Is the Confucian Ideal in Japan Breaking Down?

Monday, October 2, 2000

Papers handed back in section this week

• Discuss your grade with TA (I have checked grading)• Main criteria used:

– answering the question and in all its parts– answering it well

• supporting interpretations with appropriate evidence• making accurate statements

– use of multiple sources (lecture, reading, film)– clarity of writing (organization, grammar)– use of specific examples (at least 2/page)– correct referencing of sources– correct length

Reminder of two of course’s main objectives• Help you to grasp other cultures’

worldviews and values• Help you understand how these

worldviews and values are affected by changes in the contemporary world– value change– value continuity

Change and continuity in Confucian ideal

• Last week we examined Confucian ideal of filial piety and veneration of elderly

• Today (and some of Wed) we will examine: – How social and demographic changes of the

last 30-40 yrs have strained Confucian ideal. Why the decline in three-gen. Households from 90% in 1960 to 50-55% today?

– What attitudes have resisted change.Will the three-gen. Household continue to decline? Short answer: probably not.

The elderly in all-night bath-houses: a sign of the times in Japan?• Heard upon leaving: “The movie wasn’t

about Japan, it was about old people hanging out!”– Maybe... from American standpoint (only

4% of elderly in US live with adult children)– No, from Japanese standpoint

• Mrs Kito and “not wanting to be a burden”

Teru: a working mom• Start of Teru’s story (for sources on

people such as Teru, and their parents, see www.jinjapan.org/insight)– 44 years old– 2 children (son 13, daughter 15)– attended college– works 30 hrs week as sales

representative

Context 1: The increase in numbers of working mothers• How it used to be

– 1950s: 20% of workforce was female• worked only till late 20s, in low-status jobs

• Growth in numbers of working women– 1960s struggles– Now: 42% of workforce; 60% are 40 or older

• Increase in skill and authority– professionals– college educations (12% in 1975 to 25% in 1996)– present in management (4%) and small business

• Still high stress

Teru’s fear• Teru’s dilemma

– 6 years ago, mother was widowed at 66; now 72, needs much attention

– 1 year ago, Teru’s father-in-law (late 70s) has come to live with his eldest son. Bedridden.

• Afraid of a long stretch ahead of her, will have to sacrifice career

Context 2: Stresses placed by increased longevity on care-givers

• 1960-1995: health reforms led to unprecedented increase in Japanese life expectancy (77 for men, 83 for women). Fastest such increase on earth.

• Stress 1: prolonged care for elderly (from 5-7 years in 1960 to 15-20 years in 1995)

• Stress 2: Growing percentage of elderly are netakari (bed-ridden)

Teru’s frustration: no help from her children• Teru

– “If only I had more children!” Can’t rely on her daughter to help

Context 3: Stresses placed by reduced fertility rates on care-givers

• Reduced rates of fertility– From 4 in 1950 to under 2 today– Stress 1: fewer helpers– Stress 2: increased possibility of

woman taking care of both sets of parents

Teru’s feelings of shame and guilt: “farming” out her elderly charges• Teru

– “I cannot handle this”– Mother to bath-house– father to geriatric hospital, maybe

nursing home

Context 4: The stigma of nursing homes• The shame associated with nursing

homes• Scarcity and waiting period• over-use of geriatric hospitals

– 100,000 elderly “unnecessarily” admitted each year

– 50-100% more expensive than nursing homes

Being distributed...• “Deepen the Topic” paper guide• Bibliographic suggestions from TAs

(with my help) when you meet with them

• Reading guide on Traphagan and Herskovits (on Alzheimer’s) for next week’s sections

Make-up sections for Monday• Steve’s section (Monday 4-4:55

pm) will meet on Tuesday, Oct 10, 7-7:55 pm, in Maxwell 108

• Sam’s 2 Monday sections will meet together on Wednesday, Oct 11, 7-7:55 in Hines 104

• Sefla’s Monday section has a special assignment

OK: we’ve seen the stresses. Is there another side to this story? • Re-interpreting the trend

– Attitudinal surveys (see Akiko Hashimoto, The Gift of Generations: Japanse and American Perspectives on Aging and the Social Contract)• 80% still expect eventual co-residence

– Closer look at statistics• 50% for above 60, 65% for above 75

The Gold Plan: Re-invigorating Confucianism?• 1989 and 1994: being

implemented now (amid wrangling)

• One of largest plans of its kind in the world: $55 billion in incentives, support and subsidies over 5 years

Incentives to keep elderly at home

• $5 billion in tax subsidies to remodel homes to accommodate elderly

• $5 billion in tax credits for families that are taking care of elderly

• Larger tax credits for families dealing with bed-ridden elderly

Support for at-home care• Training and support for 150,000

“at-home helpers”: certified nurses trained in elder-care available at nominal cost (for elders living as couples, and for elderly living with adult children)

Taking up the slack• Building of “short-stay” institutions (not

nursing homes) to relieve pressure from homes for 2-3 week periods

• Building of 10,000 day-service centers (taking daytime pressure off home)

• Building 10,000 offices in communities to offer support and counseling to at-home caretakers

New long-term nursing homes• Building of 100,000 new beds to

relieve some pressure• BUT:

– priority still given to elderly without family members to care for them

– elders cared for by children given low priority

Question for film, “Alzheimer’s: A Multi-Cultural Perspective”• What are some of the different

perspectives and feelings about “Alzheimer’s disease” shown in the film?