Maternal fantasies in an era of crisis – single mothers, self-sacrifice and sexuality in Japanese television drama

Mithani, Forum 2019. Maternal fantasies in an era of crisis – single mothers, self-sacrifice and sexuality in Japanese television drama. Portier-Le Cocq, Fabienne, ed. Motherhood in Contemporary International Perspective: Continuity and Change, London: Taylor and Francis, pp. 177-190.

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Abstract

Motherhood achieved symbolic status in post-war Japan. The fantasy of a selfless, undesiring mother became the foundation of the modern model of family in Japan, placing women in the role of carers to their husbands and children. However, women expressed their resentment and frustration over the strict confines of the maternal role. Since the 1970s, they have increasingly sought to escape the maternal fantasy. Social advancement has encouraged women to challenge the perception that motherhood is their ultimate vocation. Nevertheless, falling fertility rates have precipitated fears of a social crisis, and a discourse promoting the maternal role has re-emerged in the 21st century. The tension between social demand and female frustration is revealed in narratives of single motherhood in television drama. Such narratives have proved fertile ground for reproducing the maternal fantasy. Conversely, contemporary depictions of maternal sacrifice offer the potential to resist the discourse of maternal love.

Item Type:	Book Section
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Modern Languages
Publisher:	Taylor and Francis
ISBN:	9780429198700
Last Modified:	08 Aug 2022 10:36
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/150837

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