Kobieta jako fundament ie: mit, kultura i rzeczywistość japońskiego macierzyństwa

Abstrakt

The role of women and mothers in Japan is deeply ingrained in social structures rooted in pre-modern culture. Despite legal and constitutional changes, in everyday practice, many contemporary Japanese women still function “in the shadow” of the ideal of ryōsai kenbo Contemporary women – mothers, daughters-in-law, employees – often experience pressure to simultaneously conform to expectations derived from tradition and the realities of the modern, competitive labor market. In recent decades, however, we have seen phenomena that testify to a profound social transformation, both in response to traditional social norms and to the impossibility of fulfilling them. The growing number of women consciously choosing not to start a family (parasite singles) and choosing a career over motherhood (DINKs – double income, no kids) points to a widening gap between social expectations and the existential reality of younger generations. The combination of these phenomena shows that Japan is at the intersection of two worlds – the legacy of the ie structure and the reality of a global, individualistic society. The role of women – between legend, ideal, social duty, and personal choice – remains one of the most striking areas of this transformation. The aim of this article is to analyze the historical, cultural, and social discourse on the role of women-mothers in Japanese society.