[Mihoko]

As a middle aged Japanese woman who has husband and two boys, yes. Japanese women are expected to be stuck to their homes with children. But this does not mean Japanese women are treated as "INFERIOR" one.

In Christianity, a woman was created from part of a man by GOD who is also a man. But in Japanese myth, it is a woman (goddess) who created everything. From mountains, human beings and animals.. everything came out of her wombs! sounds fun?

Of course, no Japanese people in 21st century beblieves this as a true story, but this myth story suggests that Japanese men (mostly farmers) have respected and terrified women. We have no histroy to be taught that women are inferior and have to be protected. Housewives in Japan are not treated as inferior ones, and most Japanese husbands fear (rather love) their wives. That's why most Japanese wives choose to stay at home since their homes are rather confortable.

Girls in Japanese anime seem to be (Japanese) boys' dreams who want women to be cute and pretty but can protect boys in case like their mothers.