Asia Faces the 21^st Century

I. Some reasons why I don't predict the future

II. Starting off, being young and making it

A. Birth: the first hurdle

China's one-child policy

forced [?] abortion

tradition, Confucianism and boy preference

ultrasound and abortion

female infanticide

gender ratios

women's health

women's opportunities

Birth control in Japan

abortion as birth control

Kannon and the water children

AIDS and the plus side of condoms

Korea?

B. Education

literacy rates

China: 81%

Japan: 100%

higher education

role of money, family, and connections

role of exams

why examination hells?

education and career choices

Tiananmen and career choice issues

Japanese corporations, schools and colleges

escalator schools

III. Maturity

A. Love and/or marriage

arranged v. love marriage

education, class, and choice

money, housing and other tacky issues

B. Family and workplace

rural and urban lifestyles

2 career families

child care

extended families

working women

Chinese women's double burden

the myth of the Japanese OL

women as entrepreneurs

Japanese and Chinese housewives

who controls the money

prestige and self-fulfillment

divorce and remarriage

men and boy preference in China

divorce and children in Japan

C. Religion

atheism, syncretism, and pragmatism

China: Daoists, Buddhists, Muslims [3%] and Christians [1%]

Japan: Shinto, Pure Land, Nichiren, Zen and Christians [1%]

Korea and Christianity

D. Ethnicity and the myth of homogeneity

Han Chinese [92%] and the other nationalities

Japanese, burakumin, Ainu, Okinawans and Koreans

westerners in Asia

IV. Old age

A. rising life expectancy

Chinese men: 68.3 years

Chinese women: 71.06 years

Japanese men: 76.36 years

Japanese women: 82.84 years

B. Quality of life

extended family issues

life with your daughter-in-law

love marriages

small, urban apartments

money, health, and options

elderly Asian women

travelers and pilgrims

education for fun

when you need care

hospitals and homes

in-home care givers

elderly helping elderly

Optional Final Exam Question: Due Mar. 15

Compare and contrast the development of nationalism in China and Japan. You may substitute Korea for either one if you prefer. You can also do all three but I don't recommend it. Whatever you do, be sure that you include in your answer: 1) a working definition of nationalism, 2) a clear idea of your periodization, and 3) adequate evidence [examples] to support whatever you say.