ABSTRACT
The sengyō shufu/sarariman binary model of the female homemaker and male breadwinner retains salience in contemporary Japan: it is still predominantly women who perform domestic caregiver roles, supporting men who often work prohibitively long hours in rigid corporate structures. The reproductive family remains a key space for the re-inscription of ideals and practices of gendernorms. However, unmarried women and men represent an increasing proportion of the adult population, and other models of femininity and masculinity have gained visibility through the media and pop culture. Alternative masculinities and femininities reflect differences in class, geography and socioeconomic opportunities, as well as generational shifts. Ultimately, contemporary Japanese femininities and masculinities must be considered as a concomitant set of practices and ideals, and as products of socioeconomic demands and both local and global cultural trends.
