Women are “child-bearing machines” — say what?
Japan’s health minister provoked fury when
he referred to women as “child-bearing machines” in a speech
intended to address the country’s drastically declining birth
rate.
Japan’s health minister provoked fury when he referred to women as “child-bearing machines” in a speech intended to address the country’s drastically declining birth rate.
Hakuo Yanagisawa, 71, embarrassed the Government of Shinzo Abe, the Prime Minister, in a speech delivered on Saturday, which was immediately attacked by women and opposition politicians.
“The number of women aged between 15 and 50 is fixed,” he told the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in the city of Matsue. “Because the number of birth-giving machines and devices is fixed, all we can ask is for them to do their best per head.”
In 2004 the population peaked at 128 million and began to shrink last year. At current levels of decline it will have fallen to less than 90 million by 2055…
Yes, there are pundits who think this decline will cause “devastating social and economic consequences”. Including the aforementioned politician.
Posted: Mon - January 29, 2007 at 06:48 AM