The other day I talked with a language partner of mine who lives in a foreign country. (I don't want to mention the exact country.) He said to me, like "A homemaker just does work only at home. You're making no money." I didn't want to admit it, so defended my status to him as a mother and homemaker. In my country Japan, a homemaker or wife at home is not considered as a low status. I understand there's a cultural difference between one and the other. Yet, I'd like to tell how we respect each other in the society.

(1)In the past

In the past, about after the war, we might have had a mindset or saying, "Men are outside, while women are inside," which conveys, "It's a virtue that husbands go to work, while housewives stay at home doing household chores and looking after their families." Many families did follow, yet, these years our lifestyles have changed family by family. For instance, who consists the family, how much money they earn, or what each family member hopes or seeks in career down the road. Those situations translate, "Everyone has a different sense of value," which has been accepted or has become the norm among Japanese people.

(2)As a mother

I am a mother today with two young children. I used to think that the career is the number one thing. However, I don't feel a shame of what I am. It's partly a regret to give up a job, but the critical part of mother is to save the family and raise decent children. If pillars of the house are broken down, everyone can't go forward.

Surely, there are many bright mothers or homemakers who work for kindergartens and schools. Those contributions not only raise children, but also encourage us women and improve the mindset about a women status.

(3)Working with an infant is difficult in Japan

I have another big reason why I don't go work. It costs me a tuition for nursery school. Because it is a fixed amount per month, I have to work for a lot of hours.

In addition, if a homemaker is a dependent of the breadwinner, there's no need to pay a health insurance premium. Sharing my husband's money from work, I live frugally, not spending for luxuries.

In addition, raising a fine child is considered a wonderful thing in my country, rather than focusing on mothers' career or families' fortune. Not to mention, the word wonderful includes the meaning of healthy.

I understand there are many perceptions in terms of women's status. Yet, I don't hate to admit, a mother or housewife is belittled. At least, let's respect each other.