Japanese City Apologizes for Gender Stereotyping Pregnant Women and New Mothers
The city of Onomichi in Japan's Hiroshima prefecture faced backlash after distributing flyers advising pregnant women to please their husbands by cooking, cleaning, giving massages, and always having a smile on their face. The flyers, based on a public survey conducted in 2017, sparked outrage on social media, highlighting Japan's outdated gender norms and unequal burden placed on women. The city's mayor issued an apology, acknowledging that the flyers promoted gender stereotypes and did not align with the sentiments of those involved in child rearing. Japan's patriarchal society and low gender equality rankings contribute to the country's falling birth rate and challenges in balancing careers with family life.