A post on Twitter has become a trend in the comment forums in Japan, generating an intense debate about marriage perceptions and trends in the country. The tweet in question states: “I think it is correct to say that the number of marriages has decreased not because there are more women with higher aspirations, but because women already want to endure marriage“.
The comment comes as a record proportion of men and women in Japan say they do not intend to marry, a trend that experts have warned will undermine efforts to address the country’s demographic crisis. According to one survey, 17.3% of men and 14.6% of women aged 18 to 34 said they never intended to marry, the highest number since the survey was first conducted in 1982.
The decline in marriages has had consequences for Japan’s birth rate as it faces the prospect of dramatic depopulation and a shrinking workforce and economy. Experts have attributed this trend to several factors, including a growing desire among young working women to enjoy the freedoms that come with being single and having a career. Men also express enjoyment of being single, but also show concern about job security and their ability to support a family.
Experts have urged the government to make it easier for women to return to work after having children and to address Japan’s infamously long working hours. When asked what constituted an “ideal” lifestyle for women, nearly 40% of single men surveyed and 34% of single women cited the ability to balance a career with raising children.
- «In the past, women were made economically dependent on men by not educating them, and almost all men were assigned women to maintain the population. It is now possible for women to live a life that is not subordinated to men. They have been freed from the spell».
- «I think it is more because women have to work after marriage, pregnancy and childbirth, and it is still women’s work to do housework and childcare, so marriage has become hell. for them. I want to tell the generation that is about to get married that they should choose a spouse who can share the housework and childcare.».
- «It is a good moment. It’s great».
- «The mistakes. The number of marriages has decreased because there are more and more women who do not know how to manage their own selfishness and are not well educated. Tailor-made marriage is necessary for society».
- «It may be good on an individual level and in the short term, but it is harmful in the long term and socially.».
- «I think the number of marriages has decreased because Japan has become poorer. Because statistics show that “men with higher incomes are more married and men with lower incomes are more single.” I think it’s “more people with low incomes -> less marriages”».
- «If you reduce women to poverty so that they have to marry men to survive, the number of marriages will increase. You can’t do that in the modern world, so developed countries will undoubtedly have a declining birth rate and an aging population. It can not be helped».
- «Actually it is this. People today find marriage and children unattractive. There are many other fun things to do. People in the countryside have many children because there is no entertainment around. That’s why».
- «In the past, the usual threat to women was that they would miss out on getting married, but perhaps it was men who really needed to get married.».
- «Men don’t have to force themselves to get married either. The time when everyone was married was abnormal».
Fountain: Esuteru Blog
