Possible Measures against the Declining Birthrate
NAGAI Taeko / Journalist
May 25, 2004
All sorts of data imply the difficulty of solving this particular problem in Japan.
The reasons for the difficulty stem from the claustrophobic matter of affairs in this country: a relationship between the sexes that is as conservative as ever, general disapproval for those who won't conform, and economic circumstances on which singles are able to subsis -- if only minimally. Then there is the education policy that weighs heavily upon the family finances.
In light of the fact \100,000 per month is needed for the extra-curricular education of two children--\150,000 for three--, parents might very well abandon their hopes to have their second child, let alone the third. Entrance into a brand-name college--the passport for the subsequent entry into a stable company--consumes funds best reserved for after the parents' retirement. On top of all this, constant comparison with others from a young age depletes children of their sense of self-affirmation. (According to the research done by the Japan Youth Research Institute, the percentage of Japanese youths who believe in their 'own worth' is an excessively low 8.8% in contrast to the 50% given for the United States and South Korea.)
The government has come up with their own countermeasures to the falling birthrate. They, however, fall short of their target. The enhancement of the Child Care Leave Law is only applicable to the rather small proportions of workers who are permanent employees. The women were the first to be hit by the worsening employment in the recent years, and 50% of female workers under 30 years old are non-permanent employees. Unlike the United States and Europe, the rift in working conditions between permanent and non-permanent workers is great. In order to dam up the problem at its source, we must first rid of the inherent sexual discrimination within the employment system. The current workplace shows the woman the door as soon as she is with child.
In addition, household chores continue to be the burden of women. While there might be romantic feelings between couples, whether they also perceive each other as potential partners in bearing and raising children is entirely another question. Although both men and women who want to 'someday get married' and 'have children' are not few, the number of women who are apprehensive of losing their financial independence and solely being a stay-at-home mother is considerable.
Women are beginning to sense risk in the institution of marriage itself. As the rising divorce rate demonstrates, marriage itself is facing system-fatigue now that awareness of the Japanese as individuals has been set in motion.
While we still have far to go, a possible solution would be a transition to a more flexible society in which giving births and raising children can be supported without having to resort to marriage. Northern Europe is already witness to increasing births outside marriage. A legal reform for dual surnames for couples would be additionally helpful: liberating women who have children without changing names from condescension and discrimination might lead to a change for the better.
The writer is the executive director of Setagaya Arts Center, and a former newscaster for NHK.
The reasons for the difficulty stem from the claustrophobic matter of affairs in this country: a relationship between the sexes that is as conservative as ever, general disapproval for those who won't conform, and economic circumstances on which singles are able to subsis -- if only minimally. Then there is the education policy that weighs heavily upon the family finances.
In light of the fact \100,000 per month is needed for the extra-curricular education of two children--\150,000 for three--, parents might very well abandon their hopes to have their second child, let alone the third. Entrance into a brand-name college--the passport for the subsequent entry into a stable company--consumes funds best reserved for after the parents' retirement. On top of all this, constant comparison with others from a young age depletes children of their sense of self-affirmation. (According to the research done by the Japan Youth Research Institute, the percentage of Japanese youths who believe in their 'own worth' is an excessively low 8.8% in contrast to the 50% given for the United States and South Korea.)
The government has come up with their own countermeasures to the falling birthrate. They, however, fall short of their target. The enhancement of the Child Care Leave Law is only applicable to the rather small proportions of workers who are permanent employees. The women were the first to be hit by the worsening employment in the recent years, and 50% of female workers under 30 years old are non-permanent employees. Unlike the United States and Europe, the rift in working conditions between permanent and non-permanent workers is great. In order to dam up the problem at its source, we must first rid of the inherent sexual discrimination within the employment system. The current workplace shows the woman the door as soon as she is with child.
In addition, household chores continue to be the burden of women. While there might be romantic feelings between couples, whether they also perceive each other as potential partners in bearing and raising children is entirely another question. Although both men and women who want to 'someday get married' and 'have children' are not few, the number of women who are apprehensive of losing their financial independence and solely being a stay-at-home mother is considerable.
Women are beginning to sense risk in the institution of marriage itself. As the rising divorce rate demonstrates, marriage itself is facing system-fatigue now that awareness of the Japanese as individuals has been set in motion.
While we still have far to go, a possible solution would be a transition to a more flexible society in which giving births and raising children can be supported without having to resort to marriage. Northern Europe is already witness to increasing births outside marriage. A legal reform for dual surnames for couples would be additionally helpful: liberating women who have children without changing names from condescension and discrimination might lead to a change for the better.
The writer is the executive director of Setagaya Arts Center, and a former newscaster for NHK.
The English-Speaking Union of Japan
少子化に打つ手はあるのか
永井多恵子 / ジャーナリスト
2004年 5月 25日
あらゆるデータが日本での問題解決の難しさを示唆している。
原因はこの国の閉塞的状況―男と女の旧態依然たる関係性、突出することへのバッシング、とりあえずは独身でも生きていける経済状況。そして通奏低音を奏でているのがわが国の家計負担の大きい教育政策。
二人の子供で10万円、三人の子供を持てば月１5万円の学校外教育費（０４・４・２５朝日新聞）がかかることを思えば、二人目、ましてや、三人目はあきらめざるをえない。
ブランド大学入学、安定した企業へのパスポートを手に入れるための費用が老後の資金を食いつぶす。あげくに、こどもたちは幼いころから他人と比べられ、自己肯定感を失う。（日本青少年研究所の調査によれば「自分に価値がある・・」と思う日本の青少年の比率はアメリカ・韓国約５０％にくらべて８・８％と極端に低い）
政府の少子化対策はそれなりに手を打ってきた。だが、的を射ない。育児休業法が強化されても、適用されるのはわずかな比率の正社員にだけ。近年の雇用の悪化はまず、女性たちを直撃、30歳以下の女性雇用者の非正社員率は５０％を越える。欧米とちがって、正社員と非正社員の労働条件の開きは大きい。まずは雇用そのものの性差別を撤廃しなければ根っこの問題は解決できない。子供ができた、即、クビの世界なのだ。
おまけに、家庭での男女の役割分担は依然として女性の肩の上にのしかかる。恋愛感情はあっても、こどもを生み、共に育てるパートナーとして互いを意識するかどうかは別問題である。「いつか、結婚はしたい・・」「子供がほしい・・」と希望する率は男女とも低くはないが、経済的自立を失い、子育てだけに専心することに不安を覚える女性は多い。
結婚という制度そのものにも女性たちは将来リスクを感じ始めている。離婚率の上昇が示しているように、個人の意識の開放された今、結婚そのものが制度疲労をきたしていることを見抜いているからではないだろうか。
道は遠いが、解決策をあげるとすれば、結婚という制度によらない出産・子育てを応援できるやわらかい社会へ移行できないか、ということ。北欧ではすでに婚外出産の比率が高まっている。それと、夫婦別姓への法制度改革―改姓されずに、こどもを出産する母親への蔑視、差別から女性たちを開放すれば、変化の兆しがみえるかもしれない。
（筆者は世田谷文化生活情報センター館長、元NHK解説委員。）
原因はこの国の閉塞的状況―男と女の旧態依然たる関係性、突出することへのバッシング、とりあえずは独身でも生きていける経済状況。そして通奏低音を奏でているのがわが国の家計負担の大きい教育政策。
二人の子供で10万円、三人の子供を持てば月１5万円の学校外教育費（０４・４・２５朝日新聞）がかかることを思えば、二人目、ましてや、三人目はあきらめざるをえない。
ブランド大学入学、安定した企業へのパスポートを手に入れるための費用が老後の資金を食いつぶす。あげくに、こどもたちは幼いころから他人と比べられ、自己肯定感を失う。（日本青少年研究所の調査によれば「自分に価値がある・・」と思う日本の青少年の比率はアメリカ・韓国約５０％にくらべて８・８％と極端に低い）
政府の少子化対策はそれなりに手を打ってきた。だが、的を射ない。育児休業法が強化されても、適用されるのはわずかな比率の正社員にだけ。近年の雇用の悪化はまず、女性たちを直撃、30歳以下の女性雇用者の非正社員率は５０％を越える。欧米とちがって、正社員と非正社員の労働条件の開きは大きい。まずは雇用そのものの性差別を撤廃しなければ根っこの問題は解決できない。子供ができた、即、クビの世界なのだ。
おまけに、家庭での男女の役割分担は依然として女性の肩の上にのしかかる。恋愛感情はあっても、こどもを生み、共に育てるパートナーとして互いを意識するかどうかは別問題である。「いつか、結婚はしたい・・」「子供がほしい・・」と希望する率は男女とも低くはないが、経済的自立を失い、子育てだけに専心することに不安を覚える女性は多い。
結婚という制度そのものにも女性たちは将来リスクを感じ始めている。離婚率の上昇が示しているように、個人の意識の開放された今、結婚そのものが制度疲労をきたしていることを見抜いているからではないだろうか。
道は遠いが、解決策をあげるとすれば、結婚という制度によらない出産・子育てを応援できるやわらかい社会へ移行できないか、ということ。北欧ではすでに婚外出産の比率が高まっている。それと、夫婦別姓への法制度改革―改姓されずに、こどもを出産する母親への蔑視、差別から女性たちを開放すれば、変化の兆しがみえるかもしれない。
（筆者は世田谷文化生活情報センター館長、元NHK解説委員。）
一般社団法人 日本英語交流連盟