The country is seeing an increase in the number of nonmedical professionals known as doulas, who provide emotional and physical support to women before, during or after childbirth, amid a rise in nuclear families and mothers coping with solo parenting. The tasks performed by a ...
New mothers in Japan can now seek help with household tasks as well as pre- and postnatal care amid a growing number of support organizations. One such group, Sai-Mama, was started by Mika Okada, a midwife who also runs Sakura Maternity Center in Saitama Prefecture. Established ...
'Maternity harassment' victims assail lack of protection for pregnant working women
Female workers who experienced workplace discrimination and bullying when they were pregnant have called on the government to live up to its promise to stamp out what is known in Japanese as matahara, or "maternity harassment." In a reflection of conservative Japan's staunch "men at ...
U.S. ‘matahara’ activist calls U.S. award 'encouragement' to working women, says more must be done
The Japanese recipient of a U.S. government award for contributions to female empowerment says more needs to be done in Japan to advance her cause.
20% of working women in Japan have experienced 'maternity harassment': survey
The online poll of women who became pregnant while employed also found that one in 10 were verbally harassed. Others reported being fired or not having their contract renewed.
Plaintiff in 'maternity harassment' suit settles with beauty salon chain
An employee of a major beauty salon operator who sued the company over alleged acts of "maternity harassment" has reached an out-of-court settlement with the firm. The woman withdrew the suit filed with the Tokyo District Court after her employer, Fuji Beauty, which operates the ...
Hospital worker scores big legal win over 'maternity harassment'
In its first ruling on “maternity harassment,” the Supreme Court nullifies a lower court’s decision to reject a therapist’s claim that she was unjustly demoted for being pregnant.
Women fight maternity harassment in the shadow of 'Abenomics'
When Sayaka Osakabe returned to work after a second miscarriage, one of the first questions her boss asked was whether she was having sex again. Despite laws guaranteeing equal opportunity and a near parity of sexes attending university, Japanese women have yet to gain an ...
U.K. duchess casts traditional midwives aside for birth
Prince William's wife, Kate, cast aside British tradition when she picked the team that helped her deliver her baby on Monday. Instead of turning to a midwife, an option favored by a majority of women in the U.K. as well as Queen Elizabeth II, the ...
Wedding plans get expecting couples to the church on time
Sugukon Navi doesn't beat around the bush when it comes to shotgun weddings and offers the fastest routes possible to the chapel.
