Marriage --- Cultural Anthropology

Marriage, or the ideas of being married, are different around the world. However it seems that, no matter where you live, there tends to be certain “rules” or ideas that go along with being married to someone. For instance, in America, parents are supposed to work from 9 AM to 5 PM then, quickly, return want to spend time with their children and spouse. Whereas, in Japan, the mothers do not have a career when the fathers get to work 7 AM to 11 PM on weekdays. Which, probably, contributes to the fact that 30 percent of fathers spend less than 15 minutes talking to their children on weekdays and the other 51% reported their father’s never speaking to them on weekdays thus making the father more a theoretical presence. Although the father’s don’t even seem to spend much time with their spouse either.

Arranged marriages are not always the best marriages to be in but the Japanize in Omiya, Japan seem to have taken things to the next level. Completely opposite of America husbands, Japan husbands do not tell their wives they like her, compliment her on the meal she made, never say “thank you,” or even call her by her name but instead grunt or say “hey, you.” Which is why it comes to no surprise that the divorce rate in Japan is at a record high, even though that record high is still only half that of the United States, thus, Japan has arguably one of the “strongest” family structures in the industrialized world.

MARRIAGE IN THE UNITED STATES

MARRIAGE IN OMIYA, JAPAN

30.1% of births are to unwed mothers Men are supposed to compliment women Woman are often called by their name or a nickname Want to spend time with your partner Higher expectations Affairs are traumatic Not much gaman Compatible You’re supposed to be able to tell your partner anything Both parents work (9-5) Encourage to talk to your children (both parents) Divorce does not impact your position at work

Husbands do not compliment wives Husbands do not call their wives by their names Considered one of the strongest family structures in the industrialized world Divorce rate less than half of the US 1.1% of births are to unwed mothers People are not as happy as the statistics Preoccupied by work and debts No time to fool around No expectations, patience, and shame Affairs are not traumatic—traditionally tolerated (woman would be wrong to get angry) Not compatible Very little time spent talking to each other Fathers only work (7-11) Father is more a theoretical presence Only remained married bc they don’t want to be the gossip Divorce weakens your position at work Mothers do not have careers Mother have few financial resources