Japanese Housewives
Candlefocus EditorFor centuries the Japanese housewife has been a mainstay in households across the archipelago, and while her role is changing in the 21st century, her importance and contributions are still widely held in high regard.
The history of the Japanese housewife has its roots in the Edo period (1600-1868) when the practice of arranged marriage began to take hold, where two people were wed based on their family’s mutual decision. In this scenario, the wife left her family and moved into her husband’s household, taking on the duties of managing the home and overseeing the domestics of the family.
The Japanese housewife was entrusted the duty of ensuring her in-laws’ home was clean and tidy, thorough and complete with necessary furnishings and decorations. These daily tasks, although often difficult, were performed with utmost consideration for the wishes of the elders in the home; the housewife's role was very much in line with her position as an obedient daughter-in-law.
The Japanese housewife was more than a domestic worker. Her duties included looking after the children, maintaining the finances of the home and supervising the upkeep of the estate. As a result, the general wife in pre-modern Japan was seen as a representation of social order, responsbile for the running and upkeep of the family’s home and boundaries, as well as the representation of tradition and patriotic values.
In the modern age, the role of the Japanese housewife has evolved. Women are traditionally expected to shoulder the bulk of the childcare and housekeeping duties in the home but many women today have sought greater balance in their home lives, taking more control of their domestic duties and increasing their presence in the public sphere.
Japanese housewives are now active participants in the modern economy, taking part in the workforce and managing their own businesses. Today’s housewives are often well educated and take part in professional business, whilst staying true to their traditional roles in the household.
In summary, the Japanese housewife is an important figure in Japanese society and culture, representing a strong focus on family and relationships. As a symbol of the home, the housewife is responsible for overseeing the household and ensuring the general order and harmony of the family. In modern Japan, the role of housewife is changing, with more and more women pushing their boundaries and taking part in the public and professional spheres.