Japan: Nation With No Children?

[HagiaSophia]

A record number of Japanese women are unmarried and childless, leading the country perilously close to becoming a childless society. The country has actually coined a new term to describe the phenomenon-- shoshika, which means “a society without children,” according to a BBC report.

The population, if current trends continue, will be reduced by 20 percent by mid-century, with nearly 50 percent of those being elderly – an “impossible” situation for maintaining the health and pension systems.

Women in the country are reticent to marry, blaming employer and social expectations, such as long working hours for men, coupled with the expectation that women stay at home after having children. Japan also has one of the highest rates of contraceptive use in the world.

cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=33886

 

[Peacemonger]

HagiaSophia:

A record number of Japanese women are unmarried and childless, leading the country perilously close to becoming a childless society. The country has actually coined a new term to describe the phenomenon-- shoshika, which means “a society without children,” according to a BBC report.

The population, if current trends continue, will be reduced by 20 percent by mid-century, with nearly 50 percent of those being elderly – an “impossible” situation for maintaining the health and pension systems.

Women in the country are reticent to marry, blaming employer and social expectations, such as long working hours for men, coupled with the expectation that women stay at home after having children. Japan also has one of the highest rates of contraceptive use in the world.

cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=33886

One of the reasons Japanese women don’t want to get married is because of Japanese…men. Boys in this society are pampered and waited on hand and foot from their moms until they leave the house to get married. And then thy want their wives to basically do the same. But many women here are saying…wrong answer. I’ve met Japanese men here who are in their 30s’, live at home, and their mom still takes care of them as if they were 12 years old. It’s pathetic.

 

[gilliam]

Peacemonger:

One of the reasons Japanese women don’t want to get married is because of Japanese…men. Boys in this society are pampered and waited on hand and foot from their moms until they leave the house to get married. And then thy want their wives to basically do the same. But many women here are saying…wrong answer. I’ve met Japanese men here who are in their 30s’, live at home, and their mom still takes care of them as if they were 12 years old. It’s pathetic.

When I was in college 20 years ago, it was the same. Maybe the Japanese women are learning

 

[Zoot]

I suspect the Chinese could use the land.