Dear MEL Topic Readers,
The couples accused of destroying Japan's families
In Japan, a married couple has to have one family name. Unless the couple had the same family names before marriage, one of them has to give up his or her long-used family name. And 96% of married women changed their family names to their husbands’ mainly because of the tradition. However, that is not always the way married and marrying women want. More women nowadays have already developed their currier and identity before marriage and they don’t want to change them. Some of the married women keep using their maiden names unofficially after marriage. But in their official identifications, such as family registration, passport, driver's license, and insurance, the registered family names are used.
There have been court cases to find whether such law is constitutional but the Supreme Court ruled it is constitutional and said it is the parliament that should decide whether to keep or change the law. Advocates are now focusing more on human rights rather than just women’s rights, and more male plaintiffs and supporters are seen in court cases.
In fact, Japan is one of the leading developed countries that still have small female representations in parliament, government, and corporate boards.
Are most Japanese people happy with the status quo for everything?
Enjoy reading the article and think why Japan is so reluctant to change anything.
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