Cultural Norms: The Destruction Of The Family

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Traditionally, the head of the household is to be a steward of the family's intergenerational fortunes by ensuring the family’s assets, traditions, and social standing is passed intact to future heirs (Japan, n.d.). Sons were traditionally favored over daughters and the oldest son was raised differently from the other sons (Imamura, 2015). The eldest son remained in the household to take over the family business and care for his aged parents (Imamura, 2015). The wife of the first-born son has the lowest position in the household and is expected to learn the ways of household under the guidance of her mother-in-law (Imamura, 2015). The other sons moved out and established households, which remained in a subordinate relationship to the main family (Japan, n.d.). Daughters married into other families with the primary function to produce heirs (Imamura, 2015). …show more content…
Family life is not expected to interfere with the husband's work (Imamura, 2015). The evening is considered the husband’s free time, whereas wives' free time comes during the day and they are expected to be home in the evening (Imamura, 2014).
Cultural Norms
Although the majority of Japan’s culture has been adapted from China and over the past century, Western countries have also played a significant role in influencing Japanese culture (Cultural Norms and Traditions in Japan, n.d.), there are some traditional cultural norms still widely practiced: