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Filipina-Japanese Intermarriages

A Pathway to New Gender and Cross-Cultural Relations

Objectives:

Analyzes the pattern and trends of intermarriage between Filipino women and Japanese men (from 1980’s to present).

Examines the factors leading to the increase in such marriage and presents the profiles of Japanese men married to Filipino women.

Analyzes the location of couples in intermarriage in the larger contexts of society, community and the family.

Presents the stereotypes about Filipino women and intermarriage.

Overview of Intermarriage in Japan

In 2002, intermarriage constitutes 4.7 percent of the total number of registered marriage in Japan.

Marriage between Japanese men and Asian women formed the largest percentage of all intermarriage:

China- 10,750

Philippines- 7,630

Korea- 5,353

Thailand- 1,536 In 1992 and 1996, Filipino women-Japanese men

marriage dominated the trend.

The divorce rate of couple in intermarriage in Japan is about the same as that of Japanese-Japanese marriage.

The Marriage Market in Japan

With modernization, more young women would rather be wives (tsuma) instead of brides.

With more options for women outside homes, marriage has become less compulsory.

Single men in the ages 25 and 35 have difficulty finding marriage partners.

Jolivet: women could marry but they don’t; men would like to marry but they can’t.

Factors Promoting Intermarriage

Lack of potential partners- increasing empowerment of Japanese women prompted Japanese men to seek ‘ideal wife’

Increasing labor migration in Asia- the large inflows of female migrant workers from the Philippines (1980’s) as entertainers (mizu-shobai).

Participation of local governments and marriage brokers- arrangement of marriages between local farmers and brides from abroad.

Attractive personality of Filipino women- as spontaneous, cheerful, leads to propose marriage.

Filipina-Japanese Marriages: Beyond Stereotypes

Filipinas have been mostly portrayed as japayuki or hanayome (brides).

While Japanese men are depicted as weaklings and losers.

Socio-economic BackgroundMost of the husbands are financially stable. The diverse socio-economic profile of Japanese men

married to Filipino women discredits the popular image as ‘losers’.

Filipino Women’s View of their Japanese Husbands

Filipino women as wives characterizes their Japanese husbands by personality as: Mabait- good provider, loves and cares for the

wife and family Mahigpit- prohibits his Filipino wife from

associating with Filipina friends to Japanese men

Salbahe- mean and abusive husband which inflicts violence on his wife

Issues in Intermarriages

1. LANGUAGE CONSTRAINTS- many experience difficulty in communicating with their Japanese husbands in the early stage of marriage.

2. STEREOTYPES ABOUT FILIPINO WOMEN- dominant image of Filipina as entertainers in Japan

3. DIFFERENT NOTIONS OF FAMILY- The nuclear family is the central social unit in Japan (which explains the lack of support and indifference of a Japanese husband to the relatives of his wife)

4. WHERE TO LIVE- Filipina-Japanese couples have to deal with the question where to live.

5. BECOMING NURTURING FATHERS- Some professionals tend to work overtime, leaving the burden of household care to their Filipina wife.

“Double kids”

6. REARING “DOUBLE KIDS”- how to raise and nurture the identity of the child.

7. RACISM- thrives if couples do not attempt to know their partners cultural background.

Towards a New Consciousness

Egalitarian Relationship

Japanese women empowerment is an indicator of an open, if not equal, social position in the society.

Metaphors and Men’s Gender Consciousness

Filipino and Japanese languages have similarities to describe power relations in intermarriage:

The Filipino expression under de saya (under the skirt of one’s wife) is analogous to Japanese expression shire ni shikareru (placed under the hip)

Other metaphors related to gender roles in the family point to the important role of women:

In the Philippines, men are regarded as the pillar of the home (haligi ng tahanan) while the women are the light of the home (ilaw ng tahanan).

Rewards of Negotiating Gender Roles

The gains of gender equality are mostly in terms of the beneficial effect on the quality of relationship with women, with children and with other men.

By not acting out the masculine stereotype, Japanese men gain love, affection, and peace of mind.

Conclusion

Filipina-Japanese intermarriage offered some Japanese opportunities for self-reflection.

The study challenge the stereotypes of “Japanese men who loved Filipinas”

It is also a shift in paradigms in the analysis Filipina-Japanese marriages.

Filipina-Japanese intermarriage open possibilities for unrestricted gender relations and more informed cross-cultural relations.

Intermarriage

A departure from the assumption that cross-cultural marriages usually lead to cultural conflicts and problematic marriage.

Thank You.