Quote:
Originally Posted by mercedesjin
Yes, there's value culturally. This means that there can also be value in the community. However, after a person has lost their job in the company or their "job" at home, will their co-workers support them economically? Will the community support them financially?
I'll say it again, I'm not expert on Japanese society when it comes to divorce, but I don't know if Japanese society will ever value the stay-at-home partner economically. Culture is beautiful, but culture has lost out to economics in Japan before - as culture has lost out to economics across many nations and societies. Money is what rules the world now, not culture. And, if the person at home isn't making that money, then they're most likely not going to be valued enough to survive.
The example of your friend shows that this isn't completely black-and-white. I've been assuming that stay-at-home mothers have never had any jobs, which isn't the best assumption. If a person has had a job in the past, then yes, they'll have a better chance of survival. If not, then I doubt they would have many skills - a resume to show - and I doubt they would do very well after the divorce.
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I don`t know any stay-at-home mothers who did not have a job prior to having a child. Every single one I know personally was something or other prior to choosing to have a child and remain at home.
I have no doubts there are women out there who have no skills taking care of their children at home - but I would say they`re very much an exception. Having some sort of skill is also valued, so most women go to college then work for a few years before getting married and continue working until they have a baby. It`s really the most common pattern. Companies offer jobs that appeal to this mindset, with less pressure to stay on and less stress when leaving the company. Of course if the woman wanted responsibility, it is there for the taking - but I do think that most women consider future children and a few years away from work... So don`t want to dedicate THAT much into a career until after the children have grown and they feel they really can dedicate themselves.
There is no stigma against a woman working - quite the opposite in fact. If she doesn`t have children then why isn`t she working? is the common way of thinking. The average level of education is very high in Japan, so it seems quite rare to me for someone to make it to adulthood without acquiring work skills and experience.
Of course, what I am saying applies to Japan, but possibly not elsewhere.
ETA; Another question:
If you were a CEO and wanted a child, and decided to have that child as a single parent... Who would raise your child? A CEO can`t take much (any) time off from running a company. 2~3 hours a night with the child before they go to bed, and 20 minutes in the morning rushing them off to daycare...... I find it very hard to think that could be a good parenting situation or in the best interest of a child.