Quote:
Originally Posted by GTJ
You think that's the problem? I can pinpoint a bigger problem for you.
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Now that we've had our chuckle, yes, the rapid feminization of male society in Japan is one of the hugest factors to the negative birthrate. Yes, negative. You say "low" but it was actually UNDER zero last time I checked, which means old people are dying faster than babies are being born. I think it would be a good idea to open a new thread about this topic, because it's just downright fascinating and I love discussing it and trying to dig up underlying reasons.
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Or, instead of spouting such childishness.... you could actually go out and talk to - or even read articles written by - married women of childbearing age who in the past would have been popping out kids but aren`t.
It all comes down to money. It has absolutely nothing to do with "feminization" as you put it - unless we are to listen to the big burly western men in Japan thinking they can "fix" the problem by knocking girls up.
Raising a child in Japan costs money. Raising a child in a city in Japan costs even more money. Most young couples live in cities for the employment opportunities.
Couples like to have savings before they have a child... So it ends up that both work saving up the cash until they feel they have enough to have a child. And then they have ONE child - and the biggest problem arises. Securing money for another. There is nowhere close to enough support provided for the mother to return to work (and culturally, most of the time this isn`t desirable) - but at the same time companies in the cities have grown accustomed to the pay system where both work... So pay ends up being halved with no additions for family from the husband`s company.
And child number 2 never comes along because the money just isn`t there, and there is no reasonable way to get it. In the past, young couples would live close to their parents - often both sets - and have the free support of family. Not in the modern era.
There was an interesting article I read recently about the difference between couples living near their families and those living more than an hour away... Those living near or with one set of grandparents averaged 2.8 children. Those living more than an hour away averaged 0.6. In the countryside, near family, the 3 child family is still the norm. In the city, far from family support, just over half end up having no children at all. Either by choice, or because they waited too long and have fertility issues.