Dex-chan lover
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2023
- Messages
- 4,069
What is an odd numbered parent?
Mia-ga dorawatda - Ch. 1
- Thread starter MangaDex
- Start date
Maybe it's an Unwed Mother insult.
I asked ChatGPT "is being an unwed mother particularly shameful in japan or korea" and it turns out that it's really bad in South Korea.
"South Korea has one of the strongest remaining stigmas in developed countries regarding out-of-wedlock births."
Short answer: It is not as stigmatized as it used to be in either Japan or Korea, but South Korea still tends to carry significantly more social stigma than Japan.
Here’s the breakdown:
Stigma level: moderate, declining
Overall:
Being an unwed mother in Japan is not considered “particularly shameful” today, though older generations may still hold conservative views.
Stigma level: high, though slowly improving
However, attitudes are slowly changing, especially among younger Koreans, with more public visibility and activism around single motherhood.
Overall:
Yes, in South Korea it is still seen as much more shameful than in Japan, though this is gradually shifting.
If you want, I can also explain:
Just let me know!
Here’s the breakdown:
🇯🇵 Japan
Stigma level: moderate, declining
- Historically, being an unwed mother in Japan carried social stigma, but attitudes have softened a lot in the past 20–30 years.
- Japan’s rising rates of late marriage, declining birth rate, and more diverse family structures have made single motherhood more socially accepted, though not completely free of judgment.
- Challenges still exist:
- Some workplace discrimination.
- Social assumptions that children “should” have two parents.
- Economic difficulties (single mothers in Japan face high poverty rates).
Overall:
Being an unwed mother in Japan is not considered “particularly shameful” today, though older generations may still hold conservative views.
🇰🇷 South Korea
Stigma level: high, though slowly improving
- South Korea has one of the strongest remaining stigmas in developed countries regarding out-of-wedlock births.
- Cultural emphasis on traditional family structure and bloodlines means being an unwed mother can still lead to:
- Social judgment and exclusion.
- Family pressure or rejection.
- Greater workplace bias.
- Serious economic hardship.
- Until recently, Korea had one of the lowest percentages of births outside marriage among OECD nations (well under 5% for many years).
However, attitudes are slowly changing, especially among younger Koreans, with more public visibility and activism around single motherhood.
Overall:
Yes, in South Korea it is still seen as much more shameful than in Japan, though this is gradually shifting.
Summary Table
| Country | Level of Stigma | Modern Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | Moderate, but not extreme | Decreasing — largely generational |
| South Korea | High | Slowly decreasing but still strong |
If you want, I can also explain:
- How both countries’ laws treat unwed mothers
- Differences in welfare support
- How opinions vary by age group
- Historical reasons for the stigma
Just let me know!
