Lessons on aging: Hopes and concerns of Japanese women at midlife

Japan is leading the global trend of decreasing birth rates and the graying of society. In this study we examine women's changing gender and intergenerational relationships and how these affect their concerns and hopes for their futures. Many of the 121 midlife women (aged 45-55) interviewed vi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of women & aging 2016-03, Vol.28 (2), p.127-140
Main Author: Melby, Melissa K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
21st century
Aging
Aging - psychology
Asian Continental Ancestry Group - psychology
Birth
Family Characteristics
Female
Females
Gender Identity
Gender roles
Humans
Intergenerational Relations
Intergenerational relationships
Japan
Law
Marriage
Marriage - psychology
Middle age
Middle Aged
midlife
Mothers
Parent-child relations
Parents & parenting
Self Concept
self-actualization
Sex roles
Sexes
Women - psychology
Womens studies
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Summary:Japan is leading the global trend of decreasing birth rates and the graying of society. In this study we examine women's changing gender and intergenerational relationships and how these affect their concerns and hopes for their futures. Many of the 121 midlife women (aged 45-55) interviewed viewed themselves as sandwiched between their mothers-in-law and actual or potential daughters-in-law, at the nadir of intergenerational status within their families, in large part due to changing social patterns in marriage and birth rates. Doubts about the marriageability of their sons arising from role expectations for brides to care for parents-in-law cause concern for many and highlight the gendered and intergenerational nature of aging concerns. Yet, midlife in the 21st century, with changing gender and intergenerational roles, appears to create opportunities for many Japanese women to reflect on the meaning of the next stage of their lives. Changing gender and intergenerational relationships may contribute to their hopes to live a life of self-actualization and to be true to one's self (jibun rashiku ikiru).
ISSN:0895-2841
1540-7322
DOI:10.1080/08952841.2014.950544