Blog Reading: "Family Member Roles"

Reflection:

After reading an article about a Japanese salaryman who decided to break 'tradition' to help raise his child and take care of the home- eventually actively taking up the housework on the weekends, I feel split in regards to stereotypes and the complexities of different individual family values. My first gut reaction is to say that the patriarchal tendencies are a bit higher in Japanese society since that is what I've read, but I also see those views in most of the American counterparts I have had to witness. On the flip side, from what I've seen, it isn't less looked down upon but a little more fixated in the idea of single working mothers when dealing with America, but I also feel that might be simply do to exposure and I am not super comfortable delving into this topic without having more exposure in real life.

That being said, when it comes to language, the structural differences in deference and retaining respect is quite a bit different. It is always a bit of a culture shock when having to learn the varying formalities in grammar and different ways to refer to people you are close to verses not. In that regards, I feel Japan is much more centered around the idea of proper respect and actually looking at relationships as opposed to America where the diversity really decides how you should react.