自由与风险:个体化社会中日本女性的两难困境

Freedom and Risk:Dilemma of Japanese Women in Individualized Society

个体化是自反性现代化理论的核心主题之一,它描述的是有关制度以及个人和社会关系的一个结构性的、社会学的转变,为我们认识和理解社会转型下日本女性的生活处境提供了新的视角。在个体化社会里,日本女性一方面摆脱家庭和性别角色的束缚,获得为自己规划人生的自由;另一方面她们又失去家庭和性别分工带来的稳定性和安全感,面临着贫困、孤立等风险。当日本女性逐渐脱离家庭和性别角色时,日本的政策和观念反而固守甚至强化家庭主义和性别分工,导致女性在自由与风险之中难以抉择。

Individualization is one of the core themes of reflexive modernization theory.It describes a structural and sociological transformation of the system and the relationship between individuals and socie-ty,and provides a new perspective for us to know and understand the living situation of Japanese women under the social transformation.In the individualized society,on the one hand,Japanese women braked free themselves from family and gender roles to gain the freedom to plan their own lives;On the other hand,they lose the stability and sense of security brought by family and gender division of labor,facing the risks of poverty and isolation,etc.When Japanese women are gradually breaking away from their family and gender roles,however,Japanese policies and concepts stick to and even strengthen familism and gender division of labor,which makes it difficult for women to make a choice between freedom and risk.