Research into the Nature of Motherhood

在日本，出生率下降的问题对整个社会产生了很大影响，包括母婴健康。我们以母子关系为研究对象，运用参考研究、质性研究、定量研究等方法，进行了为期三年的研究。研究的目的是澄清涵盖战后三代人的母性的传统性质，考虑对育儿，母性和育儿行为的看法。此外，考虑到各代人之间的差异，我们力求澄清社会、经济、文化等对传统母性的影响。我们发现，对育儿，母亲和育儿行为的看法受到核心家庭的趋势，女性教育的增加，经济条件的变化，如战后经济的高增长，以及社会的重大变化的影响。战后不久，当现在的祖母被抚养成人时，母亲承担了抚养孩子的全部责任。在此之前，大部分抚养孩子的工作都是由与家人住在一起的婆婆在全家的支持下完成的。母亲的育儿负担并不重。作为一个女儿经历了青春期，她有足够的接触，她的祖母和母亲，以了解母亲和儿童保育。这一代母亲从母亲那里学到了母性和育儿的知识，但也受到社会、文化和经济条件的影响。我们发现这些母亲很难调和不同的影响。总之，我们建议回归传统的行为，鼓励母亲和女儿之间的良好关系，在早期，通过青春期和青春期，使母亲和育儿的价值观可以传递。最后，我们建议建立地方支持系统，以加强适合21世纪世纪社会的母性传统。

In Japan, the problem of a decrease in the birthrate has had a big influence throughout society, including mother-and-child health. Looking carefully at the mother-and-child relationship, we conducted research for three years using reference research, qualitative research, and quantitative research methods. The purpose of the research was to clarify the traditional nature of motherhood covering three postwar generations, considering views on a childcare, mothering, and childcare behavior. Furthermore, we sought to clarify the influence of society, economy, culture, etc. on the traditional nature of motherhood, considering the differences between generations. We found that views on a childcare, mothering, and childcare behavior have been affected by the trend toward the nuclear family, the increase in female schooling, changes in economic conditions such as postwar high economic growth, and significant changes in society. Shortly after the war when the present grandmothers were brought up, mothers bore sole responsibility for child-rearing. Before this, much of the child-rearing was done by the mother-in-law who lived with the family, with support from the whole family. The childcare burden on the mother was not great. As a daughter went through adolescence she had enough contact with her grandmother and mother to learn about motherhood and childcare. The present generation of mothers have learned about motherhood and childcare from their mothers, but have also been influenced by society, culture and economic conditions. We find that these mothers have difficulties reconciling the different influences. In conclusion, we suggest a return to traditional behavior by encouraging a good relationship between mother and daughter in the early years, through puberty and adolescence, so that values for motherhood and childcare can be passed down. Finally, we propose forming local support systems to enhance a tradition of motherhood suitable for 21st century society.