As one of the fastest shrinking countries in the world, Japan has entered the phase of so-called post-demographic transition, resulting in a population structure that is far below replacement level. Obviously, the number of births has been declining faster than expected and the proportion of childless persons among the productive population has increased to the highest level ever since. Studies in demographic sociology maintain that the trend to childlessness has slowed in those Western European countries that have successfully implemented work-life balance policies and systems for egalitarian parenting. Increasing working father’s parental leave rate in private companies has therefore become a crucial part of Japanese government’s work style reform (hatarakikata kaikaku) as a measure against the falling birthrate. However, the work style in Japan’s business world is still significantly characterized by a company culture that rewards the so called “greedy work status” against the “flexible work status” (Goldin 2021). By applying Goldin’s labor economic theory to Japan’s workstyle reform and subsequent political and legal work-life balance initiatives, this research will critically examine the empirical relationship between economic resources such as employment and gender norms regarding family and work.

Authors:
Annette Schad-Seifert, Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf, Germany

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Annette Schad-Seifert is currently a full professor of Japanese Studies at the Department of Modern Japanese Studies, Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf, Germany.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Saturday Schedule

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