Asymmetry in the Intergenerational Relations of Urban Family

Abstract

The present paper concerns with changes of the comtemporary Japanese family in terms of asymmetrical aspects in the intergenerational ties. According to our research in Sapporo, Japan, based on interviews of 343 respondents including male and female aged 27 through 77, the following asymmetrical relations are observed.
Twenty items of interaction are found asymmetrical in all : nine husband-emphasized and eleven wife-emphasized. These are related with various kinds of behavior, which cover visiting, communication, leisure activity, exchange of gift, economic assistance and exchange of service.
Five hypotheses on asymmetrical relations are statistically examined. Hypothesis of near-residence is applicable to some husband's parents-emphasized items, but not to daughter's family-emphasized ones. Attachment-dependence hypothesis is partially applicable to limited items of interaction. Hypothesis for role differentiation by sex is, in some degree, supported. Most of wife's parents-emphasized items are associated with avoidance of conflict which might emerge from interaction with mother-in-law. This is related with Sweetser's “stranger and successor hypothesis”. Interaction with sons except the first is limited within such items as formal gift exchange and occasional visiting. This indicates existence of differential behavior by birth order and sex. It could be called hypothesis of 'ie' family norm.
On the whole, our data show weakening of traditional norms and inclination to be closer to daughter's family as well. Asymmetrical relations in contemporary Japan can not be explained by a single hypothesis, but by multiple and complex ones.