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Synopsis :

In this question and answer session following a talk on 'Confucianism, Equity and Women in Modern Japan' Yayori Matsui, Asian Correspondent of the Asahi Shimbun says that Confucianism has made women in Japan believe that they should not behave too independently. She feels that Confucianism is undemocratic and oppressive and does not understand why Singapore is reviving Confucianism. Singapore women are much more independent than Japanese women. Japanese groups are campaigning to change working conditions of both men and women. Most Japanese men want their wives to stay at home. She herself had liberal parents who were Westernised and believed in education for women. Ms. Matsui adds that while the divorce rate in Japan is increasing, Japanese women are not free to divorce because of difficulties in finding a job. Women returning to work after the children grow up get part time jobs. Ms. Matsui also notes that child care centres are increasing because of the emergence of the nuclear family and absence of caregivers for the children of working women. Two million children are taken care of at child care centres. Most centres accept babies after the age of one as they believe that babies should be looked after at home till they are one. In Japan there is also retirement age discrimination. In many companies women retire at 50 years while men can work till 55. Some women want to get rid of the law that prohibits women from working after 10pm. While the Labour Ministry wants to change this and some other laws, many think it is too early to change them as working conditions for women are not good.