Motherhood and Work in Contemporary Japan

1. Introduction -- 2. Do more women work than before? What the M-shaped curve implies -- 3. Japanese labour market and social policy arrangements -- 4. Marriage, childbirth, child rearing and women's employment -- 5. Women's employment during the childbirth and child-rearing years -- 6. Re-entry and exit again? Women's careers after childbirth through the post-child-rearing years -- 7. Careers of Japanese single mothers -- 8. Conclusion.

Introduction -- Do more women work than before? What the M-shaped curve implies -- Japanese labour market and social policy arrangements -- Marriage, childbirth, child rearing and women's employment -- Women's employment during the childbirth and child-rearing years -- Re-entry and exit again?: Women's career after childbirth through the post-child-rearing years -- Careers of Japanese single mothers -- Conclusion