appears to symbolize the strong status of housewives and mothers and the respect they gain, putting them in easier circumstances for working outside if they wish so. To British women, however, it simply means that they are handling the authority only in the limited domain of "the household ruled by women." It is said that, even today when female presidents and managers number as many as 20 times more than those in Japan, chances are still slim for them to be fully accredited for their accomplishments in comparison with men. Moreover, social institutions for child rearing are not fulfilling.
Now dual-income families are quite common in the urban areas. Those who can get assistance from their parents for child-raising are fortunate but scarce. If they have babies, their options for nursing them would be making use of child-care center, or leaving them with the care of "child minder," or calling for "nanny," or asking "au pair" to live with the family. Should they send a child to the child-care center, the remuneration would amount to 60,000 to 200,000 Japanese yen per month or minimum 1,200 yen per hour. When a child reaches the age to go to primary school, it is mandatory for the guardian or its surrogate to escort the child to and from the school until the day of graduation. Further, what is called "after-school care program" is entrusted with private firms and costs 2,000 yen for three-hour care.
Despite such a hard situation, many families opt for two incomes because of economic reasons or a desire to retain wife's career; some of them eke out a lifestyle in which either of the couple becomes a part-timer, or husband and wife work in different timeline. As for sharing the burden of child-care, there is little gender bias left these days. It is assumed that the historic women's liberation movement has changed people's perception in this regard over time.
Written and Photographed by Nao Fukuoka
