WWS - World's Worst Shufu

The Japanese word for "housewife" is "shufu." Despite my lack of an accurate labor market statistic to quote, I am going to risk academic credibility, and state that this is a FAR more common occupation in Japan than America. On my way to school each day I see dozens of dozens of women driving their bobble-headed little children around in baskets on bicycles. In the homestay’s I have gone to, more than half the mothers have been stay-at-home mom's.

To their credit, this occupation is not viewed the same way in Japan as it is in America. To be a shufu is a dutiful, caring occupation which holds an innate place in society and is (debatably) respected. America however, seems to have developed a jaded criticism for their stay-at-home mom's. An unspoken sentiment that permeates public opinions about housewives, is that they "couldn't hack it with a real job." Which is a completely unfair misunderstanding about the hard work and dedication that a mother can put into her family, if you ask me.

"But wait, Mo. I though you were a funky feminist... That means you hate housewives, and families, and babies, right?" Hmmm. Not so much. SMC hosted two awesome feminist speakers this last spring (thanks to the fab angie – who is a terrific mommy and feminist) and one of the most beautiful aspects of seeing these women speak live, was the moment when Jennifer ( or was it Amy? I forget since they both took turns holding the baby) continued their lecture on the state of third wave feminism, with her two year old son slung around her hip, crawling up her shoulders impatiently. "Yes, that is it! That is the beautiful answer!" I though upon seeing this. A woman can be one of the foremost advocates for women’s rights, reproductive freedom, and advancing the international status of women AND take care of a riley toddler!

Does this make us women superhuman? I think not. I think it makes us hard workers who deserve respect for the many roles we are asked to play simultaneously. In addition to believing that a woman CAN do anything a man can do, such as: vote, perform on stage, own property, travel outer space, run a marathon, perform brain surgery, have an affair, attend college, fight violently in combative military service, etc. - all things which have been restricted to women somewhere in the world within the past 50 years or currently are still restricted today. I also believe that a man CAN do anything a woman can do (just shy of birth and breastfeeding) such as make school lunches, change diapers, kiss a child tenderly, prepare a delicious meal, sew curtains, clean the bathroom, etc.

So... what does this have to do with Japan? Each morning I see far more "sararymen" riding to the train station in three piece suits, and "shufu's" with basket-bobble-babies headed to preschool. The prescription of gender roles is the real determent. I believe that most people are more fascinating and multifaceted than one plain and simple socially prescribed gender role can contain. Why can't two parents equally share child-rearing? If a man is a better bento-maker than investment banker, why can't he stay at home with the kids?

I believe that Japanese society as a whole, doesn't want this change. In my dormitory (aka- Wakakusa Women's Penitentiary; the worlds largest and most state of the art chastity belt, housing sixty of the most sheltered young women you'll ever meet.) we have cleaning chores assigned each night. Yes, just before bedtime we all take about 20 minutes and chip in with the cleaning chores. Now, Wakakusa can certainly afford a cleaning staff, this place is luxurious and janitors don't cost that much. And half the time, the place is so clean there is nothing for us to do other than polish already-polished surfaces. I personally believe that this ritualistic process is "shufu training time." I don't believe that this time would be instituted in a c0-ed or all-male dormitory. I think this is a daily reminder to the young Japanese women, that house cleaning is an important part of their day, and despite their seeking higher education, it is still required that they remember how to keep a tidy home, like the good little girls they are. The message being, “You can study macrobiotics in the day Dearie, but don’t forget to clean the toilet, even if it is 10:30 pm, and you have an organic chemistry test to study for.”

I hate cleaning. Wakakusa pushes my buttons big time in this regard. It has become a joke between Megu and I that, when the nightly bell chimes for us to report to cleaning duty, I scream “E! E! EHHH!” at the top of my lungs in protest (that’s no, for all my ‘Merican friends).

There are just some things I am diametrically opposed to because I view them as completely unnecessary wastes of my time. Lining your drawers in pretty paper? Folding your underwear? Vacuuming multiple times within one week? Arranging daily useful items (like food in a cabinet) in size, color, or any other order? Folding the end of your toilet paper into a cute triangle? Never, never, never will I do any of this. And I can guarantee you, there are 101 other reasons I would inevitably be the "WWS." Heaven help me, I had better end up with (in the waaaaay distant future) a very patient, and very, very clean man.