HOME | Symposium TOP | International Symposium 2000 TOP | Views of Participants Index Page


Views of Participants


II Participant's Views on Keynote Address 2 "Current situation and Awareness of Working Mothers in Japan"
30's 40's 50's 60's  over 70's age unidentified



Participants in their 30's


Child care provider (female)
I was encouraged by the fact that working mothers have a more positive attitude toward raising children than full-time housewives.

Researcher (female)
Data relying on small samples such as the participant questionnaire should not be considered in the same category as other data. Since the report was delivered after Dr. Friedman's presentation, the analysis would have been more convincing if it had been based on more data.

Graduate student (female)
A little bit too stereotypical. Listening to the speech in the afternoon, I felt that the working mothers were positive toward raising children only because they benefit while letting the nurseries do the hard work. A sarcastic thought?

Office worker (female)
I agree with the idea that child care should be conducted by society.

Office worker (female)
It was assumed that "working mothers and housewives both have a hard time separating from their children," but as a working mother myself, it has never been hard for me to leave my child at the nursery in the morning. (I don't think of it as a separation.) Yet, I am confident that I am raising my child with the same amount of love as anyone. I couldn't understand how this emotional subject come up.

Office worker (male)
Regarding Keynote Address 1, rather than an analysis of the current situation of raising children and child care, I would liked to have heard about topics like how children should be raised or what should be taken into account when raising children. We are not a double income family and my wife has told me many times how hard it is to take care of children, but I was finally able to understand what she means. However, unless society changes, husbands won't be able to spend much time at home.

Architectural designer (female)
The comparison with the data of 5 yrs. ago in the "Questionnaire on Daily Life of Children" was interesting. I am looking forward to follow-up research.

Dentist's assistant (female)
I was disappointed that the reports were rather ordinary in content. It would have been nice to hear something more constructive.

Freelance writer (female)
Working mothers are more satisfied with the way children are being raised than I had expected, but I would have liked some attention given to the drawbacks and dangers. It seems that image of vibrant working mothers and happy children is one that does not necessarily coincide with reality.

Occupation unknown (female)
The content was interesting and I agreed with it. Many opinions were gathered from the Internet, but Internet users are only a small proportion of the population and there were not many views from housewives. I felt the opinions were lopsided.

back to top


Participants in their 40's


Kindergarten teacher (female)
I think mothers who work think of themselves first and children second. I feel there are mothers who even think of their children as a burden. The report seems to say that working mothers are more fulfilled, but from watching the children, there are many children who are emotionally unstable from the lack of affection and love. I also feel that parents and guardians are to blame for the fact that crimes are increasingly committed by younger children. We need to think of our children first.

back to top


Participants in their 50's


Child care provider (female)
I was able to get a good understanding of the current situation of mothers and child care. It was very helpful.

Director of a kindergarten/nursery (female)
The report was relevant to my work and convincing in parts. As a child care provider I would like to support future working mothers. I would also like to use each "word" with importance and care when caring for a child.

Director of a kindergarten/nursery (female)
It was the best presentation, especially the part about "raising children together".

Director of a kindergarten/nursery (female)
The report was easy to understand and a relief.

Doctor (male)
Concerning the participation of fathers in child-raising, many fathers living in industrial areas have to work three different shifts and this disrupts the infants' daily life rhythm. Next time I would like to see a survey about fathers who are not able to spend much time with their children.

back to top


Participants in their 60's


Doctor (male)
The opinions representing the parents' side and mothers' side were one-sided. We should think of what is best for the child while also considering the position of fathers and the children.

back to top


Participants over 70


Civil servant (female)
It would have been clearer if more data had been presented to back up the report.

back to top


Age Unidentified


Child care provider (female)
I was disappointed with the content of the report since as a child care provider and mother I already knew a lot of what was said from experience. A more in-depth look would have been nice. Not everybody is successful and enjoys his or her work so I think feelings about child care change. I myself like my job but everyday is hard work.

Kindergarten education (female)
As stated in Ms. Takaki's presentation, child care providers working at nurseries and kindergartens will play a large role in future child care. A role like that of a counselor will probably be needed.

Director of a kindergarten/nursery (female)
I understood the data to be mostly the same as that of previous data. I would have liked to have seen an analysis on the psychology of working mothers and full time housewives.

Director of a kindergarten/nursery (female)
It was easy to understand and I was able to agree with the content, but I wasn't entirely satisfied. The concept "raising children together" can be taken differently and depends on each person's situation. Creating a relationship of mutual understanding of child care/development is a very complex but important issue.

Doctor (female)
Please try to look at it from this point of view: as a change in the lifestyle values of women. It seems that people are little too hung up on whether the mother works or is a full-time mother. I think there is a problem in categorizing only women as "working mothers" or "mothers who are full time housewives." In the past, mothers in farming families also worked, and working women have many different type of jobs, lifestyles, and personalities. To put them in one big category is boring and simplified, and made me wonder about the issue of "mothers who are not working." Why not approach the issue by looking at differences in the environment such as the city or the commercialization of child care service.

Counselor (female)
I realized that rather than putting pressure on the mother, coming across a child care provider who will support and consider child care in the same light as the mother can make raising a child while working fun. It would be possible to talk openly about worries and hesitations with a child care provider and this would be better than the child care provider giving directions or the mother being told what to do.

back to top

Copyright (c) 2000, Child Research Net, All Rights Reserved.