アメリカ人の社会学者、日本学者が日本の出生率と幸福度の低さを子育て世代へのインタビュー調査とアメリカ、スウェーデンとの比較によって分析した。
2013年以降、大人用紙おむつの売上げが子供用紙おむつの売上げを上回っている。
日本の若い世代の多くは、結婚して子供を持ちたいと思っている。にもかかわらず子供の数が減り続けているのはなぜか。
1990年末からの出生率低迷は晩婚化と非婚化が原因だった。最近は子どもを１人しか持たない夫婦が増えた。婚外子は日本では極めて少ない。
国際的な研究によると、人生への満足度が高い人ほど子供を設ける確率が高く、女性の人生への満足度の低い国は出生率が低い（ＯＥＣＤ加盟国）。
An American sociologist and Japanologist analyzed Japan's low birth rate and low level of happiness through interviews with child-rearing generations and comparisons with the U.S. and Sweden.
Since 2013, adult diaper sales have exceeded child diaper sales in Japan.
Many of Japan's younger generations want to get married and have children. Despite this, the number of children continues to decline.
By the end of the 1990s, the main reasons for the low birth rate were late marriages and nonmarriage. Recently, the number of couples having only one child has increased. Children born out of wedlock are extremely rare in Japan.
International studies show that people with higher levels of life satisfaction are more likely to have children, while countries with lower levels of women's life satisfaction have lower fertility rates (OECD countries).
著者のインタビュー調査でくっきり見えてきたのは、日本では性別ごとに期待される役割に関する固定観念が強力で、社会で受け入れられる家族像が極めて限定されている。
日本ではワークライフバランスのとり方に対して勤務先が非常に強い影響力を持っている。男性の育休は制度は非常に手厚いけれど取得率はわずか12.7％で、男性は育休をとるべきではないという社会規範がその要因だ。
日本男性の家事分担割合はOECD加盟国で最低、日本女性の無償労働時間の割合は男性の5倍で最高。
The author's interview survey clearly revealed that in Japan, stereotypes about the roles expected of each gender are strong, and the socially acceptable image of family is extremely limited.
Workplaces have a very strong influence on how employees balance their work and life. Although the male maternity leave system is very generous, only 12.7% of men take it, due to the social norm that men should not take maternity leave.
Japanese men's share of household chores is the lowest among OECD countries, while Japanese women's share of unpaid work hours is the highest at five times that of men.
International studies show that people with higher levels of life satisfaction are more likely to have children, while countries with lower levels of women's life satisfaction have lower fertility rates (OECD countries).
３国を比較すると、アメリカは質の高い公的保育サービスがなく、有給の育児休業制度もない。しかしアメリカでは①核家族以外の家族親戚友人などを含む支援ネットワーク、②カップルが共働き・共育てモデルを柔軟に実践しやすい、③労働市場の流動性が高く、家庭生活とバランスの取れた働き方を雇用主と交渉しやすい。
スウェーデンは女性の仕事と育児の両立を図ってきた。①所得税を世帯でなく個人課税。②育児休業期間18カ月、所得代替率８割以上。③育児休業制度の柔軟性が高く、いろいろな形で８歳まで取得可能。④公的保育施設の整備。⑤第２子の早めの出産を後押し。
Comparing the three countries, the U.S. has no high-quality public childcare services and no paid parental leave system. However, the U.S. has (1) a support network that includes family, relatives, and friends outside the nuclear family, (2) couples can easily practice a flexible co-working and co-parenting model, and (3) a highly fluid labor market that makes it easy to negotiate with employers for a work style that balances family life and work.
Sweden has made it possible for women to balance work and childcare. (1) Income tax is levied on individuals, not households. (2) 18 months of parental leave and an income replacement rate of at least 80%. (3) Highly flexible childcare leave system, allowing various forms of leave up to the age of eight. (4) Public childcare facilities. (5) Early delivery of the second child is encouraged.
著者の日本への提言。日本は、男性稼ぎ手モデルから脱却し、共働き・共育てモデルへ移行するべき。具体的には
①保育園に入れやすくする
②既婚者の税制を変更し、配偶者控除や配偶者の年金保険料免除などを既婚女性に年収を抑えるよう促す仕組みをなくす。
③男性の家庭生活への参加を促す。育児休業する男性の給料を8週間まで100％保証する。男性育児休業に対する意識の変化が必要。
The author's recommendations for Japan.
Japan should move away from the male breadwinner model and move toward a co-worker, co-parenting model. Specifically
(1) Make it easier to enroll children in daycare centers.
(2) Change the taxation system for married couples and eliminate the spousal deduction and exemption of spouses from pension premiums to encourage married women to reduce their annual income.
(iii) Encourage men to participate in family life. Guarantee 100% of the salary of men who take parental leave for up to eight weeks. Change in attitudes toward male parental leave is needed.
感想
新しい本だけれど、この本が執筆、出版されている間にも世の中は変わっていると思う。男性が料理ができる、家事をする重要性は高まっているし、男性が家庭や子供の事情で休んだり早退することは当たり前になってきている。
My impression after reading this book
Although this is a new book, I think Japanese society is changing now. The importance of men being able to cook and do household chores is growing, and it is becoming more common for men to take time off or leave early for family or child-related reasons.