Xinyu (Nicole) Fan

Modern Roles, Traditional Frames: Women, Labor, and Generational Change in Japan

Started Nov. 15, 2024

Abstract or project description

In contemporary Japan, women continue to balance the roles between traditional expectations and self ambition. Using sources from government data, secondary sources, and literary works, this paper examines women’s evolving roles in both paid employment and unpaid domestic labor. While older generations of women remain tied to traditional expectations shaped by lifelong male employment and postwar cultural norms, younger women face the challenge of pursuing careers while still carrying the burden of housework and caregiving. These generational differences reflect not only Japan’s demographic pressures, such as an aging population and shrinking fertility rate, but also the persistence of historical values that limit structural reform. Although initiatives like “Womenomics” aim to boost female workforce participation, deep-rooted cultural beliefs continue to constrain progress. By analyzing both historical context and contemporary cases, this paper argues that Japan’s gender roles today are not a complete break from the past, but rather a continuation of long-standing tensions between tradition and change. Understanding these continuities is essential for advancing gender equality in Japan’s rapidly aging society.