More than half of the public supports the idea that husbands should be the breadwinners, while wives should stay home and do housework, a recent government survey showed.
According to the survey on gender equality by the Cabinet Office, 51.6 percent of respondents supported traditional roles for married couples. The percentage increased by 10.3 percentage points from the previous survey in 2009.
By age, the rise was largest among those in their 20s, at 19.3 points.
The percentage of people who supported traditional roles rose for the first time since the survey was first given in 1992. Similarly, the percentage of those who opposed the idea also fell for the first time.
Among those in their 20s, 55.7 percent of men were in favor of wives staying home and doing housework, up 21.4 points from the last survey. The percentage among women in the same age bracket rose 15.9 points to 43.7 percent.
Prof. Kakuko Miyata of Meiji Gakuin University said prolonged economic uncertainty may be one factor behind the changing trend among young people.
"I suspect young people today are deeply concerned about their futures because of prolonged difficulty in finding jobs and the sluggish economy, so they may wish for the home to be a source of emotional support," said Miyata, an expert on social psychology. "Another factor may be that people began to attach more importance to home life after the Great East Japan Earthquake."
The survey also indicated improved public awareness regarding gender equality at work, with 28.5 percent of respondents saying men and women are equal at work. The figure, up 4.1 points from the previous survey, was the highest since the survey began.
When asked in what occupations they would like to see more women, 54.5 percent of respondents indicated Diet, prefectural and municipal assembly members. Corporate managerial posts were second at 46 percent. Respondents were allowed to give multiple answers to this question.
The survey, which was conducted in October, polled 5,000 adults nationwide. Valid responses were received from 3,033, or 60.7 percent.
