Families are now changing dramatically, and Japan and Korea share many common features in their familial situations. In both countries, home economics is the main subject in which teaching about the family is carried out and the lesson content on the family is influenced by home economics teachers' attitudes towards the family and family life. It can be surmised that what pupils learn in both countries differs according to the teachers' instruction.
Therefore, this study aims to investigate the differences in attitudes toward the family between Japanese home economics teachers and Korean home economics teachers, and to examine the relationship between these differences and the emphasis on teaching about the family.
The results showed that in Korea, the school atmosphere, perception of gender division of labour, and perception of marriage functions were the major influences on teaching about the family. The Korean teachers felt that the school atmosphere was more gender equal, affirmed working women, highly appreciated husband and wife partnerships, and put more emphasis on teaching about the family. On the other hand, in Japan, there was no relationship between the teachers' attitudes and the emphasis on teaching about the family.
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