Impact of Mothering on Demographic Behaviors in Japanese Society:Labor Shortage and the Preference for Parent-Child Co-Sleeping

Mothering in Japanese society is very important. Mothers are expected to raise and educate children in a society valuing harmony and regularities. They tend to see themselves more as mothers than individuals once they have a child, which is said to contribute to lower labor force participation rates. This paper examines the meaning and significance of mothering in Japan and explores how mothering is internalized. In particular, it focuses on the practice of parent-child co-sleeping, which is common in the child-centered Japanese family. The practice is so instilled that it is unquestioned and, hence, has rarely received academic attention. However, in light of current demographic conditions that promote higher female labor force participation, this sleeping arrangement should be critically examined. Data for this paper were collected via focus group discussions involving 36 participants (both males and females) living in Tokyo. Findings show that participants value mothering because it is how they were raised. The high mothering standard is, in part, deterring women not only from continuing to work, but also ironically, from deciding to become a mother or have multiple children.