Social Class, Power and Husband-Wife Violence in Japan

Abstract

Relationships between social class resources. conjugal power and conjugal violence were examined for a sample of Japanese families. Information concerning family structures reported by 635 Japanese high school seniors to the family conflict resolution study questionnaires is the basis of this study. Family structures in Japan reflect the resource theory in cultural context proposed by Rodman. Conjugal power of Japanese families is not affected by the differences in the social class of the family. A low level of conjugal violence is prevalent in Japan across the different social classes. The normative structure of Japanese society and culture approves of women's dominance in the family. Also, the nature of Japanese quiet and nonexpressive cultural orientation does not allow a husband with low prestige to legitimize the male supremacy norm of present society by means of the ultimate resource of violence. Culture seems to be one of the most important factors affecting the relationships between social class, conjugal power and conjugal violence in Japanese society.