Changing gender differences in commuting in the Tokyo metropolitan suburbs

Abstract

Studies concerning gender differences in commuting activities in cities have been carried out as related to gender geography in the various English-speaking countries. These studies have noted that the average commuting distance for women tends to be shorter than for men (Madden, 1981; Fox, 1983; Hanson, 1985), and they refer to the importance of household related factors. Blumen (1994) explains the shorter commuting distances of married women by their "dual roles" resulting from the combination of household responsibilities and engagement in paid work. According to Ericksen (1977) the age of the youngest child and marital status are important factors in the explanation of gender differences in commuting distances. Hanson and Pratt (1988) pointed out that men tend to decide the location of their home after selecting the place of employment, while women tend to select their place of employment after selecting the location of their homes. Hanson and Pratt (1991) emphasized that power relations between husband and wife in the family, gender differences in social life and gender differences in jobsearching activities are key factors that cause gender differences in workplace selection. A number of studies report on gender differences in commuting in Japan. Kawaguchi (1992) has shown that the suburbanization of employment in metropolitan areas causes changes in labor force structure and, in particular, in the tendency for women to enter the labor market. Studies that mention commuting activities of women in metropolitan areas have pointed out the importance of household-related factors. Kawase (1997, 1999) has examined residential areas in metropolitan suburbs, noting gender differences in commuting activities of married persons. Most studies refer to married men and women only and explain the shorter commuting distances of women by the gender roles of husbands and wives within families. Few studies deal with the specific commuting differences between sons and daughters. Aritome and Ogata (1997) point out that the average commuting distance of young women is as long as or even longer than of young men. But they do not clarify the factors behind these gender differences. It is impossible to understand gender differences in commuting activities in e ropolitan suburbs without examining the employment and commuting activities of sons and daughters. The purpose of this paper is to clarify gender differ nces in commuting activities by marital status of inhabitants of Tokyo Metropolitan suburbs: it focuses especially on the relationships between parents and their children and highlights the generation differences in commuting behavior.