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JAPANESE FATHERS ’ INVOLVEMENT IN CHILDCARE

Explore traditional views on Japanese fathers' childcare involvement, effects of decline in birth rates, childcare leave policy, and significance of research on paternal involvement.

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JAPANESE FATHERS ’ INVOLVEMENT IN CHILDCARE

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  1. JAPANESE FATHERS’ INVOLVEMENT IN CHILDCARE Masako Ishii-Kuntz, Ph.D. Department of Sociology University of California, Riverside

  2. 1. OVERVIEW • Traditional views on Japanese Fathers and Extent of Father’s Childcare Involvement • Decline in Birth Rates • Childcare Leave Policy • Significance of Research on Paternal Involvement 2. RESEARCH Women and Men for Childcare Network 3. POLICY IMPLICATIONS

  3. Traditional Views of Japanese Fathers • “Earthquake, Thunderous, and Fiery” Fathers • Fatherless Families  Arm’s Distance from Their Children • Economic provider

  4. Extent of Father’s Childcare Involvement • Time spent with children (per day) FatherMother Japan 3.32 hours 7.44 Korea 3.64 8.40 U.S.A. 4.88 7.57 • Childcare time Japanese mothers  2.39 hours/day Japanese fathers  17 minutes/day (10 min./weekday, 29 min./Saturday, 38 min./Sunday) (Source: Japan Women’s Education Association, 1995)

  5. Decline in Birth Rate • Steady decline in Japanese birth rates since mid-1970s 1970 2.2 babies on average per woman 1980 1.8 1995 1.5 2000 1.34 2002 1.32

  6. Reasons for Decline in Birth Rate • Women’s higher educational achievement and participation in labor force • Delay in marriage • Increase in ever-singles • Housing problems • Lack of husband’s involvement in child care

  7. Ministry of Health and Welfare’s1999 Campaign • Appeal for greater paternal involvement • TV commercials and posters • “A man who doesn’t raise his children can’t be called a father.”

  8. Child Care Leave Policy • Japan (Revision of 1992)  Maximum of 1 year  25% of salary is paid by the Employment Insurance  0.2% of fathers; 44.5% of mothers  Of those who take childcare leave, 99.2% are mothers • U.S.  Family care leave (12 weeks a year), Not compensated.

  9. Significance of Research in Paternal Involvement • Higher birth rates • Effects on children • Effects on mothers and their marriage • Effects on fathers, themselves

  10. My Research • Why (and How) DO some men actively participate in child care? • Rather than, why DON’T they participate in child care?

  11. Father’s Involvement in Childcare • Research Setting:  In-depth interviews to members of WOMEN AND MEN FOR CHILDCARE NETWORK in Japan  Corporate fathers between 29 and 45  Childcare Leave, Childcare Hours

  12. WOMEN AND MEN FOR CHILDCARE NETWORK • Tokyo-based association (Ikujiren) • Aims to increase paternal involvement in childcare as well as to reduce parents’ work hours • Monthly meetings, Bi-monthly newsletters (circulation of 500), Internet discussion list, Homepage (http://www.eqg.org/), Symposiums, Lectures

  13. WOMEN AND MEN FOR CHILDCARE NETWORK: Notable Activities • Response to 1999 campaign  “A man who doesn’t raise his children can’t be called a father. Then let us care for our children without any hesitation.” • A letter to British Prime Minister, Tony Blair (2000) • Opinion polls on childcare issues among political candidates for Japanese parliamentary election

  14. Major Findings • Father-friendly workplace (Childcare Leave, Childcare Hours, Flextime) • Time availability • Childcare demand at home • Relative resources

  15. Policy Implications • Structural Changes • Increase in Compensation for Childcare • Provision of Father-friendly Workplace • Decrease in Work Hours • Attitudinal Changes • Family Life Education (NCFR) • Prenatal Fathering Education

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