Advance in Society of Women and Low Birth Rate

Recently, Japanese birth rate is decreasing. One of the facts is said that it is advance in society of women. However, I suppose that it is not the fact. In this paper, I explain three reasons why I do not think that. First, many people believe that Japanese unmarried rate is increasing because of advance in society of women. And, most people suggest as the unmarried rate is increasing, it leads to low birth rate. Actually, the unmarried rate of women is increasing. But the unmarried rate of men is increasing, too. Because both of the unmarried rates are increasing, it is difficult to say that advance in society of women causes increasing unmarried rate and leads to low birth rate. Second, According to Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ research, it is tend to the higher labor rate of women, the higher birth rate all over the world. See the bottom of the figure 1 and 2. In America, the transition of labor rate of women increased from 1970’s late to 2003, following this; the birth rate in America increased. On the other hand, Japanese labor rate decreased from 1980’s late to 2003, and the birth rate in Japan decreased, too. Moreover, you see the figure at labor rate in Sweden, it decreased from 1988 to 1998 and, the birth rate in Sweden decreased from 1980’s late to 1990’s. After the labor rate in Sweden increased, the birth rate in Sweden increased. Therefore, as women work, the birth rate will increase. I suggest that a reliable environment which women can work leads to grow the birth rate. Finally, the research of National Social Security, Institute of Population Problems, the number of average birth children is similar homemakers and working women. In this survey in 2005, a homemaker has 2.21 children which number is an average how many children a married couple is having. Compared with this, a working woman has 2.19 children. From these results, even though the women work, they have babies as many as not working women. So, the advance in social of women is unconnected with leading low birth rate. From the above reasons, I suggest that the advance in society of women do not cause low birth rate.