Aspirations and Desires: Women's Education and Fertility Strategies in Contemporary Japan

This study examines the varying influence of education on contemporary Japanese fertility. It is based on 179 questionnaires completed by married workingwomen, 52 of whom were subsequently interviewed. Quantitative data show that compared to less educated women, highly educated women are not only associated with a later onset of parenthood, delayed subsequent births, and longer working hours, but they are also more likely to live close to their mothers, a tendency referred to as "uxori-proximity." These quantitative results are interpreted with qualitative data that examine the working environments of study participants, spousal domestic involvement, and access to childcare. One interesting finding is that the practice of uxori-proximity by more educated women is an effective means for achieving family and professional ambitions.