I don`t know any stay-at-home mothers who did not have a job prior to having a child. Every single one I know personally was something or other prior to choosing to have a child and remain at home.
I have no doubts there are women out there who have no skills taking care of their children at home - but I would say they`re very much an exception. Having some sort of skill is also valued, so most women go to college then work for a few years before getting married and continue working until they have a baby. It`s really the most common pattern. Companies offer jobs that appeal to this mindset, with less pressure to stay on and less stress when leaving the company. Of course if the woman wanted responsibility, it is there for the taking - but I do think that most women consider future children and a few years away from work... So don`t want to dedicate THAT much into a career until after the children have grown and they feel they really can dedicate themselves.

There is no stigma against a woman working - quite the opposite in fact. If she doesn`t have children then why isn`t she working? is the common way of thinking. The average level of education is very high in Japan, so it seems quite rare to me for someone to make it to adulthood without acquiring work skills and experience.

Of course, what I am saying applies to Japan, but possibly not elsewhere.

ETA; Another question:
If you were a CEO and wanted a child, and decided to have that child as a single parent... Who would raise your child? A CEO can`t take much (any) time off from running a company. 2~3 hours a night with the child before they go to bed, and 20 minutes in the morning rushing them off to daycare...... I find it very hard to think that could be a good parenting situation or in the best interest of a child.

That's what lawyers are for.

So then you've allowed society to place you in this role.

Someone this selfish could never be a good parent. Don't blame anyone else when you have to go to prison to visit your child because you were too busy being CEO instead of taking care of your, yes your by your decision, child.

This is why an education, college or technical school, should be done before a child is brought into the picture. Accidents don't happen either. You are right that many stay at home mothers have some sort of marketable skill, but most of them waited to have kids when they were really ready.

MMM i've never had a father or a father figure In my life. Just my Mom, and as though she can only do so much.

I feel as though not having a father figure in a way has put a more positive effect on my life.

MMM: I've said it again, and I'll continue to say it: CULTURAL value. Not financial value. Money is what makes the world go around these days and, unfortunately, for alimony a person needs to go to court. To win their case, a person needs a good lawyer. For a good lawyer, a person needs money. Painful catch 22, isn't it?

As for single parents, what are the roles that each father and mother must play in a child's life?

And your question... I'm sorry, I don't understand it, I guess because it's out of context. I can't find where it was originally asked either. Explain it for me please?

Nyororin: At this point, I kind of feel like we're going back and forth based on what we feel and what we know... I don't know about you, but I don't have any statistics handy to prove my points. So, I don't know, I almost feel like saying whatever it is I want to say is a little pointless. Saying, "yeah, well, I know a lot of women who've never had any jobs" is kind of pointless because that's just my experience. I don't know the numbers nationally for the USA or Japan.

It's kind of the same as the single parent situation. Neither of us know how many successful single parents they are. I know I personally feel that it's entirely possible. There are plenty of single successful mothers and fathers who are out there, making it work. They bring their child to work, they take their child to grandma's house, they take their work home... I've seen it. Not with a CEO, no, but with other pretty demanding jobs. Again, I don't have statistics, but I know it can work based on my experience.

bELyVIS: Yeah, and usually lawyers cost money. Lots and lots of money. Money that these jobless people most likely won't have.

I can define what I want to be in this society, but if society doesn't agree, then that's not what I am. I can start declaring, "I'M A STRAIGHT WHITE MAN!" By your theory, if I didn't allow society to place me into any role, then I really am a straight white man. People will look at me and see otherwise, however. For that reason, I can't say that I won't allow society to place me into any role.

Like I said to Nyororin, I think it's completely possible to have and take care of a child in a successful position.

I had and have both, and can't imagine being raised without both of them.

Statistically, children with two parents are more successful and get into less trouble than children with one. That doesn't mean there aren't success stories, and it sounds like you are one of them.

A father figure is not a negative thing.

And what about abusive fathers? What about abusive mothers? Do you think it's better to have an abusive parent than to not have both?

Oh no i don't think of it as a negative thing at all.

And yes I do believe children with both have it better off.
I felt left out as a child not having a dad. (to sum it up)
But I'm doing just fine myself now.

No, I would believe you entirely. Japan and the US are different cultures, and value is placed in different locations. I can only tell you what I know from my experiences and my knowledge, just as you can only do the same from yours. I believe you may be entirely right about little value being placed upon those who stay-at-home, and that there are tons of women out there left with nothing because of it. I have absolutely no reason to doubt this is the case, as I was born in the US and spent the first chunk of my life there. (Raised by grandparents, by the way, after my mother divorced my father.)

The fact is, things are different in Japan. I am just offering the information of how things are here.

I totally believe it can work, and that there are wonderful successes. But I don`t believe it is in the best interest of the child. That is different from saying it is impossible. There are great success stories out there. The thing is, having actual background in studying childhood development, it`s NOT in the best interest of the child. Can some children adjust and thrive? Of course. But it`s not the best situation, and never will be. For those single parents who ended up that way, I am entirely supportive of. I can`t say I feel the same for a single parent who knew ahead of time but still decides to have a child and have someone else raise it for them. If you do not have the time or ability to dedicate yourself to being the best possible parent to that child, it is selfish to choose to have one. That is the huge difference in my eyes. I don`t even think people with demanding jobs should choose to have pets who they have little time for, let alone children. It`s nothing wrong with their job, it`s that they are making the choice to bring a child into a situation that will never be in the best interest of that child.

ETA;
That means that it would be better to have a single parent, as it would not be in the best interest of the child to be in an abusive situation. But that doesn`t mean that a single parent would be the best path for any child.

lol don't let him make you think that you're negative thing, or some kind of special case. There are single-parent families across the USA and across the world, a lot of which are doing just as well or even better than families with two parents. It's not traditional, but single parents are becoming the norm these days.

Families with two parents can be pretty screwed up too, you know?