This study aims to clarify how fathers of male transgender children who have never participated in self-help groups “accept” their children based on their subjective experiences. Research on sexual minority parents has primarily focused on parents (especially mothers) who have participated in self-help groups and has shown that heterosexism and gender norms affect their acceptance of their children. Therefore, when parents accept their children, they are often exposed to information on gender diversity concepts, which affect their perceptions in a “norm-deconstructing acceptance” manner. However, the results of this study revealed “norm-functional acceptance,” in which parents use existing norms, such as “economic independence” and “female ownership,” to understand their children. In addition, the fathers in this study maintained their relationships with their children while recognizing the characteristics of both daughter and son, revealing relationships different from cisgender father-child relationships. Apart from understanding the gender diversity notion, these findings show that there are opportunities and risks to sustaining the father-child relationship.

This paper aims to clarify how childcare support activities contribute to the resolution of concerns related to childcare anxiety and to consider whether these activities aid in disengagement from the oppression of motherhood roles. To this end, online childcare support activities are examined as a case study by analyzing what happens within these interactions. The findings reveal that, in the context of online childcare support, there is a practice of reporting about one’s child and elevating the status of these reports. Through these interactions, mothers acquire a new category beyond “motherhood” – that of an “observer.” This acquisition allows mothers to stabilize their interactions with their children. In addition, the acquisition of multiple roles allows for “role distance,” leading to the conclusion that mothers are not liberated by a temporary withdrawal from family life but by being disengaged from the pressures of the motherhood role within the family setting.

A pattern of division of housework that more heavily distributes housework to women after childbirth is called the traditionalized division of housework and is known to be stable throughout the childrearing process. This paper focuses on the evaluation of the division of housework as a mechanism by which the traditionalized division of housework becomes entrenched and examines why the traditionalized division of housework is regarded as justified. Using equity theory, gender norm theory, and distributive justice theory, I derive hypotheses on the mechanisms by which the presence of children affects the association between unequal housework allocation and the appropriateness rating of housework responsibilities, and I test them using a factorial survey experiment conducted in Germany. This analysis shows that the appropriateness rating is less susceptible to the share of women’s housework in the with-child condition than in the without-child condition. This result suggests a mechanism by which the presence of children activates traditional gender norms and the acceptance of the traditionalized division of housework as justified, thereby sustaining the unequal division of housework.

Some studies of the social history of families have revealed that the idea that “alternative care,” the official system for the protection and fostering of children separated from their parents, should be “homelike” has been shared throughout history. On the other hand, in those studies, “collectivism theory” in children’s homes, a theory of alternative care constructed by Korekatsu Seki in Yogo-Mondai-Kenkyukai (Yo-Mon-Ken) in 1960s-90s Japan, has been understood as a unique discourse that criticized the notion of “home.” However, did collectivism theory actually reject the notion of “home”? This paper studies the relationship between collectivism theory and the notion of “home” by comprehensively analyzing the books of Seki and the bulletins of Yo-Mon-Ken. Although collectivism theory criticized the “real home” in pre-war Japan and 1960s-70s Japan, it did not reject the notion of “home” itself. In addition, it tried to find similarities between “home” and children’s institutions and theorize the ideal way of raising children.

This symposium aimed to deepen our understanding of the new situations facing families in the contemporary era, with a focus on young people living in rural areas. Masahiro Abe and Ryuzo Kutsuwada explored the emergence of “new publics” and “new ways of working” within these settings, suggesting that quality of life does not necessarily deteriorate with a social design well adapted to declining populations. However, they also highlighted that these developments do not directly lead to the dismantling of traditional gender roles or fundamental changes in family structures. Their discussions challenge the conventional research model that young people migrate to urban areas in search of better opportunities and prompt a reevaluation of the social models predicated on demographic movements characteristic of the high economic growth period. This perspective intersects significantly with family sociology’s discourse on the “postwar family model,” offering valuable insights into the evolving dynamics of family life in the modern era.

This paper discusses the changes in rural areas, the emergence of a new public and way of working, and the potential influence on family structures. Since the 2000s, the rapid motorization of rural areas and the widespread use of the Internet have led to the erosion of local communities and heightened anxiety among young people about their future. As a result, there is an expectation for the emergence of a “new public” that differs from traditional communities. This paper focuses on the local creative class, individuals who are actively contributing to the development of the new public. These individuals are engaged in the “new way of working” and play a significant role in shaping the future of local communities, and their subculture might replace traditional local culture. However, the evolution of the new public and new way of working might not automatically result in a transformation of the family. This paper aims to examine whether the culture of local creatives will influence the traditional gender division of labor within families. The key factors considered in assessing the potential transformation of the family include changes in industrial structure, work styles, and a global awareness of human rights.

Rural regions are undergoing a process of “spongification” in response to declining populations. Correspondingly, a new way of life, work, and public nature is being explored in what is termed the “reverse frontier.” In this context, with the diversification of residential histories and the advancement of IT technology, a framework of a broader “mobile region” becomes crucial, surpassing the conventional boundaries of “residential areas.” The author refers to this situation as the post-urbanization era. This paper examines how rural living in the post-urbanization era is perceived by the younger active generation, drawing insights from the author’s involvement in research. In regions facing population decline, there is a notable increase in the proportion of individuals choosing to live in the “mobile region,” including those returning to their hometown (U-turners) and newcomers. These individuals play a significant role in assuming responsibility for the public aspects of these new regions. However, there exists a substantial disparity in awareness between this mobile population and those with limited mobility. The paper also raises questions about whether the public aspects of the “mobile region” represent an evolution of the public aspects of the “residential area” or merely an expansion of the geographical scope of the region. Further exploration is necessary to understand the nature of this relationship.