Unmarried Women In Japan

This book is about unmarried women in Japan and how they have been changing over the years. Yoshida interviews married and never-married women to get their opinions on the topic. She then uses their interviews to argue that the increasing rate of female singlehood is due to structural barriers and a culture that has not kept up with economic changes. She also provides sociological perspectives on contemporary gender inequality in Japan.

Yoshida addresses the common misconceptions of single, never-married women and aims to uncover the major social and cultural factors contributing to this phenomenon in Japan. Based on interviews with married and never-married women aged 25-46, she argues that the increasing rate of female singlehood is largely due to structural barriers and a culture that has failed to keep up with economic changes. Here is an academic book that is also reader-friendly to the general audience, it presents evidence from the interview transcripts in rich detail as well as insightful analysis. Important sociological concepts and theories are also briefly explained to guide student readers in making connections. Thus, this book not only serves to enlighten readers on current issues in Japan - it also provides sociological perspectives on contemporary gender inequality. Review: In all, the book is a welcome addition to the growing literature on single women in Japan and useful for comparison with the many societies around the world experiencing similar generational and life course changes. Lynne NAKANO, The Chinese University of Hong Kong