Friday, December 09, 2005

Chinese and Japanese teens differ in aspirations

Chinese and Japanese teens differ in aspirations

A glaring discrepancy has emerged between the career ambitions of Chinese female teenagers and their Japanese counterparts, according to a survey published on Tuesday by a leading Japanese think tank. The top five desired careers among Chinese female teens aged 16-19 include president or chief executive of a company, senior management or manager, or teacher. In comparison, the top-five list for Japanese teens include housewife, flight attendant and child-care worker. “Against a backdrop of doubts about the future from a protracted recession, Japanese youths have a very strong desire for stability,” said the report, which was compiled by the Hakuhodo Institute of Life and Living. “In contrast, young Chinese want to move up in the world.” According to the UNDP, the percentage of total seats in parliament held by women is 20.2 per cent in China, compared with 9.3 per cent in Japan. Meanwhile, the ratio of estimated female to male earned income is 66 per cent in China, compared with 46 per cent in Japan. Separately, the survey also noted Chinese teens thought that Japanese women made “good wives and mothers” and that Japanese were hard workers. Chinese teens said that they were concerned about problems such as wealth disparity and environmental problems.

4 Comments:

At December 09, 2005 4:59 PM, Blogger erp said...

Why would anyone think that Chinese and Japanese teens would have anything at all in common.

Nothing could more different than living in the countries of China and Japan. Virtually nothing, except perhaps the shape of their eyes, is similar.

The casual racism of the left is really breathtaking.

 
At December 10, 2005 1:32 AM, Blogger Don Miguel said...

"The casual racism of the left is really breathtaking."

erp:

While I agree with your statement, I'm not sure if it applies here since it was done by a Japanese think tank.

"Why would anyone think that Chinese and Japanese teens would have anything at all in common?"

I think that is the real question, even if it is coming from a Japanese think tank. It seems to me to be a meaningless apples and oranges comparison.

 
At December 10, 2005 5:47 PM, Blogger erp said...

Don, why do you think Japanese think tanks aren't leftist? I'd bet that most of them are just as most are leftist here in the U.S.

BTW - Having worked with Japanese and Chinese nationals, I can tell you that there's no love lost between them. Each feels their culture is superior.

 
At December 10, 2005 9:21 PM, Blogger Don Miguel said...

erp:

I have no reason to think one way or the other, which is why I said “I'm not sure” if the label applies. It's a moot point anyway since I agree with your thesis (and your "no love lost" comment).

 

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