The Reality of Being a Full-Time Housewife—What Are the "Feelings of Inadequacy" and "Challenges in Life"? Voices from Those Affected: "It doesn't lead to income. It feels like I'm a bad person for not having an income... I feel guilty even when I'm eating."

In Japan, even though dual-income households have become the majority, the lifestyle of being a full-time housewife remains deeply rooted. The associated feelings of "narrow shoulders" or "difficulty in living" often go unnoticed and unresolved. This is due to societal norms that undervalue unpaid labor (housework, childcare, caregiving), the design of tax and social insurance systems, the practice of long working hours, and the persistence of gender role awareness. Data shows that Japanese women spend a significantly longer time on unpaid labor compared to other OECD countries, while men’s unpaid labor time remains short. As a result, care work, which does not directly contribute "income" to the household, remains invisible and undervalued, leading individuals to often blame themselves, thinking "maybe I am not a good person." This article, starting from the voices of those involved, organizes the realities of unpaid labor, the barriers posed by systems and practices (such as the so-called "income barrier" and dependent systems), incorporating the latest trends, and proposes specific measures that can be taken at home, in the workplace, and in society. The key is not the opposition between full-time and dual-income households, but rather creating conditions where everyone can "choose"—making unpaid labor visible and fairly evaluated. Based on the latest materials from the OECD and government statistics, we have also included a practical checklist and a family meeting template.