1st Edition

Unmarried Women in Japan The drift into singlehood

By Akiko Yoshida Copyright 2017
    218 Pages 3 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    218 Pages 3 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    Yoshida addresses the common misconceptions of single, never-married women and aims to uncover the major social and cultural factors contributing to this phenomenon in Japan. Based on interviews with married and never-married women aged 25-46, she argues that the increasing rate of female singlehood is largely due to structural barriers and a culture that has failed to keep up with economic changes.

    Here is an academic book that is also reader-friendly to the general audience, it presents evidence from the interview transcripts in rich detail as well as insightful analysis. Important sociological concepts and theories are also briefly explained to guide student readers in making connections. Thus, this book not only serves to enlighten readers on current issues in Japan – it also provides sociological perspectives on contemporary gender inequality.

    01. Acknowledgments

    02. Introduction: The Drift into Singlehood

    03. Chapter 2: Decline of Marriage Age Norm: Cohort Effects and Anomie

    04. Chapter 3: Limited Chances of Romance and Problematic Men: Structural Barriers and Gender Ideology

    05. Chapter 4: Cohort Contrast in Marriages that Surrounded Women: Impacts of Linked Lives

    06. Chapter 5: Women’s Ideas about Gender Roles: Persistence of Traditional Gender Ideology

    07. Chapter 6: Why Aren’t Japanese Women Getting Married?

    08. Conclusion and Implications

    09. Appendix

    10. Notes

    11. Bibliography

    12. Index

    Biography

    Akiko Yoshida is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater