安部「子供も大きくなったし、勤めに出たいんだけど、主人がだめだって」
佐々木「ご主人の言いなりになることないのに」
安部「でも・・・」
Iinari
Mrs. Abe: Kodomo mo ookiku nattashi, tsutome ni detai'n dakedo, shujin ga dame datte.
Mrs. Sasaki: Goshujin no iinari ni naru koto nai noni.
Mrs. Abe: Demo...
Mrs. Abe: What with the children all grown up, I wanted to get a job but my husband wouldn't let me.
Mrs. Sasaki: You shouldn't be so submissive to your husband.
Mrs. Abe: But...
* * *
Mrs. Abe, a childhood friend, majored in psychology in college and then worked as an OL for three years. Since getting married she has worked as a full-time housewife. I always thought she was intelligent and bright when we were younger and even now when we meet I find she still reads a lot and maintains a critical attitude toward society. She's lost hone of her brilliance. As in the conversation, however, though a publisher near her home asked her to be an assistant editor, she refused because her husband is against her working outside the home.
I warned her: (1) Goshujin no iinari ni natte iru to (If you blindly do whatever your husband says) your family will become the only world you know. (2) Ima made goshujin no iinari ni natte kita node (Since you've been submissive to your husband for so long), even if you now start telling him your own wishes, get- ting him to see things your way won't be easy. (3) Ima made iinari ni natte kita sekinin wa kanojo jishin ni aru no kamoshirenai (She probably has no one else to blame but herself for coming to be so submissive). Her son, one in junior high and the other in senior high, lend her support: "Mom, otoosan no iinari ni natte bakari inai de (don't let Dad make you toe the line so much). Why don't you do what you want to do?" In 10 years or so her sons will have their own families and no longer be under her care. What will she be left with then? She could do volunteer work like in Europe anoj America but her husband will probably be against that too. I met him the other day and brought up this problem. His reply: "I'm all for gifted people like you, Professor Sasaki, using their skills to help a company. But my wife isn't talented. Instead of working away and getting tired at some \800-an-hour part-time job, I think she should stay at home where she can relax and pursue hobbies while doing housework too. The reason I work so hard is to pro- vide for my family. Keshite kanojo wo watashi no iinari ni saseteiru tsumori wa arimasen (It isn't my intention that she blindly obey everything I say)/' Are things really as he says? How dan he say she has no talent unless he's actually seen her at work? Isn't he just being egotistical to think like this? Continuing on to higher education is the norm in Japan and the number of women graduating from college is also on the increase. Only a small percentage of them, however, get to use their skills to the fullest. Japan is still a culture held together by males.